Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-02-20

tine we were all invited by the citi-
zens of the town to an oyster roast
on Anastasia island beach, four miles
from the city. We crossed the Ma
tanzas river on the bridge at st. Au-
gustine, and, taking the train pro-
vided for our accommodation, were
soon at the place appointed for the
feast. twenty-five barrels of the
succulent bivalves, fresh from the
river, had been provided, and dele
cation of citizens, with ten or a
dozen negro men to keep up the
brush fires and do the roasting, was
present to superlntend the novel
feast. What time we had eating
oysters on the half shell When all
were satisfied there were enough oys-
ter shells lying around i'm the sand to
macadamize one Of Old Augustine's
little streets. We then went to the
beach and enjoyed the novelty of
S"'hSiihS up SiISllS lIOib Inc SSd-
shore" and watching the restless bill
lows Of old ocean" boundless, end
less and sublime"
a banquet at the Ponce dc Leon,
dance and collation. at the Alcazar
casino and ball at the San Marco,
another grand hotel named in honor
OF the old fort, were among the pleas
ing attentions shown the moulders
of public opinion" by the hospita-
BILE people, who spared neither time,
trouble nor money to make our stay
among them as pleasant as possible.
On Saturday morning, the 25th,
we bid adieu to st. Augustine with a
feeling well nigh akin to sorrow, and
started for Palm Beach, about $50
miles down the coast. Our first stop
was at Daytona, on the beautiful In
dian river, where, leaving our cars,
we found ourselves i'm new and
beautiful little town of |, 800 souls,
built literally in forest Of palm
trees and great, spreading live oaks,
from whose branches the moss grace
fully hung in rich profusion, and in
length from five to ten feet. Never
had we witnessed a scene more novel,
beautiful and picturesque.
Leaving Daytona we pulled back
i've miles to Ormond, also on Indian,
Or as it is called there, Halifax river,
where we remained twenty-four
hours, until Sunday afternoon. Or
nOnd is Go miles below Jacksonville,
situated on both sides of the Halifax,
connected by bridge nearly half a
0ile long. The hotel, which is a
arge and we'll kept hostelry, though
lot nearly so fine as the others we
laVe mentioned. stands on the east
,ank OF the river about half q mile
rom the ocean beach. The attrac-
ions to tourists here are the beauti-
ul drives over perfectly level roads,
through fragrant pine woods and
groves, rides on the river
n naptha and sail boats and walking
n driving on the wide, beautiful, al
most level beach, thirty miles long,
Without break, and almost as firm
IS an asphalt pavement-so firm, in
Iced, that the wheels of a loaded
'ehicle hardly make discernible
Though the day at Or
nond was cloudy and unpleasantly
ool, so great were the attractions of
he beach and ocean view we spent
most of our time there wandering
'long the shore gathering sea shells.
After dinner, Sunday afternoon,
he 26th, we went aboard of our
rain and pulled out for Palm Beach,
about 235 miles down the coast,
which we reached in time for a very
ate supper, or dinner as they call it
here. This run from Ormond to
Palm Beach was the most delightful
Of the whole trip. 1t was over a
'oad almost perfectly straight and as
evel as a floor, with the beautiful
indian river, varying from one-half
10 three miles wide, seen from one
Of the car and dense pal
metto forests from the other. This
stream, stretching along
the east coast of Florida for perhaps
200 miles, is in fact nothing more
than an inlet from the sea. At Palm
Beach it is known rs Lake Worth.
The water is of color quite differ
ent from the main oceon, is of
brackish taste, and abounds in fish of
many varieties, and ducks aud other
water fowls are seen in great num-
bers along its shores.
AT Palm Beach we stopped at the
Royal Poinciana--another of Mr..
Flagler's magnificent caravansaries--
called after the tree of that name,
which, when in full bloom, lights up
the surrounding forest with a mag
niticent display Of red blossom.
The Royal Poinciana is a wooden
structure of mammoth proportions,
700 feet long, seven stories high and
will shelter nearly thousand guests.
1t is painted white inside and out,
luxuriously furnished, supplied with
every modern convenience.-ball-
room, baths, electric lights, etc..-and