The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-12-03
THE FIRST PLACE
HEARD OF IN FLORIDA
(By Kirk Munroe)

NV first visit to Florida was in No
vember, 1881 I came in search of ad-
venture, and brought with me a sail
ing canoe, in which, during the next
four months, cruised over one thous-
and miles, through the widest and
least known portions Of the State,
including the Southwest Coast to the
Dry Tortugas, the Everglades, and
Lake Okeechobee.
Until my arrival in Jacksonville
knew nothing of Florida and had not
an acquaintance within its borders.
My only passport was a note OF intro
duction from New York artist to the
late Fred Foster, proprietor of the old
st. Marks Hotel Going directly there,
found Mr.. Foster behind his desk,
listening intently to the only other oc-
cupant of the Office. AS entered,
this gentleman was saying:
81 tell you, Foster, that Biscayne
country is the most wonderful section
of your entire State"
My entrance having interrupted the
conversation, I presented my note of
introduction; and, after reading it,
Mr.. Foster handed it to his friend, say
ing to me as he did SO:
Here is the man who, better than
any other, can put you on the right
track"
With that he introduced me to Mr..
George Barbour. who afterwards
wrote FLORIDA for Tourists and In
valids," and, in cooperation with
"Col." Charles Jones, founded the
Jacksonville Times, now the Times
Union.
Mr.. Barbour had just returned from
trip to the extreme southern part
of the State, in company with Hon.
Seth French, Commissioner of Immi-
grafton, and for the next half hour !
listened to his fascinating tales OF
travel on and about the Bay and
among the Florida Keys. At the con
clusion of our talk l knew that this
was the place of places for me; but
circumstances became such that moi
until the winter of 1856 did l reach
this goal of my desire.
By that time l had acquired wife
and had purchased two small tracts o.
land in other beauty spots of the
State-one in the central Lake Region
and one on Lake Worth. After reach
ing this section, however, We prompt
ly disposed of these, then we bough
the bit of land, overlooking beautiful
Biscayne Bay, where we established
our first and only home-a home O
which We never have tired, even afte
living in it for more than thirty years
OF course, the chief attraction O
this region is its matchless all-year
, round climate. Ever since it has beel
r our home, my business has not onl
. taken me around the world, but t
a many of its remotest corners; and
8 during these wanderings, have care
fully noted climatic conditions.
= have found wonderful climates a
9 some Of the South Sea Islands. bu
t also typhoons! The equally fine cl
8 mates of certain of the West Indie
j. are disturbed by equally devastin
5 hurricanes. One Of the best of cl
: mates may be enjoyed on the mour
: tain tops of Ceylon, where lever
y prospect pleases,3 etc., but no Amel
ican wants to live his life in Ceylor
D Honolulu has perfect morning cl
d mate, but it is Offset by chilling wind
e from the cold Pacific waters later i
+ the day. Also the Azores are first he
: and then chilly; while the same a,
plies to our own Californian coast.
Y or course. no climate is perfect: fo
;, there is no such thing in all tb
il world as climatic perfection, any NOR
e than there is any general agreemer
e among the dwellers thereon as to th
e most desirable meteorological cond
|. tions. Even happily located Milan
v complains. at times, that the mercur
d mas climbed a few degrees too hie]
l. or has sunk lower than it shoul
h be all that as it may, personally fin
1t the climate of this tropical corner ,
v these United States the most perfe,
ot all the world; and that is the re
ID son l came here, continue to live her
IF and, God willing, intend to make tn
r. my home until the end.