The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-04-15
Home From Daytona.

MY DEAR JOURNAL. The most Pc
culiar thing about the past is the rapid
ity with which it becomes the past; the
swiftness with which the past becomes
only memory, pleasant or otherwise.
Daytona, with its dangerous southern air,
its live oak trees with their swinging
gray moss, its throngs of tourists, all
little bit disguised with the weather,
which through March was chilly, damp
and downright mean; its Johnny Jones
carnival, its flying squadron and it's
base ball players; Daytona with it's wide
white streets, its splendid residences
and hotels Daytona the Beautiful"
with all it's beauty, is thing of the past
and mere memory, for 7. and are at
home again. Here in Maine, where the
buds are just beginning to swell on the
trees and the catkins are just appearing
on the willows; where the air is chilly
with sharp, honest chllliness. and the
patches of blue sky show now and then
from behind the predominating grayness,
and a stray CLEAN of sunshine flashes
out it's promise to the waiting earth, am
reminded of the way in which 7. on one
of those last mornings in Daytona sum-
med up for me the difference between
spring in Maine and spring in Florida:
Il love the spring up north; there's hope
in the air. Down here there's no hope
in it. The air is dead" 1t is this
"deadness" in the spring air, think,
which sets all faces towards the north
when April comes, even though April
brings with her so many new beauties in
the way of foliage and bloom.
Having escaped the colds which most
people were enjoying, until we were
we'll into March, my cold when it came
showed a desire to beat tbs record and
make up for lost time. II took the form
of neuralgia and presented me with
double my usual cheek. 1t was owing to
this increased cheek that l was able to
leave several days ahead of scheduled
time, rather enjoying the CONSERVATION
which my doing SO spread among my
fellow workers at the Despland, and Mr..
YATES surprise. AS my cheek was the
visible sign of my inability to smile and
look pleasant, which is ones chief duty
at the Despland, Mr.. Waite raised no
serious objections to my leaving, for
which l was duly grateful There was
scurry of sudden packing, a furry of
sudden goodbyes, and T. and l were on
our way. The trip home was tiresome,
and yet is pleasant to remember. we
stayed all night in Jacksonville, leaving
at 7.45 a. M, Thursday. Ali day and all
night and until ten o'clock Friday fore
noon we were on the Southern railroad
between Jacksonville and Washington;
the scenery while daylight lasted was
interesting, and trying to sleep comfort
ably during the night was even more So
At Washington we had time to look
around little and walked up to the
Capitol. 1t is wonderful building and
the sight of it aroused such tumble of
historical recollections and caused such a
swelling in my heart and head because
We were Americans that it was hard to
come away without shaking hands with
President Wilson and talking things over
with him. Something seemed to tell
me, however, that this was his busy day,
so peaceably followed 7. back to the
depot and put aside my historical recol-
i9ctiOns for fI1tllra roforopoa
From Washington to NV York was
pleasant ride, and an uneventful one;
the most exciting part of our trip was
crossing New York in a cab. How the
driver of that one-Lorse shay ever work
ed his way through those streets and got
US safely to the Grand Central Station,
so that we caught our train by just
three minutes, beats me-but be did it,
and probably will do it many and many
time again, while his unlucky passen-
gers shiver and shake inside the carriage
and thank their lucky stars, as we did, !
when their feet once more touch terra
tirma. "But, says 7. "We had great
chance to see New York" We reached
Boston around II O'Clock, crossed on the |
elevated to North Station, took the 8 a,
m. train and arrived home SATURDAY.
noon, perhaps two as tired, travel-stain.
ed and happy individuals as ever stepped
off the train at our little Citypoint sta
ton. And yet those memories of Day.
tona the Beautiful are always with US,
and mingling with our present content
are thoughts of many kind friends and
many happy days in the far away south.
During the winter the Despland was
filled with guests, as were also the
Ridgewood and most of the other hotels
in Daytona; the guests at the Despland
varied from the most staid and dignified
elderly health-seekers to the jolliest of
base ball boys-the latter, especially the
Brooklyn team, were care-free, happy
go-lucky crowd, full of nonsense and
pranks that kept US all amused-Man-
ager Robinson, who is beloved by all his
boys for his good nature and ability,
Pfeffer, Cutshaw, O'Meara, Mccarthy,
the two Whea. boys, Pat Regain and
Danbert-to each and all of these we of