The Guide

Ponce de Leon an Explorer-Come-Lately

Says Historical Novelist Ponce de Leon an Explorer-Come-Lately By SANDY CALPINI Correspondent "Ponce de Leon was not the first explorer in Florida, but perhaps he was the first tourist," Dr. Frank G. Slaughter said here last week. He may have surprised the history theorists who hold other opinions. Speaking on "Florida's First Hundred Years," Dr. Slaughter explained that the French Huguenots seeking religious freedom, the Spanish slave hunters and the English who claimed Florida under Sebastian Cabot all came before our fountain of youth hero. Another history lesson concerned John Smith and the Indian maiden Pocahontas. Supposedly John Smith was rescued by our heroine. But back in England, he published an account of his travels and made no mention of her. "It was not until many years later that he took the story and appropriated it into his own repertoire of tales to tell the boys." A prime objective for exploring Florida was for gold but an easier search was not by digging up the land, or chasing Indians but by pirating Spanish ships. This became good sport and a lucrative one, said author Slaughter. When the English colonies of the Carolinas and Georgia were founded in the 17th century, friction grew among the Spanish who attempted to extend their settlements beyond the East Coast, and the French who had explored along the Gulf of Mexico. "The English were in the middle where she has always profited most in wars, and by the treaty of Paris in 1763 Florida was ceded to England," Slaughter informed the audience at Coral Gables High School last Thursday night. Dr. Slaughter, who has written 32 books, holds a medical degree from John Hopkins University but discontinued his practice in 1942. The author explained an aspect of publishing: When he penned "Alapachee Gold" especially for a teenage audience with a splashing cover, the book didn't sell. After reproduced in a pocketbook edition, and no mention was made of a teenage audience, "it sold like hot cakes." Dr. Slaughter addressed a meeting of Historical Association of Southern Florida.

OUT OF THE PAGES of the calendar step these shapely members of the Coral Gables Junior Woman's Club. This Saturday they and the rest of their cast will present their annual show, featuring songs and dances of the 12 months of the year. Getting set for their program at Bayfront Park Auditorium are, left to right, seated, Mrs. David McDonald, 4160 Grove St.; Mrs. R. Lee Evans, 6905 Almansa St.; Mrs. Graham Jennings, 1421 Milan Ave. Standing are Mrs. Charner Skagseth, 5911 SW 93rd Pl.; Mrs. Arthur Word, 6380 SW 18th St.; Mrs. Victor Clarke, 2301 N. Greenway Dr.; Mrs. A. B. Kirtland Jr., 5758 SW 27th St.; Mrs. Weldon B. Lewis, 1502 Madrid St.; Mrs. LeGrand Haskin, 6530 SW 51st Ter.; and Mrs. George E. Morris, 7840 SW 96th St. Proceeds go toward supporting the Club's dental clinic for underprivileged children. (staff photo)

SM Turns Down Apartment Zoning

South Miami Council Tuesday night of last week, in a short meeting and the last one before the swearing in of the new Council March 1, denied an application for a change of zoning for an apartment house on the northwest corner of SW 76th Street and 61st Avenue. On recommendation of the city's advisory planning and zoning board, council turned down the petition of Clarence E. Pope for the zoning change which would have allowed the apartment house in an area zoned for single family residences. In other action council: CERTIFIED the city's Feb. 13 election while sitting as a canvass board and declaring the election results data to be proper and correct. READ a protest from former mayor Carl Gluck who charged that the city did not run the city's Feb. 13 election in the proper manner and according to state election laws. Gluck charged much the same thing verbally at the Feb. 6 meeting. APPOINTED former City Attorney Hughlan Long as special counsel for the city in answering an appeal to the District Court of Appeals. The appeal is being brought by Consumers Water Company which recently lost a suit it brought against South Miami because the city set its own water rates which the utility termed confiscatory.

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SPECIAL TALK

"It's Special to be a Jew," will be the subject of a talk by Rabbi Herbert M. Baumgard at the family worship service March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Am, 5950 North Kendall Dr.

BAR MITZVAH

Glenn I. Kutner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kutner, 7150 SW 62nd St., will be Bar Mitzvah Saturday at Temple Judea. Glenn is a seventh grader at South Miami Junior High School. He is a sailor and fisherman.

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