The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-08

purely historical and descriptive books
about Florida make brief mention of the
place, but none treat of it In the manner
to satisfy the traveller who wants to know
of its romance and it's peculiarites. The
predominant importance of the affairs Of
the mainland on one side, and of Cuba.
on the other. have distracted attention
from stranger things on this little island.
In Poole's Index TO Periodical Litera-
ture" can be found trace of but one mag
azine article relating to Key West, though
there are scores on the other parts of
Florida-north. shore and peninsular, the
st. Johns, Indian, Ocklawahaa and Hall
fax rivers, the orange groves and the
resorts. Some of these make casual ref
crence to Key West-a paragraph or
page-and one or two articles have been
published in scientific journals relating
to the tidal currents among the reefs and
the geological history. That is all. In
book form the writer for boys, Kirk Nun
roe, who spends his winters at Cocoanut
Grove, Bay Blscayne, has written tale
of the keys and the everglades, which
begins at Key West and gives an impress
sionist picture of the island conditions.
1t is necessary to go back fifty-six years
to find a magazine article treating def
nitely and specifically of this place, and
then it is concealed under the name. In
the knickerbocker Magazine of January
1871, is this tile line: Loves Labor Lost
a Sketch Of Key West. BY the Author Of
the Drama Of Anne Boleyn.'" Now. the
dramatic indexes name some dozen plays
called Anne Boleyn," by as many au-
thors, and there Is no direct indication as
to who wrote this sketch. The weight OF
probability, however. points to George II.
Boxer, as the writer. lie had written a
sfaaa Of ln
tributor TO the knickerbocker, and he was
an eminent editor and American man Of
letters In style IL reminds one OF some
other OF Boxers sketches, and without
direct evidence or access to his biography
for Information whether he ever sailed
TO these seas. it seems fair 20 ascribe II 10
that member OF the eminent circle Of men
half Of the century. From this point OF
view, and because Of the peculiar aptnoss
Of some of the observations 10 the present
day. II seems worth while to quote the
sketch as contribution TO the literature
of Key West.
Reader OF migratory habits-for I need
ask no other-havc you ever in any Of
your flights visited Key West? Probably
never, for II is a Marbeheadish sort OF
place, that nobody visits unless impolled
by the broomstlck OF the wrinkled-bag me-
ccssity. The vast majority OF our country
men would be in utter ignorance OF the
existence OF such spot were Il not for
those ominous paragraphs In our daily ana
weekly chronicles. entitled Melancholy
Shipwreck' Unfortunate Disaster Dis
puted Salvage. etc. Indeed, many men OF
great intelligence are accus toned 20 con-
slider this Jewel imboddcd In coral as a
nest OF pirates, because Il Is the abode
Of wrcckcrs not rejecting that although,
like the lawyer ana doctor. the wrcckcr
lives hy the miserles OF his fellow
he may nevertheless be honest Some
individual has made the discovery before
us that there are good and bad men In
every profession or business. The lawyer
may swindlo. the doctor may knowingly
prescribe noatrums 90 make the invalid
worse, and The Rrccker may hcguile n
ship % her destruction. and yet We are
willing tO trust lawyers when We are On
trouble doctors when We are ill. and the
life of ahlpwreDkcd mariner aud nnason-
ser us well as hil property A. often saved
onIy hy the daring and perseverance OF