Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-03-19
WANT TO GET BACK.
Arps Are Yearning for a Glimpse
OF Georgia
They Are stili Among the Tourists-They
Are Mixing With Miilionaircs-Bnl
Goes to an Opera House Down
There and n ears Concert.

Tarpon Springs is q charming little
place-so clean and nice and just now
SO odoriferous from the yellow jessa-
mine that in every yard climbs the
trees and verandas in wild profusion.
Jessamine would be fit name for the
town for there is more jessamine than
tarpon. Sometimes that silver king OF
fish does find it's way :nto the large
pool they call spring, but not often.
The spring is in tho center Of that pool
and Is ever in a commotion, throwing
up its sulphurous, gaseous waters from
subterranean depths whose bottom has
just been found. Sometimes in the
dead Of the night it makes explosions
that arc heard all over the village and
throws up aquatic debris that floats off
to the bayou. What is going on down
in those mysterious depths is still un-
known. The pool covers, perhaps, two
acres OF space and the circular high
lands around it are studded with beauti.
full residences and the walkway whore
the little boats are moored is a thing of
beauty. Stairways made of cement
lead down to this cement walk and 1t is
only step from there to the boat you
wish to take whether it be a rowboat or
a sail or a naphtha launch. Some Of the
most beautiful and costly boats in all
Florida are there, for these wealthy
people seem to emulate each other in
procuring the most handsome in design
and the most artistic in speed. Some
Of them were taken to the Worlds Fair
and took the premium over all COM
petitors.
Tarpon is not on the gulf nor on tho
harbor. 1t is about four miles away,
and on bayou that connects with the
beautiful Anclote river and Anclote
connects with the harbor. On an island
near this harbor is the Anclote light
house, and to this island and up the
river pleasure parties go every day that
the weather permits.
rode out in carriage with some
gentlemen. The road was good and the
weather pleasant. While looking off
at the numerous small vessels that
were anchored in the water large,
strong sailor came from his cabin on
the shore and said: ''Good mawnin'. !"
He was bare efooted and had on neither
coat nor vest. He looked tough and
rough. He was q sponger, and my
friends knew him. "What is tho
weather going to do this evening, Tom?"
Tom replied gruftiy: "Wind gwine to
tho north-rain on you afore you git
back and heap colder" I smiled, for
1t seemed an improbability. If not an
impossibility. but my friends said,
''rom knows if anybody does. He is all
old sponger."
We had not driven half milo before
wa felt the north winds breath upon
the back Of our necks and the driver
stopped to let down the curtain. In
about ten minutes the temperature had
changed at least 10 degrees and driv-
ing rainstorn was upon US. 1t was liks
Texas norther. ''Touch up that off
| horse," I'VE said, ''and make for home and
| shslter."
There are about I, 900 of these spongers,
AMI there are about 100 small vessels
along the sponge reefs that eTtend for
many miles along the gulf coast. This
business is owned at Tarpon and has
proved cutie profitable to its owners.
TIE sneep's wool sponge is OF three
classes, and sells for from Is cents to
So. so per pound. Philadelphia and St.
Louis are the principal markets.
Mr.. Disston, one Of the rich saw
makers, has a winter homo in Tarpon,
and is leading citizen in identifying
and ornamenting the place. The ladies
have formed village improvement as
sociation, and take pride in their work.
Everybody is for Tarpon, and there is
more sociability there than we find at
Clear Water. The v. /. A. has brought
the ladies nearer together and broken
down some social barriers. l wish there
was one in every community. When
the town marshal or the street commit
tee asks man to clean up his lot and
make it look decent and attractive, it
makes him mad, but when the ladies
say "Mr. Jones, there Is an ugly lot Of
old tin cans lying around in your lot;
please dig a hole and bury them or haul
them of to the woods" he will do it.
When they say "Mr. Jones, we want
you to plant few evergreens and vines
and rose bushes and repaint your house
and your fence and fix up your old gate"
he can't stand the feminine racket and
goes at it, There are some backyards
here in Clear Water that are horribly
dirty, and are in full view of passersby.
Tarpon has little gem of an opera
house-the prcttiest for its size in all
Florida-and they have some entertain
ment there two or three times a week,
even If it has to be got up by local tall
ent A part of the proceeds has to be
given to the v. ]. A. or 1T won't be pa
tronized. Mrs. Libbey and her gifted
children are always on hand to do up
the music, and never heard trio that
made any sweeter harmony. Tho
mother takes the piano, the daughter.
Miss Winifred, pretty lass of IA, plays
the violin, and the laddie. Johnny, aged
10, is already a rare performer on the
cornet. The Libbeys are blessing to
the town. wish that every little town
had such willing and gifted family.
Florida is all right now, as to the
weather. Gentle spring has put on her