Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-04-12
Sojourn in Florida.

Leaving southern Florida, we turnet
our faces northward. After a ride of
lew hours we decided to stop a few day
5 at the interesting town Of Lakeland.
This town and the country around il
diners from any other town have seen in
FLORIDA. The town itself is on high
ground. The country around is dotted
with ponds and lakes, with water as clea
as crystal. These little ponds and lakes
nave sandy bottoms and sandy shores
You can drive horse and wagon into
them, where not too deep. They have no
streams to feed them. They seem to be
cut out Of the earth with as much pre-
elslon as wash bowl, save a portion of
them. They are long and narrow and
abound with fish as there are no jungles
Tor the alligators to hide in. One OF these
little and wonderful deposits OF water is
In the center OF the town, with a carriage
drive around it. Straw berries are raised
mere largely,a we are now too far north to
| raise oranges with safety. About 100
! bushels are shipped from this station
daily. The tourists here claim they have
! lived on fish and straw berries ever after
| arriving in town. ! asked myself why /
stayed away so long.
| The present week one Of the most de-
structive transforms ever known for the
the time OF year visited Florida. Thou
/ sands of acres of vegetables have been
destroyed by being submerged
in water. For three days rain
fell nearly every hour OF the "a. On my way
here | witnessed one OF these southern
storms. 1t rained so hard that they
lighted lamps in the car and objects few
rods away could hardly be seen. Men who
lew days before we're well to do are now
poor. few acres OF garden truck were
ready to ship and its loss is hard to bear
Tor the man OF small means. The gardens
on high ground are not damaged.
Our next stop was at Sanford, where
the O.. A. II. held the Florida encamp.
ment few weeks ago. There are but few
tourists in this town. Garden stuff is the
chief export. Our next stop was at De-
Land, which is a beautiful town with
elegant hotels and overlooking with tour
lists. Tourists cash is accepted at par and 1
no questions asked all over Florida. /
often ask myself how the northern tour /
lists lind their way into every nook and 4
corner OF the great state OF Florida,
We babe goodbye to the beautiful town /
OF DeLand and moved northWard. Att
Palatka Junction be part company with /
passengers going direct to Jacksonville 4
and at p. m. turn towards st. Augustine
and 60 direct to the Florida Hotel. st.
augustine was named and Fort Marion
commenced Sept. 9Th, 1862, but it was not
completed till many years later.
On entering the spacious grounds in
connection with the fort, which includes
many acres, you will see several parties OF
tourists playing golf, which is played by
batting balls great distance
to enjoy the game Wonderfully. The fort
covers over many acres and in olden times
would have been proof against artillery,
but against modern guns it would soon
crumble to dust. The fort contains guns
with great historic records. 1t takes one
half day to explore it. Troops had al
ways been quartered here until a few
weeks ago, when they left doubtless never
to return.
As you enter the city you pass through
The old walls to 10 feet thick to which
the old gate was hung in connection with
he fort to defend the city, but which is
slowly umbling to the earth. In the
southern portion of the city is pointed out
the Oldest house in town.
As you step from the train you see :
dozens Of cabmen crying at the top OF
heir voices the names OF their hotels. As !
you pass along the streets, cabmen cry
out to you to go and ride around the t
own. !
This is the town above all others in !
Florida in which to see the northern !
.ourists at their best. All classes are s
lere-the millionaire, dressed in the
richest OF costumes and covered with a
'ostly diamonds; the bride and groom on 3
heir wedding tour, possessed OF youth {
md beauty; the well-to-do, with his Il
amily; the sick, who just totter along the
Dad looking for health, which may never n
ome. When you think Of the wealth and i
population OF the great northern and 4
othern states that comes pouring into
me state, is IL to be wondered at that you
ind them everywhere And yet there is I
DOM for thousands more.
On the common you will see an old
parish fort. The inscriptions are Span
sh. Spain forgot to take it away when \
left the state years ago. Passing along
little further you find q confederate Il
with the names OF the soldiers Il
n all sides, who lost their lives for the y
ause. 4
At the east end you find the old slave L
larket made OF stone, open on all sides, /
18th floors raised about two feet, giving "a
he bidders an opportunity to see the 4
egroes for sale. T
One. fourth OF all the stores in the city
ontain souvenirs OF all kinds and de- 4
,riptions to sell to the tourists, who are
owly returning north. II
The hotels are OF the first order, with d
rounds decorated splendidlv and their 4
ames written on their fronts with cleo (
lie bulbs The walks leading to their
'onts are also lined with hundreds of red, 5
hite and blue bulbs, which makes de- =,
ghtful view. -
Henry NJ. Flagler is the king OF the
,st coast OF Florida from Jacksonville to
Iiami, distance OF 375 or 400 miles. CT
e has built hotels all along the shore, in n,
most every town. Three of the best :.
Dtels in st. Augustine he built, the best y
ne being Ponce de Leon, which was ~
veral years in construction. IL cost Oh
,out one million dollars. The building va
,vers nearly two acres and the grounds III
,out two more. He has invested about br
!, 0O0, 900 in st Augustine. he has a II
inter home here and built an elegant
.urch, which he gave to the city. Do YOU n,
IVY him his money, dear reader? Just II
Irk. This church, which cost 100000 or
ore, is a memorial church in honor OF a co
tighter who died about eleven years an
o. His wife is insane and in an asylum OF
d be has said that be would give all his Ell
,alth for family such as other men an
We. -,
Henry NJ. Flagler was born in Cleveland, -
, and now lives in New York city. He is y
member and first vice-president OF the Ut
andard Oil company. He is kind, gem ms