The Republican journal., 1914-02-05
From the Land Of Flowers.
Miss Newell Writes of DaytonA, the Beau
tiful.

ttful.
Especial correspondence Of The JournaL] :
DAYToNA, FLA. Jan. 81, 1914. After
a journey during which the scenery grad
ually changed from the white SHOWS Of
thu north to the green foliage OF the
tropical south our train arrived at Day
tona about l p. m. on Dec. 10Th. The
first thing one so arriving notices, after
observing that the depot is larger than
most of those seen since Jacksonville,
and that it has the usual waiting rooms
of the south-one for white and one Tor
colored humanity-is large sign, DAY
tona-The Beautiful" and another See
Lucas, the Land Mantle live wire OF
the East Coast" As one becomes bet
ter acquainted with Daytona, one fully
appreciates the appropriateness of these
signs. Daytona is indeed ''The Beautl-
full" and Lucas and other Gland men,
are the live wires. The good effects OF
their. live wire energy Is everywhere IN
evidence on the east coast, judging from
accounts of its increased prosperity
Next, one encounters the usual swarm
of public carriage drivers and chaufteurs,
colored and white, all of them eager and
alert for passengers. In my case, de-
sire to walk after the long ride caused
me to serenely pass the row OF out
stretched hands, black and white, and go
out through the wide gate into-Daytona,
The Beautiful. 1t may be we'll to re-
mark right here that my letter is not
one of statistics, data, or cut and drled
information about Daytona. Benford
Deacon of the Daytona Board OF Trade
advertises to furnish all these things for
the asking. Beyond the fact that Day
tona has a winter population OF aoou II
10000, including tourists, my story Is
simply one of impressions, and OF the
city as it appears to me-a typical, pleas
ure-seekers city of the sunny south.
First impressions of place are diff
cult to forget, and they are also difficult
to describe; but, my friends at home will
understand something of mine on that
December day, walking in the summer
warmth along a broad, perfectly level
street, on the wide concrete sidewalk,
which was scarcely whittier than the
hard earth of the street itself. (All the
streets of the town are level and wide
and white, and all have the splendid con-
crete sidewalks.) On each side were fine
residences, imposing public buildings
and hotels; while gardens with gor-
geous poinsettias and other bright
flowers and tropical shrubbery; great
palm trees and live oaks with their fes-
ICONS of gray Spanish moss, and the
magnolias, pines, cedars, orange trees
and many others, all made Daytona seem
to me, as it does even yet. like a city OF
the Arabian Nights for its wonderful
beauty of architecture and its splendor
of vegetation.
had wandered in the right direction,
and upon inquiring for the Hotel Des-
pland, was directed lust one block
ever" The city is laid out with great
regularity, the streets running north and
south, intersected by those running east
and west; and the Despland, which has
been lately improved and is, think, the
largest hotel here, is centrally locate d
upon the corner of Magnolia and Pal
metto avenues. 1t is nearly surrounded
by wide verandas, and as l climbed the
broad steps and entered the doors into
the spacious lobby l was struck, as its
guests seem to be, with the comfort and
homelikeness of the place. The owner
and manager. Mr.. l.. M. Waite, who dur
ing summers is manager of Sunapee
Lodge at Sunapee Lake, N. H., is a
splendid type of hotel man-big, genial.
courteous and kindly, taking a personal
interest in all that pertains to the well
fare of his guests. The clerk, Mr.. F.
Hunt, is Maine man, formerly Waldo
boro boy. The head steward is also a
Maine man, Mr.. Cousens, from Brooklin,
which is recommendation enough. The
stenographer is charming little woman
who by queer coincidence writes her
name Mrs. D. H. Smith; distinct re-
hinder of Dark Harbor and home. My
office, which is pleasantly situated in a
corner of the lobby, did not open until
January first, and was advised to spend
the intervening two days in Cooking
around the town. Upon being shown
to my room which, to indulge in slang,
was ''just my size" in every particular,
the chamber maid who cared for it in
formed me that she worked last summer
at Islesboro Inn. Dark Harder; and ad-
ded, "Mr. Smith is good man to work
for"
Starting out for walk my steps turn
ed first to the main office. 1t is pleas
antly located on Beach street, which is
the main street of the city, with splen-
did blocks of stores on one side and the
other sloping down to the broad Halifax
river. After ''paying my respects" to
the manager and operators continued
my walk, stopping to listen to the band
giving an open air concert, as is the
daily custom, in the pavilion beside the