The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-29

luIouSu SuulTOIIcdl region, where
every tuIn in the road opened up a
new vista of forest, sea and sky:
reaching climax in the most won ;,
derful view of beautiful Bay Bis
cayne Just as the sun was sinking
over the forest clad reaches of the
west and lighting up the tops of the
substantial modern churches, schools
hotels and business blocks of Miami
the magic CITY,"
Uniform Hotel Rates -
reservations had been made for
our party at several hotels and rea-
sonable, uniform rates arranged for.
We were directed to the Gralynn
where we had fine accommodations
and were glad for the opportunity to
sleep regularly in regular bed and
enjoy a regular bath after the DAYS
and nights of pullman berth and
an occasional bath.
The evening was given over to a
band concert at Royal Palm Park by
Pryor's band. Following the SPLEEN
did musical program there was an
address of welcome by the great
commoner William Jennings Bryan.
who makes Miami his home for
seven months out of the twelve and
each Sunday conducts an open air
sunday school in this same park.
There was moon dance in the
street adjoining the park after the
program and many of our party join
ed Miami's -four hundred" in the
music until late hour.
1t was indeed a brilliant scene,
with gaily dressed ladies, the clever
lighted and decorated streets, and
the moon shining through the tops
or the tall, royal palm trees and
making path OF silvery light across
the bay.
and Mrs. Draper of Wells, Mimi.
Mr. Draper told us they had been
making month s tour of Florida
and and expected to leave on the follow
ing Saturday for Key West from
where they would go by boat to Gal
weston, Texas, and then home.
Wednesday morning, March %, we
again assembled at Royal Palm park
and took autos for the days trip of
sight seeing through the city and
vicinity. Our host and driver was
-. f. Hunken, formerly OF Kansas,
but now confirmed Miamian and
our companions were Mr.. and Mrs.
John Freeman of Olivia and Mr.. and
Mrs. Irving Todd of Hastings, Mimi,
Visited the Aquarium
We visited the aquarium, said ,c
be the largest in the country, and
saw the many beautiful, useful ana.
curious fish of these southern seas
swimming in their native element.
From the aquarium We drove to the
new million dollar Flamingo hotei
and ascending to it's roof viewed the
city, harbor, beach and the many inn
provements being made in the bay
by the construction of miles of won
derful boulevards and islands con-
tanning acres o. land from material
taken from the bottom of the bay
by great suction pumps.
Our next stop was at Miami beach
club and Casino and immense mo-
dern structure, built by Carl Fisher.
This club adds much to the comforts
and pleasures of residents and visi-
tors at the beach. A bit of surf
bathing with dip in the great pool
and the way We went after the appe-
dzing buffet lunch served at the club
might have led one to think we had
not eaten for week. There was a
nne water sports program at the
casino with exhibitions of high and
fancy diving and underwater swim
ming. One swimmer swan twice
across the tank, a distance of nearly
three hundred feet under water, and
the water being clear as crystal it
was possible to see his every move
ment beneath the surface.
The afternoon was spent in visit
ing many places of interest, every
where most beautiful from natures
bountiful gifts and mans creations.
BY special favor we were permitted
to view the Arthur Curtiss James es-
tate, developed by the expenditure of
a fortune. This estate is a dream
IN its artistic appointments and
wealth OF rare flowers and plants,
but most beautiful of all is the long
avenue of Royal palms leading from
the house to the shores of the bay.
From there we were driven through
the estate of James Deering where
many millions have been expended in
buildings and development. Mr..
Deering is a bachelor and / heartily
agreed with some of the ladies when
they suggested that it should be
criminal onense for man with so
beauty and comfort not to have a
wife and family.
TO me the browning feature of the
afternoon was the reception tender
ed the association by Mr. and Mrs.
Bryan at Villa Serena, their Mama
home. The colonel and Mrs. Bryan
with their daughter, grandchildren
and other relatives greeted us upon
our arrival. Mrs. Bryan has been
afhlcted with rheumatism for sever
al years, and was unable to shake
hands with us. but gave each a hap
py smile and cheerful word of
greeting. Mr.. Bryan seems to have
renewed his youth, at least his face
is more peaceful and serene than it
was years ago when he was waging
his great political battles.
A grand banquet at the ROYAL
Palm was the feature of the evening
a most brilliant affair at this world
famed hotel, which is the last link
in the chain of Flagler hotels on the
mainland of Florida, but not the last
on the FIagler system for the mag
nificent Casa Marina at Key West
was opened this winter