The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-01-23
Who Is Spending The Pres
eDt Winter In Florida
Writes Of Many Sights 10
City Of Augustine
Of The Flowers, The Fruits
And The Fine Climate
st. Augustine, Fla, Jan. 1

We arrived In St Augustine Friday
noon, Jan. 12; warm and pleasant, but
raining and the cab that took us up
the city, surely tried to take us the
most beautiful way, we thought, for
surely we reached the land of flowers
discovered SO many years ago by
Ponce de Leon. Each person must
have sought for the fountain of youth
and found it too, for the people seem
to live to a ripe old age.
Surely no other name would have
suited this quaint old city.
Great rows of palms with its narrow
streets and towering buildings of such
odd structure. The zig-zag streets,
some so narrow; one of the principal
streets called Treasury, terminates so
narrow you can reach across the way
and shake hands with your neighbor.
One is only wide enough for one rig
at a time to draw.
Among the many hotels that accom-
modate the throngs of people, is the
Ponce de Leon of Spanish archtitec-
ture, with large inside courts, covers
fiye acres of ground with fountains
and beautiful beds of flowers, palms
and vines and many semi-tropical
plants. With play grounds and vari-
ous amusements, baths, casino, and
drives, 1000 rooms. 1t Is surely a
wonder-here the millionaire finds his
home
This hotel built by III. M. Flagler Is
wonder, but this old ancient city
never fails to attract thousands of WIS.,
all nationalities surely throng the
streets.
The Plaza Is most wonderful place,
sort Of square with the custom house
and P. o. buildings surrounded by a
.coquina walk and various streets
Monuments and the Spanish slave
market with its flowing well of sui
phur and iron water.
A large fountain with large alli-
gator In the water, moss on its back
with its peculiar habits makes 1t so
attractive. Nothing can induce it to
move but meat.
The oldest house in the city Is
claimed by several, but in 1913 is the
history one and is built of coquina or
shell the same as the sea wall Is built
of-little fine shells. 1t is surely a
great curiosity On the balcony is the
large pink coral shell set in rows with
the old turret surrounded by the same
kind of shells. Curious old knocker
that you lift sends the sound vibrat'
ing the rooms. Streets are lined with
carriages driven by the colored gen.
tleman, who desires your attention
continually; the old fort with its high
tower and defenses and the sea wall
that surrounds the front of the city
and protects it when the tide is in.
Boats come and go continually and the
light house towers about all else with
it's search light 165 feet high. The
view from the tower can not be sur
passed in Florida.
The coon is always on hand and in
demand The south could not well ex-
ist without this dark ornament.
Many beautiful churches are built
by people Of means There is Grace
IL M f.. and the Baptist, but the finest
in the city Is Memorial Presbyterian
built by H. M. Flagler, in memory OF
his daughter Mr.. Flagler has done
much to make Florida and especially
st. Augustine. He has built railroads
and made towns, a man of great ben
even now, although over 80 years Of
age. Divides his residence between
Palm Beach and In each place has
palatial residences AS to climate II
is surely delightful, warm as spring
day. Plants all out in bloom in the
yards, flowers and ferns and honey
sucliles and various species of palms
nasturtiums and sweet peas and al
kinds of vegetables in the gardens.
So you can easily see that the soutf
is the garden or could be made so.
The lakes are numerous and attrac
tive, but the ocean with its caps o
snow attract me most,
We are all delighted with the Sun
ny South Land" and will let you hea
of our trip to the Beach, soon.
MRS. THOMAS. WEIR