Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-01
Difference Between the Actual and
the Imaginary.
IMPRESSIONS OF A DISTRICT SOLDIER
The CurIew Rejected as an Article
of Diet.
ROVOST GUARD DUTY
of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
TAMPA, Florida June &c, 1893.
AS occupied a comfortable rocking
chair on the veranda of the Tampa Bay
Hotel, a few evenings ago. the moonlight
spread softly over veritable Garden of
Eden. Orange trees. palms and other
varieties of tropical vegetation were grow
ing almost within reach of the arm. Well
kept walks led in every direction. To the
front was a stretch of green level as
our White Lot, backed by neck of Hills
borough bay. Glimmering beyond the
water at some distance, were the lights of
bustling Tampa-busting solely because OF
the presence of thousands of soldiers Just
visited by the payMaster. Tampa Day Ho-
tel, ten days prior the pivot on which re-
volved the social whirligig of western
Florida. was hardly more lively than
wayside inn. Gen. Miles was in Washing
ton and the majority Of the other guests CT
note had sailed with the Santiago expedi-
ton. These included the gaudily-attired
represe natives of foreign governments,
journalists of rcnown The hotel was
practically deserted. To be sure. I.ieuten-
ant Colonel Michlcr-"Dandy" Michler.
he is known throughout the army-adju-
tant general on the staff of General Miles,
was in evidence, as usual, immaculate in
attire. to the minutest detail. But Lieu
tenant Colonel Michler capable he I'M
CueStionably is made no apparent
deavor to fill the void created by the de-
parture of all the others. The additional
guests were some few left-behinds Of the
military establishment. and the wives OF
several of the absent officers and news
paper men. Scenes of ccaseless Eayety
had given way to reaction that was the
contamination Of peace and quiet. All
alone on the vera nda, therefore, it was nat
ural that one should think. These were
samples of the thoughts that, without eff
fort, drifted my way.
Though believed reluctantly, the Florida
as seen within the borders of the garden of
the Tampa Bay Hotel is entirely artificial.
1t is the Florida that We from Washington
expected to see as soon as we reached the
state line-certainly in the interior-but
which we did not view until we entered the
gateway of the hotel grounds.
Gricvaus Disappointment.
The members of the LIST Regiment of In
fantry, District of Columbia Volunteers,
have been most grievously disappointed in
Florida it actually is. This, of course,
expected to pass through and be located in
the Florida they had been taught to be-
lieve actually existed. 1t is not exaggera-
ton to state that the soldier lads fully be-
lieved they would be able, in travelling
through the state, to reach from the win
dows of the cars and pluck oranges and
bananas from the trees. Alligators. surely.
would be basking in the sun along the
banks Of every stream.
The orders to leave Chicamauga and pro-
ceeed to Tampa were, therefore, hailed ell
Enthusiastically. The demonstration of
pleasure was due partly to the prospect of
visiting Florida as the boys had pictured
it in their minds and partly to the prospect
of soon reaching the front. The regiment
Is much nearer the fighting front, to be
sure, but Florida as we thought 1t would
be Is very much wanting. In place of
oranges, bananas and allgators we have
seen sand. sand and more sand. There are
oranges, to be sure, but every sickly speci-
men of the lot was brought here by rail
from California In addition to sand, there
are pine trees. Sand and pines, sand and
pines, with the smallest possible evidence
of civilization, was the rule all along the
line. Not the semblance of growing fruit
could be detected anywhere. Truly, Flori-
da is sadly disappointing.
The resident manager of the hotel Joined
me on the veranda- Considering him per-
son who ought to be thoroughly informed.
/ said:
That we are in Florida is purely due 20
the fortunes of war But why is 1t that
ton Of the country, locate permanently and
call it home? Is an explanation possible?"
You're not the first to inquire along that
line" the manager replied. 1.-The answer
to your question is simple. In the first
place. bear in mind that the population of
the city of Baltimore is greater than that
of the entire state of Florida today, speak
ing only of the permanent residents. The
word health. Every one you may ask will
give the same answer. For instance, the
woman who keeps the little store Just be-
yond our grounds on Lafayette street is
from the north. In her youth she was
troubled with a lung disease that was
alarming. She came to Florida, rapidly re-
covered and in twenty years has not had a
recurrence of the complaint. Her record is
similar to that Of thousands Of others. No
consideration could induce any of them to
move north. There's the whole story"
Declined With Thanks.
Attention was directed to bird with at
tractive plumage. enjoying itself, SO it
seen med. in the foliage. 1t proved to be a
curlew.
by the way" remarked the manager
1.-The curlew. served properly, makes a
toothsome dish. He Is named this evening
in our menu. I would be glad If you would
Join me at supper
The curlew has wings and can fly" l
told him. Il have absolutely no respect for
any living creature, with nothing to detain
1t, and with motive power attached, that
voluntarily remains in Florida. 1 cannot
conscientiously partake of the curlew''
We found that one Of the most promi-
nent of Floridas features Is the friendly
fly. This fly Is affectionate to an aston
ishing degree. He clings to one through
thick and thin-in fact, it often becomes
necessary to resort to surgical treatment
to detach him. The fly in Washington VIII
ordinarily move in compliance with a Wig
orous "shoo' or swipe with a wet towel.
Not so with the Florida fly. His affection
for the members of the District regiment
Ia cd fhnf rayhn