The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-02-13

Ayrshire, rlght from bOOOle DulH
home, from a real kinsman of Burns.
Dressed in the Highland kits Of Rob
Roy plaid, a genuine son of Dunbar
ton gave US many selections on his
hagpipe. Old Scotch melodies inter-
spersed with our own national airs,
and ever pleasing ragtime. No ex-
perience was more pleasing than
mingling with these sturdy honest
people, many of whom are skilled
craftsmen in the art of shipbuilding,,
commanding seventy-fve and a hum
dred dollars a week for their work.
The city is quaint and beautiful,
and to one who has never been far
ther South you have the feeling of
being in the tropics, induced by vege-
tation and atmospheric conditions.
The homes, churches, schools and all
putlic buildings are just as you see
everywhere. The ever interesting
drawbridge, and the water front,
which is always attractive, brilliant
bribiscus, trailing vines of golden
glow and stately palms lend a dis
tinct beauty to Tampa found in few
cities.
The Tampa Bay Hotel and grounds
beggar description. Domes of Turk
ish architecture looming up amidst
the tall palms and evergreens Of a
tropical American garden, frightened
by hedges of 'bribiscus and golden
glow, the whole over looking the bay,
makes a study for the artist and a
monument to Plant who did for Flori-
da on the west coast in part, what
Flagler did on the east.
The roads were a marvel to me,
being paved all over the State much
like our public square. Where they
found so many brick was a greater
wonder than the money for doing it.
The great number of Northern peo-
pie touring in their splendid cars
make these paved roads necessity.
Cigar factories are to be seen on all
sides, cigar making and shipbuilding
being the main industries. We had
the good fortune of seeing fine
new boat launched while there.
A pleasant days outing was a trip
by boat to St. Petersburg. There we
! found a city given up to tourists, and
city where the sun is said to shine
every day in the year. We can testify
to the midsummer radience the day
we were there, while back at home
on the same day, everything was. in
cased in ice. We mingled among the
tourists under the shade of the great
live oaks, while the Scotch band dis
Icoursed delightful music, all giving
the impression of veritable Spring
time picnic. The only real hill we
Isaw in Florida was here, with cum
ming little dwellings on sides and
summit much like our mountain
towns. On reaching st. Petersburg
one of the first things that attracts
attention is the great number Of
pelicans squatting on posts all a.
round the pier, seemingly as tape as
the famous pigeons of St. Marks.
They watch the crowds of fish in the
clear water of the bay, and are more
successful when they dive for their
prey than the anglers along the plank
walk.
Another afternoon was spent at
Port Tampa ten miles west, the chief
port for boats going to Cuba, this be-
ing the nearest point to Gulf of
Mexico. Nothing is seen here except
the longer vessels and Gulf Refining
Co. Our last afternoon was spent in
Seminole Heights, suburb built in
recent years. Most of the homes are
bungalows Of unique designs. This
drive leads out to the Sulphur
Springs, where there are swimming
pools and alligator farms. Thousands
of large and small aligators are di-
vided in pens according to their ages.
which range from one hundred and
fifty years to eighteen months. They
are lying in that dormant state
characteristic of the reptile family