The first chapter

Written in water

- The "first chapter" in the human history of Florida was obviously written by the native Americans, who arrived by an overland route.  But the first chapter written in water was the arrival of Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. Legend has it that he landed at what is now the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, Florida. 

- The Fountain of Youth (generally abbreviated as "FOY") is private property and might be ignored by searchers for that reason.  But the entrance gates of the park in 1981 displayed a sign with the words "The First Chapter."  Seeing these words directly below "ENTER" would very likely beckon searchers to go inside and explore.

- The photo above shows the sign as it looked in 1981.  The modern sign is slightly different but still includes the words "first chapter."

Near men

- FOY has various figurines on display to illustrate how the Spanish explorers would have dressed.

With wind rose

- Inside the park's planetarium, there is a display about how early sailors found their way across the Atlantic.  The display includes a wind rose, used by early sailors to track the changing directions of the wind.

- As far as we know, this was the only wind rose that was on display anywhere in the United States in 1982.  To discover it inside the same park where "the first chapter" was displayed on the front gates would really be overwhelming evidence for any searchers that they were in the right place.

Behind bending branches

- The FOY property includes many trees.  "Bending branches" could refer to flexible branches, as on a weeping willow, or to branches that arch as they grow, as on a live oak.  Magnolia Avenue, in front of the Fountain of Youth, is lined with live oaks that form an arch over the road.

And a green picket fence

- FOY is bisected by a green picket fence that divides the free parking lot area from the side that requires paid admission.  Employees and visitors have confirmed that the fence was the same design and same color and in the same place in 1981.

At the base of a tall tree

- This is the most specific line in the verse, and it seems to narrow our attention to a small piece of ground.

- This could refer to the various ducks, geese, and peacocks that have roamed the grounds of FOY.

- Some searchers have also suggested that it could be a reference to the trollies and other vehicles that loop through the parking lot area.

- FOY has various interpretive signs that describe historical features, including the use of shells and limestone in early construction.

- Most importantly, though, there was a sign in 1981 that had the words "SILVER SALT" in the heading and described the discovery of a "casque" (with that spelling).

- "Silver, salt" in the verse appears to be a reference to the silver salt cellar that the park's founder and first owner, Dr. Luella Day McConnell, claimed to have unearthed around 1908.  Dr. McConnell had bought the property by the Matanzas Inlet to establish the Fountain of Youth tourist attraction and was trying to establish some connection between her property and the voyages of Ponce de Leon.  The Chicago Tribune describes the subsequent events with a certain amount of skepticism:

"[McConnell] told an amazing story: A tree on her property had fallen down, revealing a stone cross 14 by 10 feet.  The local newspaper reported that 'Mrs. McConnell recently discovered a coquina cross, placed by Ponce de Leon to mark the spot where he found a spring of fresh water.'  Buried nearby was a box containing a salt holder with an engraving of Christopher Columbus.  McConnell said it had been given to Ponce de Leon by Columbus as a souvenir of a voyage they had made together. 

She also announced that she had found a piece of parchment detailing De Leon's landing at St. Augustine and that it supported her claim that the mythical fountain was in her back yard.  She had a local Spanish teacher translate the document, which was supposedly written by a member of the crew.

Others told a different story. They said she had the coquina cross built, buried the evidence, then chopped down the tree.  McConnell began selling postcards featuring the well, and copies of the salt container.  The salt holder mysteriously vanished before it could be examined, and the parchment became too faded to read."

The "Great Floridians" biography of McConnell suggests that she may not have been the most reliable source of information, given that she "fabricated stories to amuse and appall the city’s residents."  In any case, regardless of the truth of McConnell's story, the supposed artifact became associated with the Fountain of Youth park and a replica of the silver salt cellar is still on display there.

- In the photo below, published by the Harris Post Card Co. in 1909, McConnell again specifically calls the salt cellar a "casque" and uses the same (uncommon) spelling used in The Secret.  This is almost certainly where Preiss got the term for his own treasure containers, and it may even have been the inspiration for the entire puzzle.

Stars move by day

Sails pass by night

- The planetarium where the wind rose is on display also offers astronomy shows where stars are projected onto the ceiling of a darkened room.  It's a strong match for "stars move by day."

- The planetarium also includes the sails and mast of a ship, to show how the stars would look to early sailors.  So the shows also create a "night" and give the impression of movement.

Even in darkness

Like moonlight in teardrops

Over the tall grass

- "Like moonlight" seems like a straightforward reference to something that resembles a glowing moon.

- "Teardrops" would presumably be a reference to drops of water.

- This could be a reminder that we are talking about events that happened long ago in a place that gets heavy rainfalls.

- This line may also simply exist to complete the acrostic of "SELOY" (see below).