ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 199 



Lake Worth, a distance of seven miles, passing by Venus, Mars, and 

 Saturn, as indicated by signboards on stakes driven into the ground, 

 it afforded a fine opportunity to the patent medicine almanac scientific 

 weather prophets, to study the transit of Venus, and their theories 

 regarding the "juxtaposition" of some of the other planets, which 

 it had been before difficult for them to prove. It finally settled the 

 much-mooted question as to whether or not Mars is inhabited, and 

 in the negative, as there were no people there, have never been 

 since, and probably never will be. 



The road could hardly be called a mythological one, at any rate 

 not to its owners, as their revenue from the road must have settled 

 that question. " If you don't believe that, ask Mr. Flagler." 



Is it not strange that the people in charge of the weather bureau, 

 who have been thoroughly trained in colleges, technical schools, etc., 

 and are placed in their positions by the Government because of their 

 proved attainments in their profession, only pretend to forecast the 

 weather from twelve to thirty-six hours ahead, while the almanac 

 gentlemen can, and do, forecast it all the way from one day to a year? 



The above weather business was written because I was once 

 awfully disappointed by an almanac. 



Just before Mr. Borden and I started on our cruise around the 

 coast on the "Manatee," while buying some supplies at Jupiter, 

 I picked up a patent medicine almanac, which I took aboard. 



When I came to read it, I stood aghast, as it told me that on 

 April 1st (I may be mistaken in the date, but April 1st will answer 

 first rate) there would be a terrible storm all over the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the south Atlantic Coast. I hid that almanac for fear the captain, 

 Mr. Borden, or some of the crew would get hold of it, and want to 

 give up the cruise, desert, or mutiny. 



Well, we went along all O. K. and the fatal day finally approached. 

 I trembled, but never said a word. The day finally came, and a 

 finer one I never saw anywhere ; the night came, and that was perfect. 

 I then brought out the almanac and read it to the captain, Mr. 

 Borden, and the crew. 



We were all very thankful, of course, for our narrow escape, and 

 blessed the almanac man. 



