A Confession of St. Augustine

The writer offers a traveler's account of St. Augustine, blending descriptive evocations of its palmettos, live oaks, plazas, and Spanish-colonial streets with reflections on hotels, architecture, and the slow fading of a former winter-resort heyday. He sketches the Plaza and governor's palace-turned-post-office, the long bridge to Anastasia Island, shell roads and oyster beds, and the town's mixed vernacular dwellings. Interwoven are observations of daily life, including racial segregation and the habits of Black residents, local manners, municipal improvements, and the grace of younger townspeople, producing a nuanced portrait that balances affectionate appreciation with candid social and civic commentary.