The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-10
CHARMS OF FLORIDA.
Easy Travelling on the Way and Many
Attractions ON Arrival.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. Ii lave won
dered for the past ten years why there was
no way to get from Chicago and I~ndianapo-
lis to Florida without change of cars. when
one could go to California by three differ
ent routes without getting. out of the car,
if they so wished. But things are now much
changed for the better. The Big Four, c.,
H. & D., and, perhaps. other roads. have
a FLORIDA and st. Augustine special" and
an invalid may get on a parlor, or, rather,
a palace car, at Indianapolis, go to sleep
and awaken for breakfast away down in
Georgia, and take supper in St. Augustine.
Just think of it. Twenty-Five years ago 1
came to Florida, and it took, with the fire.
quent changes, stopovers, etc, three days
and two nights to get to Jacksonville.
There were no sleepers and the accommo-
dations for getting food, aside from pea
nuts, were of the most imperfect kind, and
the food vile where you could get it. This
is all changed. The old Methodist hymn
about going to heaven ION fiowery beds of
ease was surely inviting for poor mortals
who desired to tax the trip, but to float
away to our land of sunshine and flowers
in a palace, and be only thirty hours on the
trip Is certainty dH lnuuCeIleIl, DSSluSS, the
lining car offers you the finest feast en-
route, whenever you desire. The trip is
made so quickly that one sees the country
as by a fiashlight; the train seems to fly
through the air and glides over mountains.
through tunne and down valleys as if on
wings; as a boy companion expressed it.
Its like sliding up and down creased
rainbows."
Jacksonville is no longer a stopping place
for the invalid. out is a great place for
tourists who stop a few lays to see the
sights and then fly southwark. The town
has grown wonderfully in ten years. and
undoubtedly will be the commercial center
of the South. Old landmarks are passing
away. I find. Even the Old house and
garden of Tallyrand, the sometime friend
and adviser of Napoleon. has passed away
and given place to a vulgar lumber yard.
The magnificent old mansions once in the
suburbs have succumbed to the demands Of
commerce., and their places are filled by
hotels, factories and shops.
ST. Augustine has been transformed from
a maze of narrow crooked Spanish streets
and lanes into a tropical paradise with
fine clean streets, beautiful lawns, gardens
and parks. Here are the largest and finest
hotels in America, if not in the world. Here
the swell society of America and Europe
does the real thing" at an expense Of $40
per day and upward. Here you meet Rus
slams, British subjects, Germans and Amer
leans, each trying to outswell the other.
After a few days or weeks at st. Augustine
these society butterflies go southwark to
Palm Beach or Miami, perhaps take a
tour Of the West Indies. and finally round
UP at New Orleans for a return trip North.
These places mentioned are not for the
health seeker or Invalid. My advice for
them is to go to the central and southern
portions of Florida, away from the waves
and winds of the Atlantic or the Gulf of
Mexico. TO such places as Palatka, Winter
Park, Orlando, Kissimmee, Barto or Cleve-
land. st. Petersburg. Tampa, Punta Gorda
and Charlotte Harbor are places for
sportsmen with rod or gun There are
probably more black bear, deer, wild tur-
key, duck and quail in southern and central
Florida than any equal territory in Ameri-
ca; the number and variety of game fish
connot be excelled. The expense of health
full living in Florida is not greater than at
home If the fashionable hotel be avoided
w. b. FLETCHER.