In Palmetto Leaves, Stowe describes Florida before its development. She was an early New England tourist in Mandarin, Florida, and seemed to write this book as a travel guide. She spoke of flowers and birds and flowing water. There were mythologic references and similarities and contrasts between Florida and New England.
Since I lived in Connecticut for forty years, I appreciated Stowe’s comparison of the St. Johns River in Florida to the Connecticut River. St. Augustine is also called the Newport of Florida. Unfortunately, some parts of the book droned on and were of little interest. It certainly wasn’t one of Stowe’s significant works, yet it was a quick read, and those who are new to Florida might find it worthwhile as a study of Florida of yesteryear and its modern iteration.
As a recent transplant to Florida, I love this quote:
“It is not to be denied that full half of the tourists and travellers that come to Florida return intensely disappointed, and even disgusted. Why? Evidently because Florida, like a piece of embroidery, has two sides to it,—one side all tag-rag and thrums, without order or position; and the other side showing flowers and arabesques and brilliant coloring. Both these sides exist. Both are undeniable, undisputed facts, not only in the case of Florida, but of every place and thing under the sun. There is a right side and a wrong side to every thing.”
Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Palmetto-Leaves (p. 10). Kindle Edition.
