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Florida An Indian Myth. The Indians used to say that the white
men first came from the foam of the ocean thrown upon the beach.
After lying awhile in the sunshine the foam melted away, and
white men were seen where it had lain. They arose and walked
forth into the interior. A pretty story, and one that no doubt
the Indian children liked to hear and tell. Perhaps Florida
children of today may like as well the true story of how the
discoverers came. It is an old story now. Ponce de Leon. One of
the companions of Columbus on his second voyage was Juan Ponce
de Leon, a Spanish gentleman, as brave a soldier as any of that
band who came over the great Ponce de Leon ocean in search of
adventure. Instead of returning to Spain, he remained at
Hispaniola. He conquered the island of Porto Rico for Spain and
was rewarded for his services by having his command taken away.
Yet he could not remain long in idleness, and determined to go
forth again in quest of h