Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-27

| landed there. Sunday afternoon our
| party badc n reluctant good bye to
Ormond, and its beauties. and continued
south ON It's way to Palm Beach. Our
route was through the heart Of the Indian
| river region famous for its oranges; but
sharing, though in somewhat less degree,
the destructive effects Of the frost, ST
| painfully in evidence throughout the
state.
| 1t was about nine O'Clock when we
reached the shores OF Lake Worth, and
| looking across the waters to the barrow
peninsula between the lake and tho ocean,
upon which it is situated, caught our first
| glimpse of the famous Royal Poinciana
| hotel. All of its rooms were ablaze with
the electric lights supplied by its own
500 900 electric plant and standing out
Of the Darkness behind a grove of stately
cocoanut palms, ii presented a scene OF
understandable beauty. 1t was royal
welcome to the tired members of our
party and one that will not soon be for
gotten. Our rooms had been assigned us
| by card on the train, and when our train,
crossing the long bridge across Lake
| Worth, landed us at the hotel doors We
had only TO secure our keys. and find
pleasant quarters. We had scarcely
reached them before our baggage was
there, SO promptly and efficiently was it
| handled a fine dinner was served us,
and after enjoying for a short time a fine
concert given in the rotunda by the
orchestra connected with the house We
were gled enough TO retire.
We were up at an early hour in the
morning. however, fully impressed with
| the importance of utilizing, to the utmost
extent, every moment of time accorded us
at this delightful resort. We We're fortu-
nate in finding Maine friend, DR. l.. w.
Pendleton Of Portland, the popular physi-
clan Of the house, through whose kind
ness we We're able to lay out the day TO
the best possible advantage.
| After breakfast served IN the style for
which this house is famous We enjoyed a
delightful stroll on the lake shore, along
beautiful hard shell walk frinGed with
cocoanuu palms, many of them in fruit
Among the beautiful estates we visited
was that of Mr.. Clark Of Connecticut, of
o. n. Il. spool cotton fame. His colored
gardener who was working about the
grounds, very affably showed us over the
place, which seemed like veritabe
NbihiSA VI iIttEdtilSS- Orange. ltIllbn, lime.
and banana trees hung heavy with fruit
considerable piece of land was devoted
to pine apples in healthy state Of
growth. All kinds of garden vegetables
We're growing in rank profusion There
were also olive, fig and glava trees in
abundance though it was not the season
for them to be In fruit.
We return for Il walk about the beauti-
full grounds of the hotel, and for a look
from various points of view at the noblr
house itself which is a magnificent combi-
nation of the Corinthian and colonial
styles of architecture. The wharyes on the
lake front were thronged with naphtha
launches, and sail boats going out aud
returning with merry parties of fishermen
and pleasure seekers.
At about II clock we take our way
through beautiful walk, bordered by
palms, palmettoes, and oleanders, to the
i.seashore, stopping on the way to admire
the latest of Mr. Flagler's creations-Thc
Inn. This may be said TO have almost
sprung up, like Jonah gourd, in Il single
night 1t was built to accommodate the
overflow from the Royal Poinciana. ana.
Il year ago was undrcamed OF. In about
six months from its inception it was oper
for the public, a task necessitatipg th,
employment Of 200 graders and 25O
mechanics. Its broad and sunny vcrandss
overlook an ocean scene of rare beauty,
and the accommodations ii affords its
guests are first class in every respect Ii
can take care Of 100 people very comfort
ably.
Near The Inn is the famous salt water
swimming, pool the four sides % which
are faced with comfortable bath rooms.
II one desires Il plunge in the surf it is
| but moments walk to the sandy beach
where one Of the .ceaviest surfs to ba
found upon the Atlantic coasts lends zest
TO the sport Our party enjoyed both the
surf and the pool, and, although it was
the 9Th day Of January, found the waite,
of both delightfully."- warm and invigorat
ing. The following forenoon small
party Of us chartered "a naphtha launch
and enjoyed a trip up Lake Worth to
Pitts Island. The owner, Mr. y. "
Pitts, is New England man, and one
who is glad at all times to have visitors
see its attractions. 1t would seem almost
impossible for nature herself to have
planned a more beautiful place. Oranges,
lemons, bananas, lines, and varialls other
fruits were growing there in rank profu
sion, and the big schools OF fish to be seen
about its wharf substantiatet. its claim to
be al ideal resort for anglers. During
this trip we kept two lines trolling be
hind the launch for blue fish and one OF
the ladies of our party from Mains--suc-
cceded in landing one that tipped the
scales at five pounds. This, and "a mullct
landed by the genial editor Of the Farm
ington {Me.) Chronicle constituted the
sum total OF our catch.
On the opposite side Of Lake Worth,
from the Royal Poinoiana, and nearly
facing it, is the Windelia pine apple plan
tation where $50, coo thrifty plants are
now growing.
Among its many attractions Palm
Beach boasts number of beautiful road,
we'll adapted to bicycle riding and Il
young man who has q number of these
machines to let in the basement Of the
Royal Poinciana, did tlourishipg bust
ness during the stay of our party
We left this delightful resort Wednes
day morning, January Doth, and started
on our return north Fer Il long distance
our way lay through a succession of large
pine apple plantations, whose long rows
of plants presented a very thrifty and
beautiful appearance. AT Eden the train
stopped to allow lis to inspect planta-