Evening star., 1904-02-02
BERMUDA FLOWER BEDS
A VARIETY OF BLOOMS EVER
PRESENT.
Climate of the Coral Group Equable
and Salubrious-Someo Of It's Charms
Boating, Fishing and Golf.

st. Georges Town, Bermuda Correspondence OF
the New York Evening Post.
Countless generations ago a volcanic
mountain. raised its head above the waters
of the North Atlantic at spot 635 miles
east of Cape Hatteras. in the latitude of
Charleston. s. c. In the course of time
seismic disturbances took place, and the
mountain slowly began to disappear, until
at last it became entirely submerged.
When the last rock was lost to view, or
perhaps even before, myriads of coral In
Sects began to do their work and die, only
to be replaced by more. The army of polyps
gathered around the edge and about the ad-
jacent slopes of the submerged crater and
slowly built coral atoll in the form of an
oval lagoon. AS the reefs rose to the sur
face other insects-borers they are called
cut the solid rock so that 1t might readily
be broken by the action Of the waves.
More seismic disturbances occurred, and
tiny islets were raised within the lagoon.
The rock ground by the waves was blown
In the form of sand to the tops of the islets,
and thus insect, sea and wind helped to
rear the group which called the Ber-
muda Islands. Bays and inlets were formed,
small sand heaps became hills and a part
of the solid limestone rock in those same
hills disintegrated to make the rich red
soil. When all was ready, the sea birds
brought tribute in the guise of seeds, and
soon the islands were clothed in luxuriant
semf-tropical vegetation.
Nature has dealt kindly with the Bermu-
das in giving them mild and equable cli-
ma te which is extremely salubrious. They
do not feel the icy blasts that sweep across
the continent of North America in winter,
and out to sea. for they are we'll protected
by the genial influences of the gulf stream.
Ihe group is place entirely free from the
deadly diseases of the tropics, and extreme
fnv 1Tnnyl ftrra ,nf IAr.
Frost is unknown, the temperature seldom
falling below so degrees in winter, or ris-
ing above SO in summer fair average be-
ing 20 degrees.
Land of the Lily and Rose.
For these reasons the islands have become
a favorite winter resort. and ample hotel
accommodations are provided for visitors.
Bermuda has not received the name of the
Land of the Lily and the Rose" without
due cause. 1t is distinctly land of flowers
and curious shrubs. to which many coun-
tries have contributed their share. Roses
bloom throughout the year; the Easter lily
from Japan whitens the hills and valleys
during March and April; great hedges of
oleander. covered for months with pink and
white flowers. surround each field to pro-
tect the crops from the wind. The poin-
settia. mass of scarlet stars. the bougain-
villea, rich in purple color, the hibiscus and
the convolvulous also flower freely In win
ter. Added to this are many birds of bril-
liant plumage, while among the rugged
cliffs the wandering tropic bird makes its
summer home
Not only are there gardens on land, but
among the coral reefs submarine gardens
of unrivaled beauty exist The blue water
is clear as crystal, and three fathoms be-
meath its surface one may see the mar
velous sea growth that forms such a bril-
liant setting for the hundreds of gayly col
ored fish, specimens of which are familiar
to those who visit the New York aquarium
Rest and Pleasure.
AS a rule. people visit Bermuda to rest
but as the place is one of England's great
military and naval stations, the social life
here offers much gayety. There Is plenty
of sport, such as yachting, golf fishing and
swimming. For those whose inclinations
lead them in the paths of literary and his
toric interest there is wealth of material.
Many persons are familiar with the still
vexed Bermoothes'' of Shakespeare's ITEM
pest" and not a few know that several CEN
turies later they were the home of Tom
Moore the Irish poet; of Anthony Trollope,
for sojourn of two weeks, and of Whit
field, the famous preacher. Discovered in
1915 by a Spaniard, Juan de BermudeZ, the
first settlers were families sent out by the
Virginia Company. Their descendants may
be found here today, and while the Islands
have always remained in the hands of the
British, their history up to the close of
the civil war was intimately connected with
that of the United States. The 400 rocks
and islands that compose the BermudaS
might be placed within the space occupied
by Manhattan Island. Yet the colony is a
prosperous little world in itself, having a
representative government of its own and
occupying strong position in the chain OF
Britain's defenses The Bermudas have
been called unique" perhaps that word
most fittingly describes them.