The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-28
THREE COUSINS"

mouse with tnat Speclal grace OF speed /
that characterizes and has language |
of its own, for we were going some |
where, and right now. How long we
three had anticipated this event
would not be exactly fair to tell, for
we had lived here almost all our lives
and had never traversed the rivers
that appeal so universally TO the SEN
timent of the travelling public and
6guratively right at our doorstep.
The morning was all that could be
desired-cooI, with little hay, misty
joy clouds overshadowing the sky.
We were to set forth on the Wekiwa,
and arrived by private car at our
city waterfront just at the moment
when the good ship slipped off the
ways into the "silver sea-" Like a
great white swan she circles about
and was soon at her moorings. TWEEN
ty-two fellow travellers mounted the
gangplank With hearty god-byes
and tear or two at parting from
loved ones, we were off, gliding swift
ly down the heart of beautiful Silver
river, famed in song and story. The
nifty little vessel under command of
Capt. Robt. R. Tydings Jr., and En-
gineer Willie J. Randall, with crew
of pilot, chef and waiter, were each
at their respective posts of duty,
while the passengers formed coy
groups near the rails of the upper
deck, where good views could be had
of the passing beauties of woodland
and stream. The seeming impene-
trable Florida jungle that borders
each side of Silver river could have
never been more beautifully resplen-
dant in the verdure of early spring
time The dogwood's sunny bios
SONS intermingled with the trailing
yellow jasmine, pink and red naples,
wild SALIVA and water lilies, with song
birds, water cranes, scooting turtles
and wiggly alligators and the eternal
changes of the subterranean depths
kept everyone on the qui vive. Into
the clearings along the crooked way,
here and there between the woods
which bordered it, occasional glimpses
of happy homes and some abandoned
plantations could be seen, and several
shady hooks, with negro fishermen
plying their lines. Three great tim
Der RATS, going to San Atlantic port"
we're drifting down the quiet ways
on their way to the sea. Ono waA
quite difficult to pass, but the master
hand of the captain guided Us by
without a seeming extra effost, for
Oklawaha's crooked ways a-e weird
and mysterious and often prove most
hazardous to vessels or RATS that
| try to pass, especially as ships in the
night. The dinner hour, 1:30, found
US near Orange Springs station. The
odors arising from the culinary de-
partment had long since whetted ev-
| cry appetite to its utmost straining
point, so when the first call for din
ner was given the response of the
designated ones were immediate and
such dinner: soup, first with big
fat beans and featherweight noodles,
pink carrots and sliced onions swim
ming amid its golden depths, topped
off with hot cornbread such as mann
my used to make, with real butter
was the acme of deliciousness. As
was also every dish that followed the
menu for the day, consisting of hot
roast pork with thick gravy, candied
vans, spring peas, creamy white
potatoes, spaghetti, war bread, jelly,
pickles and peaches with which cake
and coffee was served. This dinner
brought forth the commentator of
every one aboard and many declared
it the best meal they had ever had
in Florida. The chef is certainly a
master of his profession with that
twist of the wrist" that alone can
give that good old honey taste to
things. Just at twilight we found
ourselves gliding into the old st.
Johns, encircling and giving the ac-
customed salutes to every passing
vessel and to the pretty picturesque
little village of Welaka We sped on
with added speed toward Palatks. A
magnificent sunset glow was soon
outriyaled by the great full moon,
whose mystic glow soon transformed
the dark, rushing waters into a
crystal sea. In its beauty / almost
forget the hundreds of other moonlit
L
river scenes that it has been my good
fortune to enjoy. The waving moss
from the great live oaks along the
shore seemed to sing in the evening
air and we caught the musical notes
of birds in the thickets. A cricket on
our bow-ridge began a moonlight
sonata. His happy chirp was by no
means lost in our nature chorus.
Seven-thirty and the lights of the
city of Palatka came into view. Not
one moment of our journey had been
monotonous. Every one felt the charm
and satisfaction of a well spent day.
The entire passenger list registered
at the Putnam Inn Our only regret
was that the lateness of the hour
when supper was served forbade us
calling by phone the many former
friends we would have so loved to
chat with. The Weldwa schedule
read seven o'clock, and that hour
found US aboard, making thirteen
~ T.. II Il