The Republican journal., 1907-04-11
FLORIDA AND NASSAU.
A Belfast Lady Writes Entertainingly of
the "Sunny South

PALM BEACH, FLA, April 1907. After
an absence of over two years we find
ourselves again at Palm Beach but SO
much later in the season that it hardly
seems the same The great hotel
Poinciana, a world in itself, the palatial
residence of II. M. Flagler adjoining it,
and the attractive New York stores in
the vicinity. are all closed; the wheel
chairs which can be counted by hun.
dreds usually, stand idle waiting for
the riders who do not come. A general
sense of desolation prevails every.
where The beautiful winter home of
Mr.. and Mrs. Cragon, better known to
the tourist as "The Garden of Eden, -
is still occupied by the proprietor who
has SO generously shared its attractions
with the thousands of visitors at Palm
Beach. Here in this miniature fairy
land are some of the rarest trees, shrubs
and flowers to be found in this country;
a wonderful collection of cacti; the
largest Chinese fan palm in the United
States; the travellers tree, bamboo,
banyan and a variety of the screw
pine, the only one in this country
known to have borne fruit, a wax re-
productions of which is to be found in
the agricultural department at Wash
ington. So freely are the gates thrown
open that the public, while enjoying
she freedom of the grounds, are apt to
forget it is not public park but simply
a refined ideal home.
During our stay here we had the
pleasure of meeting our former towns
people, Mrs. Fred Barker, Miss Barker
and Miss White from Elmira, New
York, who have been spending some
time in the South. The days flew by
all too quickly and all enjoyed, in al
dition to the beauties of the place,
many "reminiscences of ancient history
such as old friends can only enjoy after
a long separation. We also found the
popular proprietor of the Palms to be
MI. j. c. Showers, formerly from Sandy
point, Maine and his wife, the daughter
of the late William McGilvery of Sears
port. One of our daily companions at the
table was a representative of the H. C.
leighton Co. of Portland, manufactures
of the postal-cards so we'll known to us
as made in Germany" He had fine
exhibit of prints ready for shipment
which we had the pleasure of looking
over one evening. Our waitress "a trea-
sure. by the way was from Calais, so
the good old State scatters her sons
and daughters broadcast.
Since leaving Boston, early in Febru-
airy, there has not been an hour between
sunrise and sunset when the sun has
not shone brightly, the ambitious mer-
curry way up on the seventies and high
er, windows and doors wide open, every
body IN summer attire and the vicious
little mosquito getting in its best work
in all occasions. We will 60 back to
Nassau now and recall few more in
teresting items, for month spent in
the quaint old English city is revela-
ton to an American. Everything takes
on a foreign appearance and you fully
realize you are not on American soil.
The narrow, dingy streets are closely
shut in on either side by high stone
walls covered with plaster but all have
ponderous gateways through which one
catches glimpses of the beautiful gar
dens which surround nearly every
house. The gloomy-looking govern
ment buildings are wonderfully sugges-
tive of barracks, and the idea is made
more apparent by the scores of cOlored
police who patrol the streets constantly,
clothed in authority galore as well as in
striking looking uniforms of navy blue,
a broad red stripe down the leg, brass
buttons and white helmet hats; for po-
licemen they are decidedly imposing.
On Sunday they appear dressed in i'm
maculate white duck suits and march
to church in a body. The streets are
swarming with native colored people of
both sexes, hatleSS and ShoelesS, their
heads loaded down with all kinds of
merchandise from huge crate of live
cackling fowl for the market, or bundle
of fire wood to a paper bag of lamb
chops for breakfast But stranger than
all to us is the English flag flying every
where and His Majesty. King Edward,
beamipg on us from every conspicuous
place; but really it seems that our be-
loved Stars and Stripes are more re-
spected here even than in MANY of the
southern States of America. where
they are oftentimes more conspicuous
10y their absence than their presence.
The water here for household purposes
is from deep, old fashioned wells and is
Of excellent quality and when cooled
with ice which we saw unloaded from a
Rockport vessel, is very refreshing. AS
there has been no rain since August it
is matter of congratulation that the
wells have a never-faiing supply.
One meets very few Of the better
class of people i'll walking. Every body
rides in Nassau, therefore the streets
are given over to the negroes and dogs,
and it seems their name is legion.
The beautiful Hotel Colonial is
characteristic bit of American life.
The handsomely dressed ladies, the fine
orchestra which twice daily give con-
&;erts of superior merit in the rotunda,
the brilliant lights in the evening, all
tend to make scene of gayety which
is decidedly American.
During the day the corridors and COW
cred promenades present quite bust
ness-like appearance with the neatly
dressed colored women who carry on
quite traffic selling beads, shells,
sponges, flowers and linen drawn work,
which they offer for sale at prices much
below those asked at home.
The grounds around the hotel are
fine; many beautiful flowers and rare
shrubs are artistically arranged and the
perfume of the orange blossoms is al
most Intoxicating; directly in front of
the hotel is the harbor which is far
famed Nothing can exceed or even
equal its beauty, but shall speak of
that later on.
In driving around the city one sees