The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-03
Los Angeles, Cal, July goth.

This is "stay-at-home" year will
many persons-from choice will
some, from necessity with others.
few, however, have been able to sill
away for a time, and the Telegram
editor was among those fortunate
enough to be thus favored Because
he has been asked by many to do so
he will jot down few random note:
and observations of his trip, which
he trusts may interest some of the
readers of the Evening Telegram.
If any one contemplates visiting
the West, this year is the time fol-
such a venture, ,as there will not
likely be again for some time as lib
eral arrangements made by the rail
roads as they are now making Not
only is there a very low rate in ef-
feet to the Pacific coast, but, with
practically no increase in price of
passage, one may almost circle the
United States on round trip ticket.
The route planned, besides prac-
tically crossing the continent and
back, touches Mexico on the South
and Canada on the North, and to
thus swing the circle only a few dol
liars extra were added to the cost
of ticket going and returning the
same route.
l will pass over the first two thou
sand miles of my journey-or, say,
until Kansas City is reached, with
only brief comment. Not that the
country traversed is lacking in in
terest, but because it has no marked
peculiarities, and most of the Tele-
gram readers know it's characteris-
tics as well as | do. Throughout
Georgia and Tennessee crops seem
thrifty, but a little late. The les
son of the war is in evidence, there
being less cotton apparently than in
past years, and a proportionate in
crease in the acreage devoted to food
crops. For the rest, there is little
change in this part of the South
land. 1t is sweet and gracious
country, with tradition browning ev-
cry hill and romance lurking in ev-
cry valley. Its people, big-hearted,
kindly, generous and brave, are sat
isfied with their country as it is
too satisfied. perhaps, to augur great
or rapid development. Warm as the
hearts of it's people, beautiful as the
faces of it's wOmen-a restful land
where plenty makes for content, ant
upon which the sunshine Of peace
rests as a benediction The scars o.
war have healed; and the cannon
which frowns down upon Stone rivel
points to no more turbulent scen'
than is afforded by a group of pick
anninies fighting weeds among tn
ranks of the cotton and the corn
Here, in spots. may yet be found tn
old South, almost as, it was in ante
bellum days. May these spots Ion,
continue untouched of commercial
ism-personiflying in part the Soutl
of song and story, of romance an
chivalry, where life is not givel
wholly to the chase of the dollar
and where the people yet take tim
to cultivate the kindly graces of hos
pitality and unselfish friendliness.
| At Nashville u joined pleasan
party of Elks, with their dears, shar
ing their special Pullman the entir
journey to Los Angeles. To st. Loui
the trip was made over the l.. & \
and the N. c. & st. L., excellen
lines, with wise and discriminate
passenger AGENTS, who pay me goo
money to advertise their roads i
the Evening Telegram, and who, G
course. enjoy resultant prosperity
From st. Louis we took the Wabas
Or it took us, as you will-to Kar
sas City, and here we had demon
stration of the luck that usually al
tends children, fools and Elks. Gu
train went through without incider
or delay, but the second section, TO
lowing a few hours behind us, we
blown off the track by cyclone, "a
1t was racing across Missouri.
Kansas City is live and breez
burg, which has grown wonderful
in recent years. Its union station
one of the largest and finest in tn
world, outranking the ST. Louis d.
pot, which for long time was on
l of the wonders of railway termins
c architecture We drove over man
miles of splendid roads, viewing tn