The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-25
FINE BOOST FOR KEY WEST

pleasing boosts of this kind is interesting article
headed "The Hounds Of Spring. written by Elmer
Davis. and published in the March 13 issue of
"The New Yorker leading and widely read pub
LEGATION of New York City. The interesting story
deals with the East Coast cities of Florida, Key
West and Havana, and was evidently prepared for.
publication before the completion Of the Hotel La
Concha, this city's new and luxurious year round
tourist hosiery, which won such wide and favor
able fame this season. The three times week
evening train referred to is the special Key West
Miami train operated through the tourist season
in addition to the regular passenger train schedule
Only the portion of the article concerning Key
West is reproduced below. which reads as follows:
'In short, Miami offers an admirably reminis-
/. cent holiday to the New Yorker who has got out
Of the habit of New York; but one which is in
Florida only by accident. Miami has spring but
Miami has interludes (brief and infreduent, to be
sure) which approach perilousy near the frost
line. And if you want rest neither Palm Beach
nor Miami is the place for you to seek.
ITO find rest, to find spring, you must come
to Key West; come on to the jumping of placebut
don't jump of. For if you jump off you will land
in Havana, where, however springlike it may be,
there win be the races and roulette and night
clubs and everything else you have already battled
through on the East Coast. Key West is the
Promised Land for the hounds of spring; and
they'd better enjoy It while they can, for presently
it. too, is likely to be spoiled.
Here the sun shines and the restless breeze
is baImy; here there is nothing to do and no
pulsion to do it. Here, among other things, is a
hotel, as good as you will find in Florida, where
room with all meals costs about as much as tea
for two in Palm Beach or Miami Beach. Even in
Key West you strike cool day now and then, but
cool day here is ten or twenty degrees warmer
than cool day on the East Coast.
"Key West knows neither the Argentine who
spendeth by night the Portuguese that wasteth
at MONDAY. They pause, and look, and pass on.
So does almost everybody. Three nights week the
evening train comes in; at breakfast and dinner
the Casa Marina is full; then, after breakfast, the
money-bees swarm to the Havana boat And for
thirty-six hours the Casa Marina is empty of all
but q dozen or two Of the hounds of spring, while
Mattresses write letters home on their empty tables
all through the dinner hour.
'sWhat does one do in Key West2 Let the
news serve as enticement to the elect and warning
to the generaI--one does nothing in Key West.
One swims-exactly one, if YOU want TO know how
many, one-returning to the general and indefnite
plays golf if so inclined, or fishes onthe opal
under a tropic sun; but for the true hound of
spring it is enough to lie shirtless on the sand,
soaking in the ultraviolet rays lie motionless
In q rocking chair on porch, smoking 4 Key West
cigar and waiting for sunset to turn up the South
ern Cross. like four-spot in cut for deal. The
Southern Gross never does turn up. for celestial
mechanics have decreed that it is not for Key West
to see. but. night after night, the natives VIII tell
you that only the fog bank excludes it.
AFTER sunset little music, magazine.
stroll the moonlit sands. and to bed, with the
ocean breeze blowing in the window. Here is none
the Casa Marina is in effect country club, too.
quiet to be in favor with the earnest spenders and
the serious drinkers and the younger set.
.But, as always. the Golden Age Is passing.
motor highway is building and it annex the Keys
TO the Continent in more senses than one. When
that road is opened then may the Key Wester say,
the time of the singing Of the bird dogs is come,
and the voice Of the realtor Is heard ii our land.
Then the Casa Marina win fin up and the gay
weatherworn houses of Key West win give way to
stucco limitations OF the Aihambra ia pink and
green and blue. When that day comes the seeker
for quiet viii have to hire himself divers suit and
90 down in the deep tsafe enough BY that time, for
the realty business viii have absorbed all the
sharksl. But not even the crowds can kill the
climate of the Keys. Here Persephone builds her
winter home and here you can wait and go north
with her.
.'For whatever crowds may come to Key West
there viii. thank God always be people who win
want house near Mrs. stotesbury. Perhaps NE
spring hounds may some day. bekthankful that
Florida can be all things to all men,