The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1910-01-13
FLORIDA LETTER
FULL Of INTEREST
SOME OF THE THINGS OBSERV-
ED IN THE LAND OF
FLOWERS
w. Tampa, Fla, Dec. q, 'O9.

w. Tampa, Fla, Dec. p, '09.
To the editor and readers of the
News; Dear friends: have often times
thought, that the sudden transition
from one zone to another would bring
one great surprise! L remember
reading in this connection, little
article once, entitled, "through three
zones in one day" The scene of the
experience was laid perhaps, in Central
America [ do not remember exactly
where. But at any rate, with rail-
way trip that consumed but one day,
the writer of the article had risen from
the flat coastal plain, verify in the
tropics, with every evidence of the
same in foliage and temperature, up
the mountain side, till he traversed
region similar in climate, to the temper
ate zone, and even succeeded before his
short but interesting journey was COM
pleted, in penetrating fastness, so
elevated, as to correspond to the arctic
zone.
1t is not necessary, however, to find
such conditions as this, to illustrate
though in less thrilling fashion some.
thing of the same thing. You may
for example, tonight, visit Chicago
station, warmly clad and provided
with an overcoat, even then shivering
in the cold wind, and forty eight hours
later, be sitting on an open veranda on
a summer night here in Florida watch
ing the moon rise over bay or lagoon,
in seemingly summer effulgence, OF
catch the perfume of flowers, and
hear the drowsy hum of insects in the
grass, an orchestra that only appears
on our summer evenings in the north,
and knows nothing of December airs,
and chilling blast.
1t is perpetual wonder to me, that
this can be true, and at the same time
we be treading the same globe, and
walking beneath the same familiar
stars.
Down Tampa Bay
A trip had down Tampa Bay some
weeks ago suggested to me, so much
did [ enjoy it, that description of
some of the places of interest around
Tampa, might not come amiss. Of
course everybody must see through
his own eyes, and fortunately or un-
fortunately, tastes are so various, that
what one finds of interest but slightly
attracts the attention of another, or
not all. A&@s
L have always remarked this truth,
finding that not all, even with the
best OF chances for doing so, take the
time to glance around them at the
unfolding wonders of landscape, or
sky, or sea, when even the most
monOtonous view, could but be rich to
the observing, in the vistas it disclosed,
in the coloring, or in the far off Gimp
ses of hill, plain, or mountain.
Perhaps, however, some of us are of
so practical bent, that we shall rather
y
had driven company OF tourists over
the mountain. At evening when his
task was over he gathered with his
cronies in the village inn, where to a.
very sympathetic audience, he describ-
ed his experience. And as the most
extravagant pitch to which he could
hope to raise their condemnation of
the folly of those he was describing,
seemed to rest in his final effort, he
said, "and what do you think them
people made such big fuss about, as
we came over the mountain" And,
after silence had proclaimed their
ignorance of what this might be, he
scornfully continued, "why just one of
them yaller sunsetsn'
Tampa Bay is remarkable body of
water. 1t must be forty miles more or
less, from the head of it to the line of
keys at its foot, between which lies
the deep sea passage, where the steam
ers come and go, plying in and out
from the gulf.
This deep sea channel is in itself an
interesting feature of the surroundings.
Between Mullet Key, and Egmont
Key, both of which are garrisoned by
United States troops, lies the channel
three miles wide. Here the boat of
deep draught must pass to get in.
The garrisons of these islets are
comfortably provided for with all the
modern Improvements which town
on the mainland could boast. Seen
from the bay the water tower, build
ings, occupied area, and lighthouse
make pretty picture, with the waters
of the former in the foreground, and
beyond lies the gulf. A key is low
fiat, sandy islet often of coral origin.