The morning news., 1897-02-19
FAIR Ar WINTER PARK.
A Scene That BevIIders and Delights
Northern Visitors.


Winter Park, Fla, Feb 17.--This has
been a great day for this city The
weather has been quite summerish and
Winter Park. Gabrielle, Golden Rod and
Lake Howell Horticultural Association
Exhibition opened with large crowd
present, and under the most gratifying
auspices.
President Ward of Rollins college pre-
sided over the Introductory exercises,
Mayor Austin delivered the address of
welcome and Col. w. II. Jewell of the
Orlando star, a silyer-tongued orator,
made the response. The splendid orches-
ira of the Seminole hotel interspersed the
proceedings with appropriate and appre-
ciated music.
Givin's large orange packing house,
near the Plant system depot, was hand
somely decorated outside and inside for
the occasion, and presented very inVit-
ing appearance, especially TO northern Vis-
itors, to whom a horticultural fair in mid
winter is a rare treat, indeed. Mr.. Rob
ert w. Hin of Waterbury, Conn, brought
over large party from the tPtel az Ala
monte Springs; another parry Of New
Workers and Michiganders came from the
Park house at Maitland, and still another
from the Orlando hotels.
From all these delegations there was
but one eXpression-''A truly remarkable
exhibitions such immense vegetables; big
strawberries and pineapples and other de-
hcious fruits, with an abundance OF lovely
and fragrant plants and flowers, some of
the most exquisite beauty"
Quite a sensation was created at the
opening by the arrival of the Seminole
hotel street car Handsomely decorated.
Forth from II came several cooks from
the kitchen in their neat white suits and
caps, two bearing a loaf of bread eleven
feet long, while two others bore a fine
baked pig. with a third holding aloft a
beautifully decorated strawberry short
cake. Manager Dick Of the Seminole was
greeted with rapturous applause from the
crowd present when he presented these
delicacies to the fair.
Every foot of available room in the
building 10 occupied by attractive exhib-
its Of field creps, vegetables, fruits, flow
ers needle and art work. poultry, etc.
Such mammoth vegetables were never be-
fore seen at fair and some of them aetu-
ally startieo the visitors by their immense
A great deal has been said about the
failure of the grape industry In Florida,
and thee have been good local reasons
for many of the failures; but three men,
at least, Du Bois, Erwin and j. B, La
Montague, have clearly proved that this
Is good grape and wine producing state.
Ihe latter gentleman, who is
has his Of %neysrds qsuTs near ans ans
place, and his exhibit of bottled wines to-
day would do honor to a big New York i'm
porting wine house. In. addition TO mis-
olarct, sauterne. port wine, sherry ana
grape brandy. he exhibits blackberry,
grape fruit and orange wines and orange
and grape cognac and orange brandy. Like
in disposing Of his products at profitable
[rices. In love with his profession, Mr..
La Montague has so devoted himself to
his vineyard that he has kept it free
from the pests, etc, that have brought
failure to so many others.
This afternoon the fair visitors were
given fine entertainment by the stud
ents of Rollins college in their athletic
hall, and tonight they are enjoying a de-
lightful musical by the orchestra of the
Seminole in the spacious parlors of tho
hotel, while on the lawn outside, at in
tervals the Winter Park Cornet band dis
courses sweet music in the moonlight to
a big crowd on the vine-clad veranders.
For midwinter these scenes and enjoy
ments appear out of season TO our north
eTn visitors. and for this reason they are
taking the full benefit Of them with a keen
relish. Tomorrow Will give them some
added attractions. an address from Bish-
op II. Il Whipple In the forenoon, a bcy-
others. and some bicycle races in the
afternoon.