The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-01-18

and smooth flowing tongue,
gesticulotinq wildly with their
hands meanwhile; rank grow
inc tropical vegetation on every
hand that thriVes in q qeniol
fFosilesS cline: q for-flunq little
corner OF the U.S.A.. which, be-
inc unique. possesses q distinc-
tive charm thot is ollurinq to
the visiting Str0nqer,-Such, in
fact. were my impressions on
The occasion OF nv first visit to
the islGnd city of Key West"
WERE TO AGAIN attempt to
w express in few words my re-
action to the charm of the Island
City that so recently revisited,
! seriously doubt if l could excel
the foregoing word picture that
was published in The Eagle of
May 10Th. 1888, hence its repeti-
ton here.
As previously stated, l turned
into Duval Street at precisely
1880 pm. AS the one-way street
was somewhat crowded, l motor
ed ON past the La Concha Hotel
and drew up to parking place
AZ the end Of the block, directly
m front of an ancient three-story
house.-Such as were in vogue
some seventy or more years ago,
--twO-Story porcheS around front
and side and mansard roof with
protruding dormer windows. Yes
sir. those old timers believed in
porcheS where they could sit of
an evening. chat with friends and
enjoy the breeze perfumed with
the fragrance of jasmine and
other garden flowers. We mod
ems think that we have improv-
ed on such antiquated architec-
ture and have largely done away
with porcheS. Nowadays you just
enter through a hole in the wall
and you are cooped for the night.
Pays Parking Meter
But | am Distressing. Looking
up from the parking meter where
deposited a nickel (Yes, they
have these deviliSh gadgetS there,
tool. beheld a Sign,-Island Inn,
and also observed that there
was a ''vacancy"-rather an I'M
usual circumstance in Florida
cities these days. | was charmed
with the old mansion, and being a
wayworn traveller in a strange
city. decided to investigate that
vacancy. The place is run by a
Texas lady and her daughter.
Yes, there was a vacancy on the
third floor If | was willing to
climb il. as there was no eleva-
tor.
told the lady that there was
nothing enjoyed more than
climate and thought that l could
negotiate 1t all right. And SO l
was enSConced for the night. On
retiring at later hour | found
an Immediately clean, airy room,
with adjacent bath and d COM
Portable bed. And what was more
90 my liking, no negro flunkeyS
around To grab your suitcase, open
the window. turn on the light for
a fee. and other little things that
independent people usually care
% do for themselves.
One of my first moves was to
locate the chamber of commerce
and get my bearings. On an old
three story building opposite the
la COncha Hotel was a large
sign notifying that that was the
place. Affixed to the door was a
small notice stating that the Of
flee had moved to the courthouse
grounds. So there | meandered. |
searched the courthouse and the
iail. but no chamber of commerce
IN either. The only other build
ing on the grounds was the USO
with soldiers and sailors coming
and going In d wing of the build
ing | found the object of my
search. The young lady in charge
was apologize. She stated that
they had just moved the day be-
fore and had not yet had time to
put up the signs. From her l OBJ
tanned d map of the city and some
other information that l was
seeking
Indentifiss Kapok Tree Here
In the spacious courthouse yard
t,,. -,,a,,r,a, ,f Tc;ko