The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

st. Augustine, Fla, February 2.-(Spe-
eial.)-A s I write the morning is one OF
those charming ones that come in the
mid-winter of the Florida east coast, a
tropically lovely day, with sea wind
whipping the waves about the little boats.
The streets of st. Augustine are thronged
with winter visitors, the carriage way is
filed with private equipages, as well as
many public cabs and autos, and along
the seawall comes a varied procession.
The tide comes In and boating parties
are waiting on the piers. Steam and
naptha launches are putting their way to-
ward the sand dunes, and tho drawbridge
is opening so gradually that the sailing
boats are compelled to make several de-
tours. In this extreme leisure lies the cpl
tome of life in old st. Augustine. Even
the palms wave languidiy.
Some of the most beautiful women in
the world are to be seen here, dining in
the sumptuous hotels and sitting In the
courts these Italian-lilSe mornings. Ten
O'Clock finds the terraced courts of the
hotel filled with beautifully attired wom-
en-. Attendants, glittering with gold braid,
stand just within the arched patios, and
they fetch willow chairs with scarlet
arms into the sunny court. 1t is like a
large garden party, and by the time the
court is filled with smartly gowned peo-
pie, the orchestra in the patio begins play
Ing and gives programme of some two
hours In length with sufficient intervals.
Il seems remarkable for Americans, even
for the so-called leisure classes, to sit
about tropically beautiful courts from
or 10 in the morning until IL or / and
listen TO really good music.
What Ia cal1pd fba Contfnapo1 etv1a n .
dining and lunching in the large restau-
rants is as much in vogue here as in the
large cities and perhaps even more 50,
because the hotels here are the only
rendezvous for society. What I mean is
that there are no club houses. where a
lavish hospitality is dispensed, and there
is no theatre, no opera attractions, that
are considered wellnigh Indispensable to
the wealthy American, who, while sur
rounded by these essentials to his haprl-
ness, is often on the verge of ennui. Yet
he comes to 81. Augustine, spends the en-
tire mornings in the Towering courts of
his hotel, and anywhere from four to five
hours over elaborate and heavy menus
of luxurious restaurants, and he does not
come for the novelty of life In Florida.
He has been coming for years, knows
just what to expect, occupies the same
suite, and is quite as much part of the
life hero as is the atmosphere.
of the most conspicuous bonvivant in S..
augustine.
He is as much OF home here as in New
York, and settles himself comfortably
and luxluiously in his bachelor apart-
ments. entertains with frequency and has
grown more fastidious with every dinner
party and moro critical of the women he
invites TO them. As Peter Marie in his
day was a painter OF pretty women, and
Julie LIE Breton'S grandfather, Lord
Lacldngton. had one hundred portraits
of English beauties to his credit, so has
this more recent connoisseur the reputa-
tion for rare discrimination. AS was
said of Franklin at the court of France,
he has neither lost his love of beauty nor
his tates for II.
Bridge remains the game of society Ell
derby women, who appear ennuid, play
mighty. Men drop discussions of stocks
land turn to bridge because 1t offers some
Inversion, but after dinner bridge is al
most a routine after all, and when any,