The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-07-29
y A Florida Classic


The visit of the National Editorial
Association to Florida brought forth
many dissertations on it's beauties.
possibilities and actualities, but none
were more classical, possessed of
more delightful rhetoric or such a
wealth of charm and correctness OF
statement as the following from the
pen OF Mr.. Woodring, editor of the
Peru qnd.) Journal.
It viii be revelation to many who
nave never visited our state and to-
many OF, our citizens who have not
made tour of it.
Read what this editor says:
Lapt in the climatic luxury of the
semi-tropical zone, clothed in the
yerdure which springs from soil kiss
ed by passionate sunbeams and bath
ed by copious showers; tended by a
people rich in the virtues of Industry.
thrlft and sobriety; with a dozen
ports busted with ships laden with the
products of every cline; lowered.
with an Incompatible forest; the
eartn stored with valuable deposits of
phosphate and clays; supplied with
splendid clear lakes, fringed with
moss-coyered trees, in which the fin
ny tribe play with endless dive and
swirl provided with ample supply of
good water; fecked with magnificent
horticultural groves; the plains
grazed by stately herds; gemed with
bewitching gardens; dotted with -four
ishing cities and famed by balmy gulf
stream breezes.
TO the old and the young alike,
Florida has strange appeal-w wierdly
strange at times, and most difficult to
analize or explain. Romance with its
old world flavor still holds its sway
and always will A land of enchant-
ment, it has ever been, and it will
continue TO charm and enthrau in the
years to come, just as it has in CEN
turies past. The venturesome ex-
plorers of four hundred years ago.
though often times forced to turn
back because of insurmountable diff
fculties, found in Florida, a land of
enchantment. Today one can reyel
in the warmth and sunshine, in the
long stretches of white sandy beaches
and in the crystal clearness of the
many lakes and the cool breezes of
velvety softness as they whisper a
unique and most interesting feature
OF many of the lakes is the long rows
Of pine sapplings found at the
waters edge One could feel almost
certain, the planting had been de-
signed and made by man but such is
not the case-it is just a pretty bit
of natures handiwork.
Combinations of natures beauty
are here frequently found in rippling
lake, trees heavily laden with Spanish
moss and bit of sunlight breaking
| through. Those who will take the
| time to explore a bit of the beaten
paths will find many delightful sur
prises. There is something new and
different awaiting one just over the
hill or around the turn and one never
tires of these. scenes. As twilight
shades into darkness, the hanging
mosses take on fantastic shapes and
assume a sombre tone. Night treads
quickly on the heels of day and ushers
in twinkling stars of brilliancy.
Frankness and veracity compel us
TO admit that for four hundred years
Florida was used scarce more than
for gateway, its explorers passing
through and beyond in search not OF
fertile land but of gold in bulk to
carry back across the seas. 1t has
been a far cry from those, early
troublesome days to the present time
and the transposition from a primeval
fastness to the wonderland of today
is all the more marvellous for the rea
son that the greatest strides have
been made in the past decade.
Azure skies and rainbow tinted Flor
ida is old in years yet young and fresh