The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1919-04-10
Panama City, Florida, April

Washington | read in the reports of
the army engineers that st. Andrews
Bay, in Florida, was perfectly shell
tered harbor," and a delightful and
healthy location" to which l found
added in another document accumula-
tive testimony supplied by the alien
property custodian-who in the course
OF DISCRIMINATING germs that fatten-
ed on German interests on the bav.
took occasion to observe that ct was
The finest natural harbor on the Gulf
of Mexico"
The acknowledgement of natures
contributions to the universe are ant
to be subjects for suggestive criticism
or amendment, or conservatively sup
pressed in most official reports, but in
this instance it appeared to be a full
1OO-per cent fulfllment of what Pres
ldent Wilson defined on one occasion
as that kind of approval that is given
"ungrudgingly."
And so, like Ponce de Leon, who
looked for the fountain of youth on
Florida's shores in 1912, | decided on
similar pilgrimage in 1919. Sedate
palms and tall pines, a warm sun and
salubrious climate have added to the
glories of the undertaking. Glistening
diamonds upon the surface of the gulf
waters dance before the vision as
write these hnes-and in some way
have grown to feel that Florida and
Climate have not been written in vain
In the travellers book of synonyms
One writer calls the state "the Venice
of the South" only to be outdone by
more generous scientist in words,
who declares that Florida is the Italy
of the South" Ny own observation is
that climate" and weather" are on
the most intimate terms of affection,
and notwithstanding our International
relations can find no reason for in
jecting foreign-born descriptions to
tell of the glories that cluster beneath
the beauty of the rich green foliage
and white-fowered magnolia trees, or
the palmate, fan-shaped leaves that
form in the triumphs of nature and
perfect the splendid varieties found in
the palm and palmetto. Then, too,
there is the live oak, noblest of trees,
sometimes called the monarch of the
woods" It's dark green leaves remain
on the trees throughout the year, and
festoons of moss hang in mantle of
drapery adding their completeness to
semi-tropic splendor. The TIT shrub
grows wild, and its fragrant white
blossoms watt sweet odors that blend
with those of the Cherokee rose, and
with an almost endless variety of 9th
err flowers and plant life. The pure
white sand beaches and the warm
gulf waters stand as constant invi-
tation to those inclined to plunge be-
meath the salt waves. Nature never
grew more generous woods or distrib-
uted itself more evenly than is shown
on the gulf coast of Florida.
The mountains of New England, the
seaside at Newport, Atlantic City and
Virginia Beach, all have their alluring
qualities, but for evenness of tempera-
ture, and a health-giving purity of
atmosphere, that is unexcelled for men
and suffragettes, Florida is the Cha
teau Thierry in the Battle of Life.
When the northern frost has settled
on the pumpkin, and the Hoosier's
fodder is in the shock, thoughts of hui
mainly stray far from the cracking
cold; and the rattle of heating plants
is not placed in a competitive class
with the Victrola, No wonder that
the "Florida Special" is piled high be-
meath golf sticks, bathing suits and
trunks filled with lingerie. The peo-
pie of busy cities hunger for the
healthful out of doors, and pent-up
humanity seeks it's pastimes in an
equable climate. Hence the commodi-
GUS establishments in Florida erected
to care for the tourists.
In my experience I have always
found that the best place in which to
find rest is likewise the best place for
work and industry. And so I am i'm
mensely pleased with Florida since |
have found that it is not a 'loafer's
paradise" as the manipulations of
newly-discovered American dyes roll
ed into eolors for hotel circulars
would have one believe. The Florida
I have found is all that sensible peo-
pie could desire as a place for rest
and recreation; but what is of far
more importance-it is land of op-
portunities!
There are 1900 miles of coast line