New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-04
OLD ST. AUGUSTINE.
PUTTING ON SOME MODERN AIRS.

HOW FOLKS SPEND THEIR TINE THERE
ARTISTS, oUARTERs-MR. FLAGLER'S DoINGS-
rpoM AN occ AsInxAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ST. Augustine, Fla, Jan. 20.-Eight years ago the
ONLY means of access TO St. Augustine was by
little narrow gauge road through the plney woods
from Toccoi on the ST. Johns. The terminus was V"o
miles outside the town. and as the vlsltor III HIS
carriage rolled across the old causeway OF the ST.
sebastian and into the ancient city, he entered
snanish town of the sixteenth century. The coquina
houses with overhanglng alousics that nearly met
across the narrow streets, the solid sea WALL the
old fortress Of Vaubans tine. the city gates, the
pretty plaza with its shades, the old cathedral Oh
Moorish architecture the olive compexioned lnhab-
tants the manners and customs all reminded one OF
spain and the past. To-day this favor Of Old World
antiquity has largely passed. True, the old fort
and sea wall remain, and the notes.-the Ponce
do Leon Alcazar and Cordova-are of a style
of architecture in unison with the place.
But the old Cathedral has been burned and many of
the old buildings razed and the crowds upon the
streets the nineteenth century costumes and vehicles,
not forgetting the bicycle and the hustle and ANNA
ton Of modern watering place have almost wholly
efaccd the old, languid delightful slXteenthcentury
air Not that the town has suffered in attractive
ness in consequence. If the present has stolen from
the past it has also made compensation. For In
stance in the old days the streets were almost I'm
passable by reason of the deep sand; now many OF
maCadamized.
at night; now the reverse obtains. Their sanitary
condition was bad it is better, though there Is
stn room for improvement. The climate is delight
f1l like June in NewYork. There has been bit one
slight fost-on November 80. II would be hot AT
midday but for the breeze which blows over Anas-
tasa Island and yields the GOODNESS end ozone OF the
sea- There has been no rain since october, and the
skies are those Of Italy.
There is no Lack of attractions and means Of amuse
ment In the morning the first affSir Of note Is
guard mount" winch comes at 0. The ladies largely
attend and the bright colors OF their costumes con-
trast finely with the dark blue uniforms of the 9Th
Artillery, a detachment Of which docs garrison duty
at St. Augustine this winter. Afterward many things
are open to one You may ride, fly down the
harbor in one of the many fleet yachts at the wharf
play billiards. tcn-pins, tennis, battle at the Casino
bcstride bicycle or walk along the messy, barnaced
sea wall to the stin more ancient fortress OF san
Narcotic sole monument of the Spanish founders OF
St Augustine. The wall Is built OF solid blocks
of granite brought from remote locality-there
Is nothing like them in FlOrida-and is wide enough
for two TO walk abreast. 1t leads to the old FORT
which is built Of coQuina stone-lime and shells
and is crumbling in a way very alarming TO the
lovers of the antique. 1t is furnished WIN
moat and drawbridge, baStion and paTapet, and was
planned antiquaries say, by the famous engineer Nau
ban: IL gives one little thrill 10 remember that IL
has borne the brmt of attack from pirate and buc-
J
and of pious French and English pioneers like the
Huguenots Of Port Royal and Governor Oglethorpe OF
| Georgia. After lunch, which at the Ponce de Leon
is served between l and =, comes the siesta, with
some wild, improbable tale such as stevenson and
Rider IIaggard know well how 10 weave for a com
| panon. Boating and riding follow until 6-the dinner
hour. II you ride you pass villas In whose grounds
| roses and all manner Of summer flowers bloom
| ing and orange groves where ripe, golden globes,
green fruit and fragrant blossoms may be seen on
the same tree. If you sail, your course is down the
harbor to the bar, and TO Anastasia Island and its
| tall lighthouse, striped Ike a zebra, opposite: or
YOU can take the little steamer Myth every hour TO
Morris Park, pleasant resort on Anastasia Island
Boating is chiefly practised by the young people OF
both sexes, the ladies venturlng boldly out without
male escort this being especially true Of the resi-
dents The beautiful harbor, with its scores OF shells
darling hitler and thther its coquetries rvares and
| trials of speed presents animated picture toward
sunset.
For lovers of art the studios in the Ponce dc Leon
| are a centre OF interest. There Of them
elegantly fitted up and making artists row" Of
| long narrow building facing Carera-st. Six Of the
studios are now occupied. No. Is used by George w.
eeavey the Boston artist well known from his bcauti
| ful flower pieces. Mr. Seavey is brother Of the
manager of the Ponce de Leon. Mr.. F. II. shuplesh,
another well known Boston artist, has occupied studio
| No. , since IL was built. Mr. W. staples Drown, VINO
has studio No g. is an all-the year round resident.
! Miss C. b. Conan has studio here. Robert :. Ger
man her nelghbor has been lying seriously Ill at the
Alcazar for some months but Is now pronounced CON
valescent by his physicians. In studio NO II an Oh
Yorker Mr. j. Heade. for several years the pupil
and companion of F. f. Church. Mr. heade Is INC
| painter of the large south American scene winch
hangs I'm the rotlnda of the Ponce de Leon. He has
| become an all-they round resident and occupies
the pretty cottage once owned by General Dent OF
whom he bought it,. Mr.. Heado shows on his place
trees planted by General Grant. General Sheridan
| Colonel Fred Grant and their wives. ., ,
Mr.. H. NJ. Flager has been to st; AngnSilhe ana
returned 20 New York. friend who knows nm well
in addition TO giving personal gossip iOOh ne
out TO see the new church which Mr.. Fager is bulld
| Ing for the Presby terians. II is nearly conpleled
and will he, IL Is said Of the finest ecclcsahtcal
structures in America. ii is composite in architecture
and VIII cost, II Is estimated, N4OO.OOo Mr. flaeiei
intends II AS a memorial OF his daughter, who died
| suddenly on a yacht of Charleston harbor a few
| months since. My friend also pointed ont the hne
Methodist church which Mr. Flagler's eit 10 the
| town "He is about 10 put up he continued, on
| The old bali place beautiful cottage for himself and
Is also building pretty cottage for Mr.. seavey, tile