Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29
A FAMOUS OLD CITY.
s. Augustine Almost Takes One Back to
the Middle Ages.
Its Narrow Streets and CuriOusly
That Surrounded the City.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. Nov. 26, 1893.
This famous old city. so full of interest
to the tourist. and. in fact, to every lover
OF history or historical surroundings, is
rapidly arising from it's dreamy lethargy of
the past six months and preparing for the
entertainment of the thousands of tourists
who re now commencing to arrive, driven
by the cold winds of the north and west
to the delightful climate which reiSns here
SO TRANQUILITY. while the icy sleet and slush
prevail but a few hundred miles away.
Year after year the attractions of ST. Au-
gustine have drawn increased numbers Of
pleasure seekers and invalids until now,
ike Nice in Italy, which climate it so close
ly resembles. it is the winter home Of
thousands. AS regards all those adjuncts
which make our exterior life enjoyable
Florida possesses larger share than any
other climate on the continent and old ST.
Augustine. with her cool sea breezes and
cloudiess sun, enjoys the reputation of
being the Eden of Florida.
An Interesting Old Place.
The city itself is an interesting old place
IN every particular. Northern astuteness
has measured the possibilities of the place
and northern capital mas made them avail
able The influx OF wealthy and fasuuiouS
VISITORS every winter mas been met Dy d
commensurate expenditure for their recep-
ton anu the mIIiIUnS which have been re-
Gently spent IA ST. Augustine have COM
l.Ste1 Us cIlLlIn ~ DC COHsIdereu the IeaU-
iIs sO1ILern winter resort oil the country.
Then AGAIN, the ancient and romantic part
OF 81. Augustine Is Il continued STUDY and
means OF entertainment. II is like an old
1asnlOneI beauty VINO has been lying III
sJate through IneSe long years, pranked
IA all her nnery of feathers, furoeIows,
paint, powder and patches, and now wakes
Cp and walks and talks with in the
quaint stilted phraSeOiogy of old days 1t
"
the dignity and simple grace Of the Spanish
cavaliers, VINO nrSt conquered, settled and
peopled II, seem still TO nnser. We can al
most fancy We see their shadowy forms
stOOp their plumed heads as they pass in
anu out Of their ancient homes, with gilt
spurs JanglnS and swords changing at their
heels We are stepped to the lips in the
spirit OF the middle ages all round US and
everywhere We recognize the features and
indiyidualities Of days dead and gone
The hotels. built expressly for the service
or the travelling world, are the only touches
or modern life we find herein-no other
thing OF modern birth dares lift its head
In ST. Augustine. AS rule the Inhabitants
seem made to match the place-indeed they
are part of 1t. Many are the descendants
fathers before them have lived here all
their days and still occupy the ancient
dwellings of their race
While said the hotels were the only
tertorly speaking. are generally types of
the ancient Spanish architecture and built
Marrow and Crooked Streets.
The streets of the city are narrow and
crooked. varying from ten to twenty feet
wide, the houses having balconies jutting
out overhead. so close together that the
ladies thereon can almost shake hands
across from one side OF the road to the
other. The original houses are mostly built
Of a kind of compressed shell-stone, called
''coquina," which is quarried from the Is
land OF Anastasia, lying about a mile
across the harbor, and separates st. Angus
tine from the Atlantic ocean.
The most picturesque and romantic of all
the quaint old streets is st. George street.
with its curious hanging balconies clinging
along the front thereof. which are gener-
ally covered with climbing plants. The
white coquina walls rise straight and bare
direct from the roadways; the windows are
small and closely curtained, as though the
old Spanish dons still jealousy guarded
their hidden beauties from the sight of man.
There Is an air of great seclusion every
where. We might be wandering through
an oriental city, but We know that behind
these bare walls there are blooming gardens
of oleander. magnolia, orange and lemon
trees.
At the top of St George street stands the
ancient city gate. which once formed a
part Of the old stone wall which, running
from shore to shore. protected the city
from hostile incursions. The greater part
or the wall has long since disappeared, but
q rude, rugged, moss-covered mass clings
around as though 1t helped to support the
still ornamented towers which once rose
up on each side of the city gate, and which
still stands massive and strong.
Fort Marion.
Passing between the still stately towers
We come in full view of Fort Marion one
of the most attractive features of st. Angus
tine. 1t was commenced in 1892. 1t is re-
markedly fine and imposing structure.
Grand. gray and massive, standing on a
gentle rising HILL just outside the city. lift
ing its gloomy front toward the sea- The
fort is perfect in all its parts. stamped only
with the desolation and dreariness which
must brood over any place which Is de-
serted and unused for a long period of
years. In the interior old dungeons, case
mates. etc, are all intact, and guns lying
In their carriages are frequent. 1t is GER
tainly weird yet interesting old place.
and constantly the lettering place Of the
winter tourist.
OF the famous hotels of st. Augustine
the Ponce de Leon and Alcazar will re-
open in January, but the Cordova Is quar-
tering large number of guests. This
house has never opened until a month later
and makes the town much ivelier this year.
Among the other houses either now open
or rapidly preparing for an early resume
Of business are the Magnolia. Florida, San
Marco, Barcelona and Valencia. W. L. h.