The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-01-30
ST.. AUGUSTINE Jan, %. 96

The initial sentence IN everything des
criptlye of st. Augustine is, "St. Angus.
tine IS the oldest city In the United
States There Is not much left that
has the interest of antiquity and such as
there is 10 overshadowed 10y the magnifi-
cence of modern architecture. The three
great hotels, Ponce de Leon, Alcazar and
COrdova, remind one Of the white City"
the recollection of whose splendor Will
ever be monument to the enterprise of
Chicago. These hotels. each of which
has court OF its own, enclose Il plaza.
The streets are narrow, purposely so to
create the allusiOn of antiquity. As grand
eur is hardly consonant with republican
simplicity the purple flag of Spain floats
with abtrusive suggestion. The Ponce
lie Leon is the finest hotel of the three
The others appear poor in comparison,
though standing by itself each would
challenge admiration. And still there is
more of show than comfort IN these grand
hostlerles. That Is, the magnifGsuce
which appeals to the eye does not extend
to the things which minister to creature
comforts. The proportion is not nam
tanned though the man who would find
fault must indeed be difficult to please
The old fort still everlooBs the bay 1t
is more a relic than a coast defense even
II 1t could withstand modern artillery as
it is not well located TO meet the ext
are not even curious though dismal
enough. The walls are heavy over four
feet thick ana made of coquino, an arti-
fetal conglGmerate made Of shells of
which there is heavy deposit in Anasta
Ia Island. The ''sea wall" which extends
along the bay on which the fort is built.
s of the same material, made into large
and regular blocks. What this wall was
built for no one knows, though 1t Is the
work of tie United States government.
1t protects nothing, contributes to
nothing and is no more a thing of beauty
than of utility.
There Is some of the old wall which
protected the ancient town left. Not
much though. Tie old streets are very
narrow, so much so that two teams can
not drive abreast. The old, old houses
are not an object OF reverence. Nothing
of this kind is unless it has history
attached to it. Curio stores are numerous
and the shops opening on the streets
without the intervention Of a sidewalk
make them curious, particularly To the
women who examine everything and
then purchase a paper Of pins.
Boating is quite an amusement here.
the land locked bay making it compare
lively safe, though often the storm is
fierce where 1t opens into the ocean. |
remember having taken boat ride on
this bay in 1893 when it was perfectly
calm, though the breakers were heavy on
the sea coast. A young man from Da-
kota was my companion. He persisted
against the remOnstrance of the boatman
IN getting little ocean experience. |
was assured privately that no danger
would be Incurred and relying upon the
boatman's advice and discretion felt
comparatively safe. But the other Gland
lubber" begged prayed and moaned.
His fears were heightened by the boat
man tale that we were IN the midst of
sharks. My Dakota companion thought
me fearless not knowing that | was IN
the confidence of the boatman and that
it was conspiracy to teach him lesson.
| was as much relieved as he when we
returned to quiet water.
| have not worn an overcoat since
leaving st. Louis and find winter under
Rlnf hipCr a hut nnnnp1f ahla ut
The pickanlnnies run about barefooted.
They haunt the hotels selling chameleons.
The little fellows have caught the spirit
OF the place and look upon vislters as
lawful prev. There is none of the pro-
verbal southern courtesy in ST. Augus-
tine. The spirit of gain has driven that
ont There is absolutely nothing more
vulgar than the desire to make money
when it is overmasterng. 1t infects
every place where the multitude gathers
for recreation and display.
| have my doubts of the salubrity of
the winter climate of Florida 1t Is too
enervatlng TO be conducive to vigorous
health. 1t has not deprived me of my
propensity TO catch cold on the slightest
provocation. Still it seems difficult. with
open doors, parties seated on piaZZas
smoking. and barefooted children romplpo
on the streets, to realize that the vigors
of winter are being felt in Wisconsin
Florida is owned, or soon will be. by
two railway companies which are making
desperate efforts TO draw capital here /
They are rival companies. the Plant
system operating IN the Interior and
along the western coast as far as Tampa. /
The East Coast railing system is de. /
veloplng the East coast and modern st. /
Augustine Is its child. The party reach I
ed here on Tuesday and leaves on Satur-
day for Palm Beach on the coast $50 /
miles south OF here where bananas aud |
pine apples grow.