The Washington times., 1914-03-22
Had He Gone on a Little Further
to st. Augustine, Ponce
Would Have Found That
Geyser Of Youth.
Bv GARDNER MACK.


Romantic history to the contrary
notwithstanding, the late Mr.. Juan
Ponce de Leon mas a gutter!
After sensing the fact that this
distinguished Spanish gentleman
gave the first tangible excuse for
incorporating a woman's page ina
newspaper, for naming hotels and
sleeping cars, there may be some
people who think he didn't quit
quite soon enough.
Facts Are Sufficient
But the main facts Of the history Of
Mr.. De Leon should be sufficient. in
view of later happenings. to prove that
he set himself to do something for the
benefit Of humanity and quit cold before
he'd finished the job. 1t is true. per-
haps. that Mr.. de Leon didn't have any
idea of comforting a boon on the whole
human race when he started that first
great see-America-first tour through the
everglades Of Florida 1t Is true. per-
haps, that it was with his own. olive
complexion that Mr.. de Leon concerned
himself chiefly.
But the main idea remains-he quit
laid down, hooded. blew, capitulated. or
whatever else you might want TO call IL.
Had he gone on for little while-only
a little while-he'd have found the pest
sort of a substitute for the fountain or
youth right there in Florida.
The Fountain Was There.
A woman, Lord Dundreary senten-
tiousiy remarks, gathers no moss
ITnless he adds, she Ats herself up
to he a regular moss gatherer. And
then she gathers all there IS, Theth,
or II has commercial value or not.
1t is not the slightest encroachment
on Florence Yoder's sacred duties
to state, therefore, that 4 woman
gathers no wear and tear from age,
unless she sets herself up in the
business of aging. Then, no matter
how young she might be. she man
arcs to assume a weight OF years
that is far beyond her frail strength
Consequently-and getting back to
Mr.. de Ieon-had the quest for the
fountain Of youth gone a short dis
tance further 1t is more than prob
able that the esteemed traveller
would have found in the neighbor-
hood Of Jacksonville little cot
wherein was a woman who solved
the problem OF preserving youth In
this unique way-she doesn't care a
tinker's hurrah whether she grows
old or not. and the result Is that
she has not.
Probable is used advisedly. 1t Is
not possible to state positively that
Helen Tracy was living near Jack
sonviIle at the time Mr.. dc Leon
was making his search. i never
thought to ask her about Ponce de
Leon. when 1 was talking with her
the other day. But IL is r fact that
there was no one e.se l mentioned
during the course Of a fairly long
and intimate interview whom she
did not remember well. So 1t would
not be proper to Say she didn't re-
member and know the man who dis
covered Florida.
No Data On Birth.
When 1t comes to being a regular,
bona fide woman, with an experience
which marks with a commemorative
asterisk and appropriate footEote
practically every city n the United
States and every star that has shone
in the theatrical armament during
the past half century. Helen Tracy is
IT-uppercase, bold face 1T!
Just when she was born in Jack
sonviIle there Is no reliable data TO
indicate. And she has so little
sensitiveness about her age that I
didn't even think to ask her. But
she didn't remain there for a very
lcng time. Probably about the time
St Augustine was founded or when
the Pilgrim fathers landed on Ply
mouth Rock her parents decided to
n owe West because the country was
becoming too crowded. Whatever
was their excuse or the time they
svsiIed themselves Of it, they. did