The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-25
FLORIDA YESTERDAY AND
TODAY
REXIE TODD

The Indians believe that the
white men first came from the foam
of the ocean thrown upon the beach.
After lying awhile in the sunshine
the foam melted away and the white
men were seen where it. had lain
and they arose and they walked into
the interior. This is only beautiful
Indian myth yet the real coming of
the white man was almost as wond-
erful
In Spain there was a gray-haired
old warrior, lion by name, and still
more SO by nature, who since his
childhood, had carried arms. He had
been faithful to his king at all times,
fighting hard before. the walls of
Granada that the honour and victory
might go to Spain. He sailed with
Columbus on his second voyage to
the New World. After seeing part
of it he was still more eager to see
more OF. it. He conquered Cuba and
became it's governor; he explored the
coast of South America, every day
adding to Spain new possessions and
to himself greater fame. But now
this cavalier was growing old and
many of his cherished dreams were
unfulflled. He wished to reap even
greater honours for his country and
himself. So, when he heard of
marvellous fountain whose clear wa
tiers would heal the sick, make the
old young again and bestow immor-
tai youth on all who bathed therein
he set out in quest of it. He heard
that Indians from Cuba. and even
Yucatan had gone in search of it and
as they had never returned, it was
fondly believed that they were liv-
ing in beautiful Florida in the en-
joyment of perpetual youth. So eager
was Ponce de Leon to find this mag
ical water that at his own expense
he fitted out three vessels and set
out in quest of it. He filled the
ships with catholic priests and brave
soldiers that they, too, might share
his wonderful discovery. And full
of wild hopes they reached Florida.
But though they sailed the length
and breadth of Florida they never
found the fountain of youth of which
they had heard so much and on
which they had built so many fond
hopes. What would this old warrior
of yesterday say if he could see the
people who flock to our f!owery land
of to-day, the sick to be healed, the
old to be kept from growing older
and the youthful to retain their
youth? For this purpose there are
sanitariums scattered all about, in
the woods and on the sea coast, for
our fountain of youth to-day Is not
alone in our clear, sparkling waters.
but also in the sweet, balmy air
laden with the perfume of the flow
ers and the odor of the pine needles.
Though Ponce de Leon went away
dissatisfied there are thousands to-
day who come and are satisfied and
come again. For what the Florida
of yesterday refused to one man, the
Florida of to-day gives freely to
thousands.
De Narvaez was fired with ambi.
ton to conquer a land that would
rival even the splendid conquests of
Cortez in Mexico. So he too came to
Florida. He had heard strange tales
of this wonderful land SO he, with a
small band of faithful followers set
out to explore and to conquer it.
But as they advanced into the heart
of the country De Narvaez's compan-
ions grew weaker and weaker on &C
count of lack of provisions. Their
food supply was exhausted and at