The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-05-29
The day being done. /"

pen fell from his grasp, and Lanier's
radiant spirit, freed from the frail
body that had held it so lightly, re-
turned to bask forever in the light OF
the sun he loved.
The chorus, 1.-THE Cunning Fox by
the High School department. was fol-
lowed by a very excellent essay on
FLORIDA, Yesterday and Today" splen-
didly delivered by Miss Todd, who un-
folded to her listeners F!orida's great
capabilities In the following clever
words:
The Indians believed 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 1t had lain, ard they arose
and they walked into the interior
This is only a beautiful Indian myth,
yet the real coming of the white man
was almost as wonderful.
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 Ora
NADIA that the honor and victory might
go to Spain. He sailed with Column
bus en- his second voyage to the New
World. After seeing part of it. he
was still more eager to see more or
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 unfulfllled
He wished to reap greater honors for
his country and himself. So, when he
heard of marvellous fountain whose
clear waters would heal the sick,
make the old young again and bestow
immortal 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
living in beautiful Florida in the en-
joyment of perpetual youth. So eager
was Ponce de Leon to find this magi-
cal 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 Won
derful 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 es-
terday say if he could see the people
who flock to our fowery 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 sanitari-
ums scattered all about in the woods
and on the sea coast, for our foun-
tain of youth today is not alone in our
clear, sparkling waters, but also in
the sweet, balmy air, laden with the
perfume of the flowers and the odor of
the pine needles.
Though romeo de Leon went away
dissatisfied, there are thousands to-
day who come nEd are satisfied and
come again. For what the Florida of
yesterday refused to one man, the
Florida of today gives freely to thou
sands.
De Narvarez was fired with ambi-
ton to conquer a land that would RI
val 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 Navarez's companions
grew weaker and weaker on account
of lack of provisions. Their food sup
!, ply was exhausted, and at each stop
ping place a few of the small band
had to be left behind, either dead or
dying of hunger. The remainder
pushed on to the villages, hoping to
find food there, but found instead of
the villages, smoking heap of ashes,
and the hostile Indians fed. Of all
4 this band of three hundred who set
out with such courage and with such
ambitious purposes in search of a fan
| cied empire, only four escaned alive