The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-25
Interesting Letter From a Carls-
burg Woman in st. Angus
tine, Florida.
sT. AUGUSTINE. FLA.
Jan. l9, 1907.

81. AUGUSTINE, fla
Jan. ls. 1907.
To the Telegram:
Don't you remember when We
were school children and the teach
er would tell Us to write eompo-
sition on the horse, We would in
variably begin. the horse is very
useful animal?" Now. being only
child Of a larger growth. I am
going to tell you that this is a very
Interesting city. In fact, viii 60
further. and say that this is a most
fascinating city. All sorts Of sur
prises are lurking around for the
unwary tourist. One minute ] i'm
agine myself in old Madrid" ana
fall amusing on the dear dead DAYS
now gone beyond recall, when I am
suddenly confronted with modern
Queen Anne construction that makes
an old mission gray with rage. Such
a tumble Of the past and the pres
ent!-the old and the new!
The magnificent Ponce de Leon
and the Alcazar with their Byzantine
architecture bestudded with electric
lights. modern concrete houses built
in old mission style. the narrow
streets over which hang the built
out porch, or balcony, i suppose I
ought to call IT. Those old Span
iards must have thought this very
small world-they were so econom-
lcal of space.
Down these narrow alleys dash
automobiles, carriages, bicycles and
down these same narrow ways pass
the unmindful school children. How
they ever escape alive is a seven
days wonder. hug myself up close
to the coquina walls and long for
ladders that l might climb to safety,
and in this city OF contradictions one
may see the woman in white" not
gliding in and out among the palm
ettos in the vague, wierd way that
Mr.. Wilkie Collins would have her
but in the middle of the street
holding up her berufHed gown
daintily displaying her white shoes
and Spanish heels.
Another glance shows a woman II
broadcloth. bundled in furs-simply
difference in temperament or cir.
culation.
The Ponce de Leon just at this
time is somewhat like banquet han
deserted. The tourists 60 on down
to Palm Beach or Miami and stor
here on their return. The air is moi
really warm in ST. Augustine this
time Of year. 1t seems like early
May in our climate-but the breezes
from the sea are delightful to those
with vigor enough TO enjoy them
and the air has none OF the ener.
waiting tendency that comes farther
down on the coast.
The naptha launches ehug-chug up
and down the inlet, or Matanzas
river, as 1t is called; white sails 81
by like sea ghosts, and the row-boats
ride up and down on the waves. ]
was out on pier. this morning,
helping a little freckle-faced boy
with his fishing. He really did not
need any assistance, but l could not
resist lending my enthusiasm. He
had can of shrimps that he used
for bait. He would put little
meaty portion OF the shrimp on his
hook, drop It down into the water,
Che used no polel. Immediately the
line would jerk, ana the bait was
gone from his hook, bitten of by
some fish too smart to be caught, OF
another would be too greedy and
swallow 1t whole. and Of course. was
soon on the string. He caught ten
Writings in the half hour I stayed
with him. This is what might be
called fishing for pleasure and catch.
ing 1t, too.
There IS an old fisherman named
Walton. who sits on the pier all day
long with his pole and reel. He
told me he was from Ohio, but that
It was too cold up there. so he came
hero and had done nothing except
fsh .er since. I didn't ask him ii
his frst name was Isaac. / didnt
want the Illusion spoiled.
But I haven't told you anything
about the old fort or the city gate
This old gate is pictured on postals
burned on plates. done in water
colors, oils, pastels. ready for fran
ing, already framed. passe-partout
ed-you can't get away from It. st
Augustine, Ike Babylon Of old, ha,