The Portland daily press., 1897-03-16
Winter Days in Florida.
To the Editor Of the Press:

We asleep. dreaming or awaken We rub
our eyes, look, and listen. By what sys-
tenn of alchemy, or what new mode OF
transmigration of body as well as OF soul
have we SO suddenly been dropped down
into this patch of ParadiseP A few
days ago we we're in the winter realms
of the sunrise state. resorting to all the
well-known methods Of raising the steam
and the heat in order to calm the raging
elements and make endurabla the rigors
of that northern CLINE.
Now NE are in the summer land and
tropical scenes and pictures greet the
eye on every hand. The palm, the pine
apple, the lemon. the orange, the cocoa
nut, the banana and the beautiful
hibiscus tree, with its wea lth of ruddy
roses all singing in the gentle breeze that
sweeps the waters of lovely Lake Worth.
The mercury registers 81 today in the
shade-just little sultry for q Maine
man who lives in latitude where the
thermometer plays around the zero point
a large portion of the winter months.
We dropped our winter underwear at
O"ShnohNAiiCs cOO lul1c6 VI Uu1n
point, and we fels the need of full sum.
mer wardrobe today as We strolled ssalong
the palm and palmetto shaded walks be-
tween the Hotel Royal Poinciana and
Palm Beach Inn, the two great hotels
of this extreme south Florida resort. A
fine sea view is had from this last men,
TONED hosiery, and hundreds of its
guests were disporting themselves in the
surf en- the fine beach fronting the inn.
The forests of this southern land are
full of birds, and especially tuneful are
the matinees of the knocking bird whose
full repertory of song md musical notes
are won't to greet you in the earliest
morning hours. One never tires of lis
tening 20 the sweet and varied notes of
this merry sonRster.
This place ia comparatively new-the
magnificent Hotel Poinciara, the larg-
est in Florida was built by Henry NJ.
Flagler in 1898, and Palm Beach Inn in
1895, by the same party. The east coast
railway has been extended to Miami, 81
N lies south of this point, by Mr. Floyles.
The same party built these in 1896. the
Hotel Royal Palm, now managed by
Henry w. Merrill of the Crawford
House, White Mountains.
The great wealth Of II. M. Flagler has
done wonders in opening up the east
coast OF Florida as resort for winter
tourists from the north AMI vest. True
lie has built upon such a gigantic and
luxurious plan, and withal has made his
hotels. suoh places OF amusement, enter
tainment and comfort That many all or
binary tourist cannot find the ways and
means to spend many weeks at his royal
palaces unless he has very fat bank az
count However one may find here hotels
Of more moderate expense, and good
private boarding houses OIL very reason
able terms. The humblest tourists are
always welcome upon the grounds of
Mr.. Flagler's hotels, to sit in their cor
ridors and pavilions, to drink the nectar
IF their pure waters and to listen to the
delightful strains of their trained orcbes-
tras.
We came to this place to see the great
hotels, the Incompatible grounds about
them, with their wealth of trees, fruits,
plants and flowers which are not to be
found In more northerlg sections of the
state. Yachting here is a popular amuse-
ment. Sportsmen enjoy fishing for blue
fish in the lakes, for shark and kingfish
outside. for bass from the beach, and
deep-sea fishing from the ocean pier
Walks and bicycle paths lead up and
down the lake. The beach and great
saltwater sw INNING pool sfford bathing
and the basins miscellaneous sports.
There are several charming places on
the east coast between jacksonville and
Palm Beach besides St, Augustine. Now
Smyrna is one of Florida's Oldest towns
And the seat OF Turn bulbs Minorsan set
Element in 1867. Here is seen the Oldest
canal Ct our country, built in 1764-the
ruins If sugar mills are yet extant.
Hunting and fishing here are very good
Ormond by the Sen has many admirers.
Hotel Ormond is run by Anderson and
ri nf pnrt1and Tho
are shaded by besutifnl palmettoes, pines,
magnolia and live oak snd surrounded
by growing orange groves
RockledRe is fashionable winter re-
sort on the west bank IF the Indian
River, 175 miles from Jacksonville and
the headquarters Of the famous Indian
oranges Some 300 cottages line: tbs river
bank, and shell road connects Rock
ledge with Cocoa, DIG and q half miles
north.
Tomorrow we shall return to dear,
quaint old ST. Augustine. In addition
to the fact that it has the prestige of
years, as well as of n delightful situation
andia good climate, the old city took our
fancy fromsthe start. The city is the old
est permanent settlement of Europeans
within the limits of the United States,
having hesn founded by the Spanish
General Menendez, September s, 1866
II is situated on the Matapzas River, SO
miles s1uth of Jacksonville. It's more
recent development dates from the build
ing of the Hotel fonce de Leon and it's
two great neiRhbors by Fl. NJ Flagler in
1888. The eity has an abundant water
supply from uDfail;ng artssian wells,
plenty Of foliage, clean concrete pave
ments of unsurpassed excellence, gas and
electric lights, a fire department.. stores
of all kinds, public buildings and
private residences of recent design, as
well as older ones suggestive Of the era
of Spanish occupation. aud hotels that
are very large and remarkably pictur-
esque.
Another reason that calls us tack to
st. Augustine, is to pass as much time
as we can With onr friends Mr.. end Mrs.
J. K. Stanhope. The Cuban war drove
Mr.. Stanhope from his business in
Havana ami he has bought beautiful
home in st. Augustine. He is native
of Newport, and his attractive wife is
daughter of the Pine Tres State,
rativs of the good old town of Lincoln.
OF oourfe it did not take US long to get
acquainted. and to become very good
friends.
A. T. LEWIS.