The Washington times., 1922-03-29

never see the Land Of Flowers .
as members Of the Washington clu
return, once cid winter sets In ag
A certain spell goes with this
bright, sunny iand jutting out into
the waters Of the Gulf Of Mexico.
George Mogridss knows It and 10
dreaming Of bringing his family
down to St. Petersburg next winter.
Zsb Milan u thinking Of spending
some thros months down around
Fort Myers. One or two other lads
are thinking Of wintering At Miami
or Punta Gorda. They are all VIC
tins of the spell.
Old Ponce de- Leon. who landed 1T
St. Augustine, sought the fountain
of perpetual youth. Even now they
give you to dr!nl: Of the waters OF
clear spring over At st. Augustine
asking you to believe II the fount for
which the ancient Spanish cavalier
gave up his life.
Perpetual youth h hero. IL h In
the soft winds from the 50. IL II
in the waa ming sunlight. II II In
the waving Isalms. IL b In the
grave old pcihans diving into tho
blue waters for tho fleeing fish.
II II In the gulls wheeling shout
your boat. Il ID in tho clink ol the
horseshoe on the stake. the thud Of
the mallet In the rogue game.
Florida might easily be termed the
Alligator State for the gator never
grows old. He merely grows bigger
and more silent. How can anybody
grow old in Fiorida7
Reading ones newspaper. ons
easily sees the close connection be.
tween Florida and tho cold gray
North. Tho thousands of tourists
driving into the State are from the
North. Many linser here and mere
ly go home to keep their business In
order. Fastening hack to miss ~ lit
tie as possible Of the blessed sun
shine. which makes for life itself.
Sitting on the sea wall at St. Az
gustine are old folks. mon and wom
en- on the downward path Of life
smiling and nodding with the breeze
And they are strolling along the
beach at Daytona, meandering along
the boulevard at Miami. sitting on
the benches beneath the shade treei
In Williams park at st. Petersburg
Yes. and while We have not been
there to see, they are probably sit
ting and drinking In life at PalatkR
at Kissimee. at Sanford, at Mar
cosse, At Rockledge. at HomosassA
cadia. at Fort Meade.
There II something beckonine In
tho very names of F1orids's bcau.
tiful, sunny towns, In the musical
titles Of the lakes and rivers. Tho
Loreli must really have dwelt In
Florida, not in any German river.
II you have tired Of battling the
elements, why not como down tc
AIachua, or to Citra on Oranss
Lake, or to Lane Park. across
from LeesburR on Lake Harrfs1
They tell us there are 400 lakes
IN Lake county alone. Take your
pick.
There arc no really big cities
In Florida, but there are any
number Of small ones. II yov
like to have folks around you
there Is Tampa. with its $4,000
st. Petersburg with its $4,000. mo-
to mention Jacksonville with III
81 900.
But possibly you may prefer
Winter Park with its l.07S. OF
Ocala with its 4,e14. or Gaines
Vile with its 5.2l8. or Braden
town with its 1858 citizens;
II you're still crowded why no
|
persons liver
What. too big7 Well. there ar,
only four living In Chiaha. five a
Cross Bayou. five at Lexington
and six at Thonotosassa Junction
Furthermore. II you crave
absolute quiet, 20 to F1ncher,
he the first member Of your
local lodge in the wilderness.
There are dozens Of pretty spot
along the st. Johns River all tn
way from Lake George to the Sea
Or you may mosey along the In
dian River.
II you wish to go right down &
the edge OF the Everglades, you ma,
go to Moore Haven on Lake Okee
chobee, being careful to watch on
for rattlesnakes.
And wherever you go you will fin
perpetual youth in the sparkiin,
water, the brilliant light blue OF tn
sky, the bright yellow Of the sun
light. Old Ponce de Leon Is said (
have died Of a broken heart b
lcause he did not know the fountai
when he saw II.
And soon we must bid adieu to a
this. We must leave behind us Il
sun and the warm wind to feel n