PALM BEACH AT LAST
The tourists had a beautiful time, and everybody decided that if Palm Beach went ahead of Jacksonville it would have to be very wonderful indeed.
Jacksonville itself seemed to them very much like any busy, thriving city—except that there were more hotels. But when they came to the outskirts of the city they were charmed and wanted to go on forever.
Having lived all their lives in a temperate climate, the tropical beauty of the Florida country entranced them and they exclaimed again and again as beautiful new panoramas opened before them. The moss-hung live oaks especially drew exclamations of wonder from Nan.
"What a perfect picture they form," she said. "Oh, how I wish I could make sketches of them!"
"You'll see plenty to sketch when you get to Palm Beach," said Walter.
They visited the public parks and drove out to some of the suburbs. Everything interested the girls very much and they frankly said so.
"Everything is just about perfect," declared Bess.
"All but the darkeys!" sighed Rhoda. "I think it is all perfectly lovely but the negroes. There are so many of them, and they one and all look thoroughly shiftless."