The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07

anything but the garden land of beauty
that they were before the freeze.
Fort Myers is the county seat OF Lee
county, and is reached after most en-
chanting voyage down Charlotte harbOr
from Punta Gorda, slSirting the waters of
the broad gulf off Pine Island and turn
ing up the picturesque Caloosahatchee
river. This trip by steamer is nearly one
hundred miles. but is made in considera-
bly, less than a day, leaving Punta Gorda
at o'clock, and arriving at Fort Myers
al 4 in the afternoon. The tourist aboard
the boat stands in rapture every minute
of the time as there rises to view at every
turn picturesque islands and keys, which
fairly dot the coast at the entrance to
Charlotte harbor, and which rise far up
from the water in perfect pictures of lv-
ing green. the growth being dense and
consisting of magnolias, palmettos ana
pine, entangled with jessamine vines in
profusion. The waters of the gulf, the
harbor ana the river are as blue as indt-
CO. which causes the land to show off in
striking contrast, and the day is always
bright and sunny, making the whole pie
ture that greets the eye of the tourist so
haZy, reposeful tempting and inviting as
to be perfectly enchanting. 1t Is FAR away
from the noisy hustle and confusion Of the
work-a-day world and the echoes OF bus
mess and strife seem far off and faint For
an outing of absolute rest, peace and con-
tentlnent there IS no land of dreams that
can Outfival the fascinating land of trop-
ical Florida to be found in Lee county
There are many interesting things TO be
seen on the little islands which block the
entrances to Charleston harbor; these is
lands, for the most part, are sparcely M
habitcd, excepting the larger ones, whore
truck farming has, in recent years, come
to be SO profitable as to induce rapid col
onizatiOn. one of the pretuest Of these
islands is CaptiVa. on a recent cruise
along the coast in company with Mr..
Frank q. Brown, president of the Flor
ida Southern railway. whose guest il was
a pleasure 10 be, / had an opportunity
to spend several hours on this altogether
charming little island. The northwestern
end of the strip of land is. perhaps. The
most picturesque part Of II. At the OK
IRENE northern corner there is little
fisher village, where dwell several Span
lards who spend their time fishing. the
products of their hauls being shipped TO
Key West from time 70 time, with great
profit To themselves. These fishermen 10
not reside on Cnptiva throughout the
year, but spend several months during the
fishing season there and have built a
quaint little village Of nuts and tents
The only boni hde inhabitants of the
northern half Of one of the prettiest Of
these islands Is one of the most interest
ing characters to be found anywhere IN
this wide world. Re is a bachelor, man
about 80 years Old, and lives in a little
hut built OF rude boards, about six by ten
feet. What he finds to cheer him there
all alone is problem that cannot be
solved by any student Of social ethics,
for there is not another human soul Tor
miles around and he seems TO be provided
with no boats in which to
make an occasional visit to the
little towns which adorn the distant coast
here ard there solitary and
along he resides in his little boX-like hut
with nothing to obtrude upon his media
ton save the roaring OF the pillows Of the
gulf, or the chirping OF the mocking birds
among the tall pines and magnolias and
underground which completely swallow
up his little house and home. A CONVEX
sation with this self-ostra cised individual
clearly established the fact that he Is q
man OF education. and, perhaps. mas seen
better days. He talks Interestingly, seems
glad to welcome visitor 20 the island
acknowledges that he grows lonely &C mo-
ments. but firmly declare that he does not
grow quite so lonely as TO ever care to
move back to the busy world again.
There. on the distant and deserted shores