Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-02-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
Editorial Cores pondence.
Grand Outing Of the EditOrs--Ride
through Florida on Train
of Palace Cars.

through Florida on Train
of Palace Cars.
MEETING OF THE NATIONAL PRESS
ASSOCIATION AT ST. AUGUSTINE
THE QUAINT OLD CITY WITH ITS
GRAND NOTES.-THE PONCE DF
LEON AND THE ALCAzAR-sAN
MARCO AND THE SEA WALL
PALM BEACH AND THE ROYAL
PoINCIANA--PINE ANI
WILD ORANGES.
According to program we were due
at st. Augustine Tuesday morning,
the 2lst, the day fixed for the meet,
ing of the ASS ISOLATION. 1t was our
intention to go from Tampa, on the
west coast, to st. Augustine on the
east coast, through central Florida
and the lake region, but the company
controlling the railroads through that
part of the State would not agree to
haul our cars unless we would make
the trip in the day time, and as this
was then impossible, the Plant sys-
tenn readily consented to haul our
trains back to Waycross, Ga, via the
route we had come, and thence to
Jacksonville, the terminus of its
roads in East Florida. From then
until we got back to Jacksonville,
eight days later, our trains were
hauled by the Flagler or East Florida
Coast Line, over which we reached
st. Augustine for dinner on the 21st.
AT Jacksonville we were met by
delegation of citizens, ladies and
gentlemen, from st. Augustine, who
sho us many attentions. At the
depot we found carriages and other
vehicles in waiting to take us and
our baggage to our headquarters at
the AlcaZar-one of the splendid
hotels with which Mr.. Flagler has
adorned the ancient city.
The meetings of the Association,
continued during a session of four
days, were held in the spacious din
ing room of the Cordova, another of
Mr.. Flagler's grand hotels, adjoining
the Alcazar and under the same
management.
The address of welcome was de-
livered by Rev. John McGonigle,
the brilliant young pastor of the
beautiful church, built of the coquina
rock by Mr.. Flagler to the memory
Of his daughter, who died whilst en-
tering Charleston harbor some years
ago. The address was in excellent
spirit, full of humor, and fairly cap
tivated the editors. I'VE welcome
you," said he, "to the oldest city of
North America. Fifty-five years
before. the Pilgrim Fathers landed
upon Plymouth Rock, st. Augustine
was settled. Forty years indeed, be-
fore the Dutch had made their home
on Manhattan Island, there was
town here. Thirty-five years before
Santa Fe, our only rival in time,
there was city here by the sea-"
The gentleman then named the vari-
Gus settlers and cOnquerors who had
made the history Of the city, show
ing how far back the record went,
and then added that it is commonly
believed that this is the original site
of the Garden of Eden. We have
also," said he, leone to the conclu-
sion that it was here that the original
breach CT the Monroe Doctine oc-
Cured. Naturally we pride our
selves upon our age, and you, the
National Editorial Association, con-
stitute the last of long line of dis
tjnguished visitors, whom we now
welcome" He then named the diff
ferent nationalities that had occupied
the territory, and in alluding to
Spain and the slow progress of the
city under its government, said that
that power was enough to stop a
dynamo or paralyze Western editor.
The reverend gentleman then de-
scribed the physical peculiarities of
the city, remarking that the power
of modern enterprise, guided by cul-
tivated art, had raised a temple of
beauty from the crude materials so
abundant about US.
Before the address was concluded,
the speaker made a graceful refer
ence to the City Gates. at which point
Mrs. A. M. Narcotic handed him a
lovely floral KEY, twenty inches long,
made Of white carnations, meteor
roses and maiden hair fern, prepared
by the executive com mmittee In the
name Of the citizens of the city.
Mr.. McGonigle said, addressing
President Bunnell, that, with this
key, the President was to shut the
gates and not allow any one to 60 out
until he was satisfied of the warm