S, *
* *J-%,


4


may be profitably neglected. .From the very earliest discovery
of the continent, the remarkable salubrity of the climate, and
the extraordinary transparency and purity of the springs, gave


origin


tradition


that a


"fountain of


youth "


existed
I


somewhere within the borders of the territory, and led to the
expedition of the romantic and chivalric De Leon in search of
it. The first impression of a visitor, who has been led to form


a picture


Florida


from


enthusiastic


descriptions


writers,
part, is


aided,


not


perhaps, by a


unfrequently


vivid


that


imagination


on his


own


disappointment.


longer acquaintance almost always leads to a revulsion of sen-
timent, and a succession of visits to something of the enthusi-


asm of the earlier historians.


able data with


regard


to the


A reasonable amount of valu-
meteorology of Florida is sup-


plied by the volumes of the "Medical Statistics of the United


States Army;"
a sanitary point


but if one undertakes to judge of a climate, in


view, .or


fitness of


any particular


country or district for invalids, by mere


latitude or tempera-


ture, or its variability or invariability, its dryness or humidity,
he will fail to comprehend the philosophy of the subject. Its
geography, especially its physical geography, must be studied,
its position with regard to surrounding or neighboring seas or
bodies of water, to great currents both of air and water, to its


relation


storm-centres


tracks of


storms, to mountain-


ranges, not


only within


its own borders, but. sometimes at a


distance from them.


Thus Florida has often been


poetically


described as


"the


runs through the so


Italy of America," yet the parallel which
nthern extremity of the peninsula is 25,


while the southern extremity of Italy is 380. The
440, and the Isle of Wight and Torquay nearly 51


Riviera is
,; yet the


winter climate of the latter is very pleasant, and highly recom-


mended in England for consumptives.


While one can usually


live in perfect comfort in Florida, even away from
if at rest in the shade, under a temperature of 95


the coast,
the same


person
would
fort.


under


L,


a like temperature


New


probably be in a state of mental and


York


or Canada,


physical discom-


It is the insular position*of Florida, withbthe proximity


d.the Gulf Stream flowing north, and the cold arctic current


S' '