The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-11

smoke pouring out OF the row of tall
smokestaeks; everything was quiet,
deserted, and the hundreds of houses
that once formed this fionrish1ng
village. were gone; quietness prevail
ed, and it was indeed the deserted
village. Ny thoughts went out TO
the hundreds of children that know
this place as home and birthplace,
and wondered IL in years to come
they will look for the place where
they were born and find it not. A
catastrophe has struck this little sec
ton of country This big mill gave
employment to hundreds and sup
ported hundreds of others who were
dependent on their labor. It also
was a Veritable gold mine to the far
mers of this section, who always
realized cash for their crops right at
home, i'm the market created by this
big industry Now 1t is gone forever.
Prosperous Pedro
lit was sad to contemplate, so we
drove on and very soon the scene
changed from vast expanses of cut
over pine land to rows of fences clos
| ing in the road on either side, giving
indications of cultivation and careful
tilling. This showed to he farm
ing country, pure and simple. and
after pursuing our way thusIy for
several miles we came to what is
known as .tProctor's Mill and just
beyond. within sight, stood the Proc
tor homestead, where mr.. ALT Proc
tor, the sage of Pedro, presfdes over
the destinies of his vast farming and
milling interests, and here found a
| typical Florida home, where peace
and plenty and comfort abound in al
MOST luxurious abundance Talk
about eating, which is my long suit,
why here was the place where eat
was put in the word eating "a super
abundance of food was served that
would make the ordinary cafe menu
look like a last years almanac. Bis
cults, three stories high. cornbread
so light and fluffy that it had to be
held down, new Irish and sweet pota-
toes, several kinds of meats, home
canned tomatoes, re1ishes and a idoz-
] en- other dainties and solids, all
home grown, were served, and the
two big tables that it took to accom-
MEDIATE the guests and family fairly
groaned beneath the weight of the
ebounteous repast and every one
there brought their appetite with
them and did justice to every dish
served. Right after dinner Tom
hitched the horse to the buggy and
we drove around the neighborhood
and viewed Pedro, the farmers par
adise. We passed the different Perry
brothers farms, that of lMr. Dick
Lewis. AT Mr. Mealey Proctor's
they were killing hogs, six fine big
dressed ones were hanging up and
they we're preparing to extract the
squeal from a seventh. At Mr.. Wal
ter Nichols place every one was
busy grinding cane and boiling syrup,
and so it was everywhere we vent
everyone was busy, and upon our ar
rival back at the house the young
people abandoned themselves to
pleasure, and say, it was the pure ar
ticle. A harmonica, piano and organ
set us all to tingling. and q won I
tell you what we did for fear of be-
ling expelled from the church. Talk
about home life and happiness, this
is where it is made, and could hard
lly help from envying them their hap
Iply, care-free life. One thing / no.
ticed, and that was the people of this
section are firm believers in the
Ocala Weekly Star. Wherever one
finds a happy, prosperous commun-
ity. there one is sure to find the Ocala
Star.