Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-26
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.
The Prettiest Place in the World.
We often speak in Virginia when
the spring is late, Of. winter lingering
in the lap of spring." But the other
day when the writer was at Palm
Beach, Florida. 500 miles south OF
Jacksonville, with the thermometer at
"a. 1t seemed as II summer had jumped
In the lap Of winter with a new straw
hat on.
You would have thought 20 too if
you had been there with me. eating
Strawberries. pine apples, tomatoes,
snap beams, cucumbers, etc., bathing
on the beach, where the Atlantic
breaks In unceasing waves of beauti.
full ultramarine blue--no water like it
that l ever saw beforehand the men
wearing straw hats and white duck,
the girls any thin white or pink
that will keep them cool and seem to
fit the surroundings.
FISHING.
Oh, yes, it's summer there. or more
correctly, tropical spring, for mostly
the days are not too warm. but Just
delightful out door weather, where the
visitors sit On the piazzas or 60 fish
ing on pretty Lake Worth on one eide
of the great hotel(t the Royal Poinciana)
or on the ocean side catch shark. jew.
fish and other big salt water game,
from the long steel pier which runs
way out to deep water and good fish,
ing ground. You pay ten cents at the
gate and walk out to fish or see the
fishing. One afternoon while / was
there lucky fisherman, Mr.. Chas. H.
Bingham, caught man eating shark
eight feet long. His hook held we'll
End his line, a small rope, was strong,
20 there was great struggle between
tle man and the monster. The people
! on the pier enjoyed it hugely and the
PEOPLE in the shallow water along the
each were greatly excited. Muscle
md skill finally triumphed and the
skinny, finny monster was landed. Al
few minutes later Mr.. Bingham land.
ed big jewish. The evening before
lie had caught shark, bringing his
record for the season up to p sharks.
The fishing On Lake Worth is not
So exciting, but Is fine fun, the fish
t;,ke the bait fast. while those who
ant good sport with fresh water fish
three or four miles to the Everglade
likes and wrestle with the gamy bass,
GOOD enough sport for anybody, no
matter where be comes from.
THE PRETTIEsr PLACE.
Although many tourists go on to
! -iami, 81 miles further south, the
t rminus of the Florida East Coast
line, often called "Flagler's road, ~
the goal for the majority Of those seek
Ing winter rest and pleasure along the
{ asst Coast is Palm Beach and the
Royal Poincians Hotel. Palm Beach !
must be the prettlest place in the |
world. People who have travelled all |
over the world say so when they land
there. 1t Is certainly the prettiest
place the writer. who has seen a good |
many, ever visited.
THE ROYAL POINCIANA.
This immense and elegant five story
hostelry. built by Henry N. Flagler
and managed by Fred. Sterry. was
described at length in the SPECTATOR
staff correspondence not long since and
l will not now undertake to say as
much about 1t as can be said. It's size,
elegance, comfort and popularity are
subjects On the tongue of every vlsi-
tor. You often hear the expression
No expense was spared" This is lit.
terally 80 with this hotel. I could not
think Of anything that money can buy
that was not there. 1t would seem
that Mr.. Flagler, the multimillionaire,
had taxed his ingenuity to devise
things Of beauty and comfort. The
elegant suits of rooms are mansions
Of themselves. The promenadss
through the long wide halls, like an
bazaar. glittering on either
side with gorgeous tapestries, finest
fabrics. costly jewels and crystal mir.
rors may we'll turn the head of a
novice. Then the magnificent salon,
In the day time wilderness of tropi.
cal plants. roses, decorated columns
andarches, and hundreds of handsome
divans and chairs In white and gold,
no two of the same pattern; at night {
when lavishing music from stringed ,
Instruments holds sway and the great
rooms are crowded with ladies in /,
costly and elegant costumes, their {
lowing trails sweeping the floor. dia-
nonds and precious stones gllttering
In The electric lights. men In. stylish I
evening dress passing to and fro :
among them, all suggestive of wealth,
refinement and ease, it is bewilderiDg-
y beautiful and beyond the powers of t
les ription. e
CHCOANUT GROVES AND GARDENS. IL
4 le grounds outside Of all this mag.
,lf ence are even more beautiful, for I
Ter fairest nature walks hand in hand e
Wit highest art. Tropical planhs and =
res from all parts of the world are .
!at Tered. Walks shaded by lines of t
zoe anut palms, b0rdered with con-
re. e curbs. and lawns sloping to the
axe, finished by gracefully curved ,
walls Of coquina. Oleanders, hibiscus
md passion flowers bloom; mangoes, q
rau ges, lemons, bananas. rubber !
reea and great live oaks, decorated Q,