The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-01-22
OF sRookINes COLONY

Delray, Fla, Jan. 13, 1914.
Messrs. Hopkins, Natesta, Douglas
and Sanders hired a team to take them
to the experiment farm in the Flat
woods and on to the edge of the Ever
glades, where they are dredging the
sand to drain Lake Okeechobee. They
took kodak pictures of the most inter
esting scenery.
Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas called on the
Sanders family one day last week. We
are enjoying delightful spring weather.
Bright sunshine, occasional showers,
song of birds and gorgeous flowers
growing wild everywhere. Owing to
a storm on the Atlantic coast farther
north a cold wave struck Delray and
while it vas not cold enough for frost
it reminded us of "home sweet home"
Just now we are feeling a little lone
ly. Messrs. Hopkins and Natesta left
yesterday a. m. for Havana. We much
enjoyed their three weeks stay es-
pecially during the holidays when we
gathered in the Kentucky House par
lor and compared Christmas presents,
Christmas cards, post cards, etc., sent
us by friends. And with what a honey
feeling we gathered around the table
for Christmas and New Years dinner.
These were no ordinary dinners either.
They were swell. We had the Regis
ter containing menus of dinner served
at the Leon Hotel and Macs Cafe
and ours was far ahead. Our host in
formed us that everything on the table
was Florida product. We took this
with a grain of salt but said nothing.
We knew the oysters (and there is no
better oysters to be found) were taken
from the lake nea by-and the fish
cooked as only a Nassau negreess can
cook fish-was fresh from the sea.
The potatoes, celery, radishes and Gu
cumbers grew in the hotel gardens and
the c%ocoanut for the layer cake was
picked from the tree and grated by
hand. The turkey-well, perhaps the
least said about that the better. Many
hunters armed with license and rife
are now in the everglades and we hear
that many wild turkeys and a few
deer are bagged, but the meat cannot
be sold-$50 fine for both buyer and
seller. Liquor men used to tell us
temperance people that prohibition
did not prohibit" it Is the same way
with the laws down here. 1t is said
hunters frequently give the towns.
people a wild turkey or a quarter of
venison and receive in return a pres
ent of 50 to buy much needed amuni.
ton. Well. the turkey, whether from
the 'glades or a neighboring farmyard,
was roasted to a turn, was brown, fat
and juicy. and the ham baked as only
a southern woman can bake 1t may
have been cut from a Florida razor.
back or 1t might have been "Swift's
Premium" / know not. The tooth.
some cranberry jelly accompanying the
meats was not cranberry at all. It was
made from Jamaica sorrel. I have
never seen the fruit OF perhaps 1t is
not a fruit but q plant akin to rhubarb.
It Is like cranberry in color and tart.
ness, but the cranberry Is not grown
In Florida, hence this substitute. I'm
sure the bread was made from "Pills.
bury's Best and the golden butter and
mellow cheese looked more like Wis
consin creamery than any Florida pro
duct. Like the others I said nothing
simply "ate what was set before me.
asking no questions for conscience
sake" Mr.. Hopkins said It was the
best Christmas dinner he ever ate.
The New Years dinner was just a.
good. the turkey roasted ito the
queens taste." but a. It was not carv-
ed ct the table, / could not be right
sure whether It was . Florida turkey