The Republican journal., 1916-06-29
June In Missouri.
correspondence of The Journal

beauty. To begin we have been favored
with an abundance of delicious straw
berries. gathered fresh from our own
patch in the garden. For more than
four weeks, morning. noon and night we
ate them without stint or WEAKNESS, and
handed over the patch at surplus times
tn neighbors and friends. We have also
been beautifully supplied with radishes.
lettuce, beet greens and yesterday we
picked our first mess of string beans.
This morning we cut our first crop of en-
dive and dug our first mess of new pota-
toes. one hill being sufficient for the
DAYS needs. Not only do we partake of
the eatables, but ,our eyes are beng
Toasted with the sight of the beautiful.
Flowers of almost all early varieties are
to be seen everywhere in profuse abun-
dance: particularly is this true of the
roses which just now are exceedingly pro-
fuse. A week ago we were charmed and
delighted with the sights which met our
eyes as we drove through the streets OF
the CITY. Last night in our perambula-
tions we halted at friend 8 home to gaze
for few minutes on about fifty feet of
Dorothy Perkins pink roses literally
covered with blossoms on both sides of
the fence and about seven feet high. 1t
was wonderful and beautiful sight. A
few weeks ago we visited the grounds of
one of our florists who had at that time
about an acre of peonies of all colors and
sizes. The scene created was beautiful
beyond my powers of description. About
fifty miles TO the west of US there were
fields of several acres of peonies, all in
bloom, which are gathered and shipped to
distant markets.
Commencement exercises of the High
schools, academies, and colleges are also
much in evidence during the month OF
June. Of these we have been favored
with our full share and we have been
made glad.
The roads, moreover, leading in all di-
rections through the country have been
wonderfully improved during the past
few years Literally the crooked places
have been made straight and the rough
places plain" What was few years
ago disagreeabie undertaking is now
feast and joy to drive for miles and
miles over the smooth and beautiful roads
which branch out in all directions from
ingly numerous with US. There are not,
it is probable, over twenty tlve per
cent as many horses in use in the city
there were five years ago. Al that time
it was pleasure to drive through the
streets and good horses were much IN
evidence. Today it is a rare thing to
see a span of nice driving horses on the
streets | remember seeing but one such
in months. Dangers lurk everywhere. In
crossing the streets you need to be on the
lookout. Last night as sat on the front
porch motor cycle came within foot OF
knocking a man down who was crossing
the street in front of our residence. One
of our prominent citizens was nearly
killed several weeks ago. One good re-
suit, however, has been accomplished, the
roads have been improved at least seventy
five per cent $4,000 have just been
appropriated among the various counties
from the good roads funds. For the
biennial period ending at the close of the
present year the State will have spent
$500, 900 on the highways. The increas-
ed expenditure on the part of the State
tor road purposes will be approximately
$50, 600 this year.
Since my last letter Springfield has
passed into the hands of five commits
sioners, who take the place of the former
city council. Just what the result will
be in efficiency of administration and in
crease or decrease of taxation it is yet
too early to forecast, Personally how
ever, | look forward hopefully TO the
future. The officers elected appear to
be giving their best attention to the
needs of the city. They have hard
task. for the city is heavily In debt.
Missouri is now ranked among the
doubtful States in regard to National
20 tiles. We will therefore, soon be in
the midst of mighty p litical contest.
My personal share in the contest will, as
usual, be largely limited to the task of
depositing a vote for what | conceive
will be for the best interest OF the coun-
try. have no political axe to grind.
1t would be source of greatest pleas
ure to spend two months on the Maine
coast this season, free from the cares of
business, but the pleasure is denied me
this year. Next year we hope the way
will be open. WHY W.