The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-18
She ggerald aaa Yelys.
A FLORIDA VENICE

y.
BillArp Raves Over the Settlement Known
as Clear Water-out on Fishing Trip
He Discovers That There Are
Thirteen in the Party.
Yesterday we visited the North island,
or Palmetto island, as it is called, and
spent happy day. There were thirteen
in the party. We dident know this until
we were out at sea. and 1t disturbed our
tranquility a ittle-just little. Phil
osophy doesent drive away our superstl-
tons. This was the longest sail we nave
taken, and we carried enough lunch along
to feed US a week, as we thought If any
thing should happen to us Ike there did
to Robinson Crusoe We would not starve.
It was delightful sail of five miles, and
Mr.. Whitmore's little boat "Columbla"
plowed the waves eagerly and sometimes
threw the pure salt water over US and
made the children scream with delight.
Mr.. Whitmore, our Swedish sailor, said:
'sIt vas VERY healty-dis zalt vater." In
deed that is what gives this place its name
and dreputation-the con$inous How OF pure
salt water into the harbor from the nu-
merous passes between the island 1t Is
always coming in and going out, and there
is no stagnation. These island are long
and narrow. On the west side they are
fringed with beautiful beach, just as far
as the eye can reach, and the surf is. ever
lashing the sandy shore, leaplng and
tapping and foauing, coming and gong
and moaning. The young folks brought
their bathing suits along, and reioiced IN
struggling with the white capped waves.
Some fishermen have built palmetto
house near by which is both shelter and
a hiding place. 1t is prettily thatched on
top and or the sides with PLAN leaves, the
stems of which are woven and lnterlaced
like the basket makers do it. AL around
are groves Of palm trees whose beautiful
umbrella tops shaded Us from the sun.
Beneath their shade we ate up everything
we had brought. As l walked along the
shell covered beach I saw man-just q
small speck OF mana mile away, and
I thought it must be Crusoe's man
Friday. Soon I saw other specks move
out from the palmettoes, and these seemed
like the cannibals who were getting ready
to coast prisoner. But they all plunged
into the foamy waters and Mr. Whltmore
said it was a bathing party from Dun
Eden. This whole island Is made OF
shells -disintegrated shells-and I should
think would make good phosphate. Every
gulf storm throws new coat upon 1t, or
takes away one. The fishermen get both
profit and sport around thesepasses where
the groupers and pompano and Spanish
mackerel abound. It took Us only half
an hour to make the outward trip, but
much longer to return, for it was sailing
against the wind, and we had to tack and
retack all the way. 1t was day to oe
remembered, and all the thirteen were
landed safe about sundown. Every day
somebody goes out on one OF these Island
excursions, for they are cheap-only.Sl.5O 80
for the whole party. There areno horses to
feed or run away, no strain on anything.
Indeed there is not a single private car
riase In Clear Water; no driving around
and leaving cards. If you can't walk you
can sail or row. It is all air and water.
Spring seems fairly upon cs now. The
oleanders are in bloom and the odor Of
the yellow jasmine perfumes the air.
Fruit bearing tress are all ID bloom.
saw an alligator pear tree IN full blossom.
It was eighteen inches ID diameter. Its
fruit is something between a banana and
a muskmelon and is eaten with salt and
pepper. Cabbages grow to twenty-five
pounds in weight and tomatoes are large
and colored to protection. Something IS
growing all the year round and yet na-
ture seems to have her seasons here as Ii
higher latitudes. And now let me say to |
numerous correspondents, who have asked |
a Numbered questions, that have no type |
writer and can only say that I have no IN
terest whatever directly or remotely IN |
booming Clear Water. Lam not real |
estate agent. I have no land to sell, but
the more travel and the longer l stay |
tho more am satisfied with what nature |
has done for this place. I have an. ear
nsst desire to own winter residence here, |
where my wife and others Of the family |
can come and ba * in Florida sunshine |
anii breathe the 1t air of the gulf. 1t IS |
possible to live as cheaply here as any
where and Gotta ge Of SIX rooms can be !
built for 81 900. There is good bakery |
here, and with good bread and butter and
fish and vegetables there is no lack OF food.
Uncle Dan ..McMullen has been living |
here ffty-two years and. says it IS Ger
tainly the healthie5t region on the globe.
I 90 to Apopka and Oakland and Klssl-
NEE this week and then to Iyerness and |
CRYSTAL river and Brooksvile, all ct which |
are said to be lovely. ! am studying
Florida without a book. but somehow l
have no desire to be at the grand opening
of Mr. Flagler's new hotel at Lake Worth.
It would be scene too bewlderlng for me
and too depicting. like such things at
a distance. But I like the hospitable, un-
pretending towns, whose hearts are warm
and the people live IN. close communion.
These are the people who fight our bat
ties IN war and respect law and order IN
times of peace and preserve the common
wealth. These are the humble, content
ed people to whom Burns and Pope and
Goldsmith paid tribute and whose graves
Gray immortaGzed lin his elegy. These
people have their faults and their pre-
iudices, but in time of troubled would
rather depend upon one Of them than
upon score of pure-proud arlstocrats.
bow thoughtful they are of their chlldren,s
morals. .sMr. McMullen," said /, If it
won't pay you to market these oranges
why don't you mako wine of them. I see 1t
selling in town at so cents quart and 1t |
is nearly as good as sherry" !
eyes" said he, ~ know it makes good |
wine, but there isa lot Of grandchildren
growing up around me and am afraid |
to take the responsibility. l am not q
prohibitionist, but I don't want to lead |
my own flesh and blood into temptation.
He lives four miles from town and the |