The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-15

said Mr.. and Mrs. Justin w.
CRIES. when 1 was visiting their
lovely home in Massachusetts last
June. Mr.. CRIES., like myself,
was recovering from bad attack
of pneumonia and had benefited
greatly by. his stay here last year.
Now Florida to we British only
means Miami or Palm Beach. /
am ashamed to say I had never
heard of Key West nor did Mr..
CRIES. mention it,-much less
fishing. However, / accepted the
invitation with alacrity.
About last November, when all
my plans were practically COM
pleted, my friend, Mr.. de Casa
nova, the editor of the American
Kennel Gazette, casually men
toned in a letter that he was
glad l was coming to Florida and
would no doubt enjoy the, fish
ing as the Griesses were most en-
thusiastic anglers. My heart went
down. I'd never fished in my
life and l had a horror of small
boats. Although I live in London,
I have a cottage on the coast of
Kent and have friends visit me
who go fishing in the English
Channel where it is supposed to
be good. They bring their own
boat and the bargain l make is
that they fish as often as they
like only / am not to be asked to
accompany them, so I'd never
been out fishing in my life. On
receipt of Mr.. de Casanova's let
ter wrote politely to Mr.. and. Mrs.
CRIES. saying that I'd heard they
were great anglers and that /
knew nothing of fishing but
would be glad to go out with
them and watch. By return came
a cable saying I was to meet them
at the Casa Marina Hotel, Key
West, on january 10th. ;.
l am one of those who; owing
to bronchial trouble, cannot stand
the rigors of our English eli
mate and was very delighted when
/ consulted my doctor about
coming here to hear him say,
'There are two places with ideal
climates to suit you, Egypt and
Florida. left England on De-
cember 22nd in the midst of one
of the coolest spells we've had
for very many years. Our news
papers said it was colder than in
Iceland, so / was glad to turn my
back on snow and ice, which may
look pretty on Xmas cards, but
in London are an abomination. l
came via Cuba where l stayed a
week and thought Havana was
quite the noisiest city I've been
in and made New York seem like
a peaceful town. Working to
schedule l left on the SIS. Cuba
on January 10th. Not liking
small boats viewed with some
dismay its dimensions. I prefer
ships about the size of the Ac-
quitania and on these Pm an ex-
cellent sailor. | had heard dire
accounts of the crossing from
Cuba to Key West, however, all
was well, though on the passage
across no less than three men
who talked to me on board were
suddenly overcome with NAL de
mer, SO l wondered if l was a
hoo-doo. At lunch only a hand
full of people appeared, whilst l
ate my meal to the strains of the
Lambeth Walk-a, delicate COM
pliment TO the only British pas
senger. The steward informed
me that it was very rough.
After what ] considered de-
lightful trip,-I was interested in
the approach to Key West with
all the small Keys-there on the
pier were my friends, Mr.. and
Mrs. CRIES., accompanied by Oh.
Amour of Misty Isles, the greatest
black poodle in America. 1t took
a long time to get through the
customs, never in all the countries
In which | have travelled-bar
Brazil during a revolution-have
l had my luggage so thoroughly
gone over as the Key West Of
flcial small tooth combed it, and
was at loss 10 know what on
earth he thought British
woman could be smuggling. How
ever, in due course I got through
and arrived at the Casa Marina
where under the shady palms my
hosts thought that a Planters
Punch was lust what the doctor
bad ordered.
have never been in a more
beautiful locatfona than the Casa
Marina, the lovely garden, pri-
Vate beach, pier, outside dancing
floor surrounded by tables under
gaily colored umbrellas and the
palms Lit up at night with a
myriad colored lamp combined
with the excellent service seems