Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-24
OUR WINTER RESORT.
A Tourist Tells Of Ills Recent Trip 10
the Land Of Flowers.
LUXURY or TUE FLORIDA LIMITED
Y,ytng over a Great Trunk-Line-
The. Baimy Atmosphere ana Mng-
-. Augustine-Otbcr Points.
tcorrespondenec Of tho Dispatch.

(corrospondenee Of the Dispatoh)
PALM BEACH. FLA. February CO.
Florida is OF peculiar interest as the mo-
dsrn Mecca OF the capitalist. the tourist
the pleasure and the health-soeker NOT
withs,anding the many articles wnich
have been and are still being daily writ
ten upon its charms. Il can never be fully
understood or appreciated until visited
And now that II has been rendered 10
easily accessible from all points Nor'n'
East, South. ana West by the coup'hs
OF The New Short Line via the SCUM
ern railway and the Florida CentraI anu
Peninsula. Il win soon become the one
great winter resort Of America Inv "P-
nroaoh now. no matter from what direc-
zion is one not only OF convenience ou'
OF positive luxury
The southern railway, that superb ahN
colossal company whose tracks gridiroh
tho region south Of Washington mas
brought the souihernmost coast OF the
Peninsula within a short distance OF Ne"
York and the other eastern cities. The
traveller may leave the metropolis after
tho day ~ nearly done and be trans
ported by the magnificent FLORIDA Limit
ed" 10 JacksOnyille--the gateway by
which the throngs that visit Florida every
winter enter the State--in time for dinner
the following evening.
TIE FLORIDA LIMITED.
A few words just at this point relativ-
90 the equipment. schedule. and route or
this train viii. / do not doubt. prove or
interest Carrying through veStibuled
AN,
St. Augustne-One Of which is divided
throughout into the most perfect gems OF
ftatc-rOoms. some FOR one or two people
others for three or more insuring as
much privacy md comfort and convent
ence as you could enjoy in your own
home-the FLORIDA Limited" pulled out
of New York at $50 i. NJ, and passing
through Philadelphia and Baltimore. /
, was. I'm q short time. In sight or the
lights twinkling around the national Capt.
tol AT Washington. Here a thorOughfare-
chr Is added 20 the train. and at minutes
past 10 o'clock the signal is given. and
] was soon speeding through the Old Do
minion. almost every inch Of which has
been c1nsocrated to history by the blood
a. contendinR armies. Bcrths having
been made down. and the lights turned
low. Morpheus soon reigns supreme, and
] knew nothing more until the porter
tOnrfOAH flfft car Tor tltakIdNi ilNEH
through the car, and | was awakened 20
find the train bearing us on through the
Ola North state at the rate OF forty
miles nm hour.
In the diniuR-Car was pleasantly sur
rrised TO find some OLD Richmond ac-
quaintanccs al tho table. and after II
most cordial greeting ! Joined them, AND
learned that they. too. were on their way
20 Florida. and that their sleeper was
attached 10 our train at Danville.
Entering and crossing South Carolina
with n stop Of few moments at Column
bia. and another sh0rt stop at Savannah
Ga. the train runs into Jacksonville al
five minutes after I'm the evening
thus bringing TO an end the shortest and
most delightful long trip Of my life.
AT JACKSONVILLE.
As the proprietor OF the 81. James
Hotel had already been apprsed Of my
arrival. proceeded at once TO this hos
ptable and mammoth structure. where
was Immediately shown 10 n beautifully
furnished suite 90 rooms. overlooking a
lovely park. and with windows opening
upon n broad Vcrandah several hundred
feet in length, and shaded by widespread
ing llve-oaks. Finding myself and com
paniOns 50 comfortably housed. We de-
cldcd 70 spend several days there visit
Ing the many points Of interest In the
CITY There. on the above mentioned We
raudas ana in thc shade-embowercd
walks OF the ST. James Park | after
wards spent many hours in the balmiest
atmosphere minellng with gay groups OF
Visitors, or listening 10 the delightful har-
monies OF the orchestra. and sometimes
in reading the newspaper accounts Of the
heavy SHOWS ana storms Of sleet In the
wuter-rid1cn North: and shivering at the
mere thought. ! would inwardly congratu
late myself that | was fortunate enough
90 he in Florida enjoying the al-fascinat
ing allurcments of this delightful eli
mate.
ST. AUGUSTINE.
From jacksonville. ST. Augustine thirty
eight miles distant. and ;he Oldest as
well as the most interesting. city In IN,
United States, is naturally the next plac,
60 stop. II has become a fashionable win
Ter resort whose great hotels dominate
the aspect OF the surroundings and ir
their luxury ana marnihcence have NJ
equals IN the world. 1t is the winter New
port whose visitors are numbered by Ter
of thousands whose private residences
are distinguished for elegance and com
fort Year by year the city grows NOR,
heautifuL aud with crch innovation anf
transformation ~ adds 10 It's attractive
ness. Tho Old Is being rapidly supplante,
by tho now; vet 81. Augustine preserve
n distinctive character all Of its own. anD
there is about tn old city an indehnabl,
charm. which leads ones thoughts bacl
90 It and eladlens the face that is one
more turned In fits direction
INDIAN RIVER.
Naturally iu the limited space at tn
writer's command. IL ia impossible TO civ
more than hT!ef and disconnected VieN
OF fair Florida. 50 We will hurriedly pro
coed southwark from St Augustin
through the nevcr-cndinC panorama q
beauty which increases until 1t become
unparalleled when the Indian river
reached. In order TO fully realize In
loVehness Of this stream. we leave ~
railroad az TituaVillc and take one of IN
steamers that run down 10 Jupiter III
let Suil we afterwards ind the railwa
Journey scarcely less attractive. and /
addition Il gives one the opportunity {
stop OF at Rockledge. where some Of tn
most famous scenery in Florida IL 20 b
found. and where the cQualy-famous In
Cian-Rlycr Hotel is located.
NATURE RUNS RIOT.
From here TO Palm Beach and LAX
Worth BE- a picturesque journey. whic
ends I'm the tropics Here IL Is that IN
Vegetation OF the equator seems 10 hay
selected perennial abiding place. Tn
Royal Ponciaua Hotel Is located here !
the midst OF most marvellous surround
i1gs Upon one side Of IL Is the ocear
on the other Is Lake Worth. and every
where upon the land nature runs riot 4
prodigal wealth. The Royal Poincian
tree. from which the hotel takes it's name
blooms In all rs amazing beauty; sag
palms nod gracefully 20 cocoanut trees
whose husk-covcred nuts fan and nestl
I'm the grass beneath. Here I'm this idea
spot Tor rest and quiet comfort, wit
abundance OF attractive opportunities 90
gayety for those Of our party. who al
socially inclined. We decide to stop an
spend the balance OF the winter.