Palatka.

This popular winter resort is situated on the west banks of the St. John's River, 27 miles from St. Augustine, with which it has frequent communication. The river sweeps broad and deep around three sides of this busy little city, "the Gem City of the St. Johns," and from the distance the heights look down from their pine-covered crests on the mass of human life which swarm at their feet, as they did years and years ago, when the red man occupied this region.

The Kean Block.

Here they smoked the pipe of peace and invoked the favor of the Great Spirit they heard in the thunder, and felt in the breeze, and saw in the sunlight. Here they recited their legends and intoned their songs, and here oi1our bright waters glanced their light canoes. Here they passed their mighty Welaka (chain of lakes) so frequently that they named it Palatka (The Crossing).

On the St. Johns River.

Then came the white man, and he appeared to them out of the vast unknown. He sailed on broad wings which made his ships the sacred birds of their gods, and he slew them with the thunder which was to them the voice of the Great Father. To these children of Mother Nature the Spaniard was proud and cruel. Is it strange that the Indian finally believed him a devil, and sought to break his power by killing the "medicine men" whose enchantments bound the thunder in submission to his bands? Is it strange that the Spaniards had no pity for the race which refused their faith, tortured their priests, and joined their enemies of the Old World to slay and hang?

The Carleton House.