The Ocala banner., 1922-09-22
FLORIDA A LAND or ENcHANT
MENT
(Contributed)


years ago, coveted the glory of con-
quest. His reputation tarnished, his
honor unsung, his dreams unreaIized
ne builded upon new dreams born of
ie5endry and he sought a magical
fountain IN fairyland. On an Eas-
er Sunday over four hundred years
ago after weary weeks of voyaging he
found shore; land gay with spring
blossoms and fringeG against the sea
with palms, and he called it Florida
The youth-giving spring he sought
remained only in his dreams but Flor
ida. still aowerladen. remains to speak
the memory of an old man who found
neither youth nor glory for himself
il ;and then and now. glorious.
Florida, the pot OF gold at the end
Of the rainbow whjoh aacied splen-
dor Ponce ae Lsen followed from gol-
den sunrise to shadowy twilight: the
will o the wisp which lured broken
ola man 70 disappointment Yet it is
lalry!and to this day.
Florida's beauties are tangible:
clinging 10 the senses insistently and
ever fragrant Of generous Mother Ma
ture who chose the spot in which to
lavish her best gifts Florida lures,
even as she did those long-gone years
ago Her moss-hung oaks and dover
strewn hamm0cks her mysterious
bayOus and swamps, shadow-hung; ST.
lent save for the voice of birds and
tiny living things in the grasses. The
charm of her jewel heart always calls
to men.
The state as a beautiful princess is
awakening 20 the kiss of Prince Civ
iliZation whose caress on her lovely
dimpled face is arousing her, wide
eyed, to find herself palpitant thing
Young, vibrating with energy. eager
for the world to learn that she is a
potent factor in its work; that she is
a commonwealth Young, yet old, I'm
informed. but alive to all her hidden
resources.
a land Of romantic legend and ad-
venturoGs history; Of towns most an
cient ami newest. Florida with her
unique precedence comes to the front
as court CT last resort for the home
seeker. With thousands OF fertile
acres, fairly teeming with vegetable
energy, each acre begs for human ef-
fort; just a hand at the plow It's
east coast and other known areas are
becoming a territory Of swiftly-grow-
ing cities. but inland and on the west
ern coast are miles of waiting soil
where the whistle OF factory ana mer-
camille industries must soon supplant
the sigh Of the wind through the
pines And Florida is winning citi-
zens for her void spaces. Railroads
/ are penetrating the remote points
where before only reignad the exuber.
ant mockjrgbird, the fame colored
cardinal and The painted butterfly On
the banks of the bayous where the
waxy bloom of the magnolia the star
lilies and the wifi iesamine alone
greeted the sunrise are bungalows,
and gardens terraced to the waters
edge.
Towns are springjng into existence,
with high hope and ready energy 20
explore and develop hidden resources,
to till the fields, to establish efficient
schools, to strengthen and unity the
churches. and, in fine. with swift
steps, ready service and concertive
energy. make Florida's growing popu-
Iatioa one blended and insoluble uni
ty.
r has been recently called the win
ter playground OF the nation. it's east
ern coast dotted with towns whose
natural beauty has been enhanced or
destroyed as the case may be, by
any means TO attract the idle rich 70
whom the climate of the tropics is a
respite from the fetid breath of arti-
fciality.
But to the nature lover there are
points in Florida that will come as
leaves from a book OF dreams AL
ways something new. something diff
farent.
1t is a land Of open and fathomless
sky. of blue waters. dawns of viole:
and rose, and the molten gold of sun
set. 1t is the land OF the dreamer,
the land of the worker. but ever the
of the battle in the melting pot Of the
cities. Floridas wide and inviting
solitude await mans coming.