114 IN PLOEIDA. 



tions of Florida indefinitely; there is always some- 

 thing more to say, a fresh point of interest to speak 

 of, additional beauties to describe, other and still 

 other reasons for visiting this strange and delightful 

 country. There is but one way in which even a slight 

 appreciation of the charms of Florida can be ob- 

 tained; and that is, to go there as often and stay 

 there as long as possible. For health, for recreation, 

 for sport, no place in the world can be compared 

 with it. A vast portion, that of the Everglades, the 

 "Grassy Water" of the native Seminoles, has never 

 been explored, and there are thousands of rivers, 

 lakes, and ponds which have rarely been disturbed 

 by the presence of a white man, and which would 

 amply reward the adventurous spirit who would ex- 

 plore them. 



When we first arrived in Florida, the flowers, 

 which its name promised us, were not to be seen. 

 Deceived by the temperature and a thermometer 

 that recorded rarely less than eighty degrees, we 

 failed to recognize the season of the year, or recall 

 the truism that, as all nature must have its spring, 

 it must also have its winter. The climate and the 

 foliage were as summer-like as we had ever seen 

 them. The grand orange trees, with their brilliant 

 shining green, flecked with spots of golden yellow, 

 were the most gorgeous sight that our eyes had ever 

 beheld in field or forest. The moss-covered forest' 

 evergreens, although turned slightly brown, were 

 still magnificent in their richness of foliage. There 

 were bare limbs here and there of deciduous trees, 



