The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-27
CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA,
oranges for SnOwbOlIs, Pineapples
for IcicIes, Bananas for sIeet anu
sunshine for SIusb

oranges for SnOwbOIIs, PineappIes
for IcicIes, Bananas for sIeet anu
Sunshine for SIusb.
From the Brooklyn Times.
This is the exchange one gets in
running away from the North to the
South at Christmas time.
Nothing in the Union can outdo the
Eastern states in the celebration of
Christmas. Hearty, jolly, jovial, genial,
they are eminently suited to the bet
terment of the great, long, living mass
of toilers. Christmas time cheers their
hearts, stimulates their affection, and
engenders general good feeling. Ma
ture has demonstrated that this is the
best cure all'' medicine the world
over.
Whilst this is essentially true of New
York, the conditions surrounding the
festal time are so far from assisting
in the attainment of this object that
the intended pleasing result is greatly
modified. But in Florida, in deep win
ter overhead and underfoot the heav-
lily laden orange trees, the stately CO.
coanut trees, the tropical banana and
the ripe strawberries and tomatoes all
combine in making a real greeting on
Christmas morn.
The Southern Floridian is loyal
and true lover of Christmas time; per-
haps assisted in his emphatic pronun-
Citations of good cheer by the fact that
his crops never freeze, his surround
ings are comfortable, his income sure.
his family healthy and his prospects
bright. trip to Florida is a delight
of the age. The handsomely appointed
pennsylvania through trains are most
comfortable and in every way COM
plete. From New York to Washing
ton the journey is via Pennsylvania
Railroad, of course. From Washing
ton to Savannah the direct connection
is over the Southern Railway and
trip over this road is a journey to be
remembered as long as memory en-
dures. The '1and of the sky one trav-
els through is an ever-changing and
constantly revolving panoramic view
of such mountain scenery as has no
equal this side of the Rockies.
At Savannah the traveller enters the
PLANT System tracks and finds him
self amid the vegetation, characteristic
of the warm lands" On every hand
the giant palms raise their lofty heads,
and at their feet is a jungle under
growth of ferns and fan-leaf palms, I'M
surpassed this side of the torrid zone
The roadbed is firm, the tracks straight
and there is a remarkable absence of
dust.
If one prefers to change his mode of
travel, he may board handsome and
commodiously appointed steamboat of
the Clyde Line and run down to San
ford. This is one of the most fascinat-
ing trips in the States. 1t is a de-
lightful change from the railroad ana
materially enhances ones enjoyment
The surface of st. Johns river in
many places is covered with most beau
tiful water lilies. At all points croco-
diles may be seen gliding along through
the water or half in water and half
out, basking in the sunshine. Orange
groves line the rivers banks. All ma
ture and the world seem to be at peace
with each other. Immense trees, laden
with Mexican moss. overhang the river,
and in many cases the stranger, in the
narrow channels, passes right under the
| overhanging branches. The steamboats,
of this line are provided with ample
stateroom accommodation and the
meals are equal to those of first-Olass
hotel. At Sanford one may again take
the Plant System. The journey from
Sanford to Tampa or Punta Gorda is
through the Florida lake district. pass
ing en- route an unknown number of
these beautiful lakes. surrounded by
orange groves and pineapple fields.
The many hotels of the Plant System
along the route are well advertised by
that company, ana need no comment.
They are most excellent The Tampa
Bay Hotel carries off the palm.
Fishing and cunning may be found
at every turn, and without any effort
of search. The entire territory covered
by the Plant System abounds in game,
and the fisherman angling for either
small fish from dock or for largo
fish from a boat will find all the sport
the most eXacting sportsman can ask.
Therefore, ii is little wonder that
Florida has so great an attraction for
| the tourist.
The Floridian Christmas home can
afford to be a happy one. The outdoor
exercises are such that old and young
may revel in them. The atmosphere is
warm and balmy, and as soft as
beautiful morning in England early in
June Everything looks joyous in Flor
ida at Christmas time. The hight of
the orange season is then. Strawberries
are picked in the open garden. and to-
matoes are freshly gathered from the
fields.
Instead of a singing blast to freeze
the face and make the ears tingle
there is a steady breeze from the
ocean which cools and invigorates.
When the hunter Is tired OF his sport,
| In midwinter, in December and Jan
uary he may then throw himself down
under the shady branches of a friendly
tree and rest This is Florida at Christ
mas time.