The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-05-28

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those style shops so appealing to
women.
They all boast of cement sidewalks.
paved streets, green lawns and orna-
p entail grounds.
/ Bungalows of all styles of attrac-
tive architecture are seen on every
/ land and the homes Of some Of the
more wealthy are as imposing as the
6~ronial castles Of the Old World
Those who are acquainted with the
birth and have watched the growth
Z Orlando contend that Miami has
20 monopoly to the name of the
Magic City for if magic means en-
chanting Orlando possesses her full
share.
! Sne glories in well paved streets
and bOulevards. ornate homes, lovely
grounds, beautiful parks, pretty lakes.
Ia,tractive stores, magnificent educa-
ticnal institutions. a number of sub
stautial business firms and splendid
citizenship.
We call to mind that years ago
when Mr.. Mahlon Gore began the
publication of a newspaper establish
ed fer the purpose of telling the out
side world something of the beauties
rand possibilities of the infant city.
be had the misfortune to have his
printing plant burned to the ground
vet the embers had hardly cooled be-
LCre the public spirited citizens. with
cut hint or solicitation. had made up
q purse sufficiently large to reestab-
Ish the plant.
That spirit of generosity has contin-
haf ie,% ri,ass 1aa% ;Ic
Grlando's growth.
A little while ago the city voted
At to IS for library building and d
yearly tax commensurate for its main
tenance. and while we were there a
drive" was on for an extension to its
hospital building and there seemed
a rush to see who could be quickest
with their contributions.
Orlando early flung her banners
on her outer walls extending a warm
and generous welcome to the home
| seekers and winter visitors from
whence or where and many have ac-
cepted the invitation, and some of the
more affulent ones have built pala-
tial homes, have created handsome
! grounds, importing tropical trees,
plants and flowers of rare shapes and
dimensions which are most pleasing
TO all who have an eye for the beauti-
ful in nature.
The hybiscus, the alamanda, the
bougenveelia, the stately palm and
| the gardens present perfect riot
of lovely colorings.
1t is said that the first palm tree
ever planted in Cordova was brought
from the east by the order Of one
IAbderahman, who planted it with his
own hands and when it became d tall
! ard graceful tree delighted at, evening
/ to gaze upon it. and the following
pretty little poem is said to have
been composed by him:
All, my beautiful and graceful palm
tree,
Thou art here stranger. The west
wind woos thee,
Gently, sweetly, with it's tender voice
of love,
Softly caressing thy rich mxuriance,
fertile earth
Thy roots are gladly nourishing. and
high thy head
| To heaven thou raisest An, noble
tree,
Hast thou no grief for thy deserted
home?
Must l alone endure the pain,
And weep the tears Of deep regret,
! in vain,
For thy companions thy sister trees,
50 freshly growing, crowned with
l1eatherly diadems
Along the flowery banks of Forat's s
/ stream"
In time the crest Of these and other
stately and outrageous trees will
give a most charming outlook to
many favored spots in the southern
portion of our rapidly growing state.
| If Florida is to hold its title TO be-
ing called the Land of Flowers. .
why not plant flowers along our
rcadsides and hedges Even the
most ordinary varieties give a cheer
full aspect to the most barren wastes.
Orlando is making the most of her
pretty lakes. They are bordered with
grass plots and branches are proyid-
ed for the visitors and sight-seers
and in the height of the winter sea-
son music is dispensed.
Already rejoicing in five story
mercantile structure Orlando is now
contemplating a seven story one and
soon she will rejoice in sky scrapers
the same as Tampa and Jacksonville.
The census shows an increase in
population of nearly every Florida
city and Florida's destiny Is no long.
Ter il do1bt.
RnaEis 4 hrsaaihs ground Tor ] NH