The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-06-01
FLORIDA REAPS
A RICH REWARD
State is Coming Into its Own
After Years of Struggle
A Word Tribute

At the threshold of our peace
full land, fair Florida smiles. Hen
hair is garlanded with grey moss
and opal sunshine, and the light
of a thousand crystal lakes is III
her soft blue eyes.
Her sister states bow her hon.
age and reach out their hands in
warm welcome, for Florida is
blossoming into perfect woman
hood. Matured by years of self
sacrifice and patient waiting, her
arms now overflow with plenty,
Honey sweetness the full, red lips
of her, and orange flowers have
formed the bridal wreath which
is to grace her wedding with pros
perity.
Since the first dim caravans
wound their slow path amidst the
sand shoals, and Seminole camp
fires shone dull red in the peace
of the magic summer nights, Flor
ida has been fairer than her sis
ters. A child among the other
states, we have disliked to see her
grow up-have wanted to keep
her forever young-forever light
hearted-forever brimming with
that wondrous sentiment and ro-
nance which sways in the orange
groves and rises, like purple
mist, from sunny rivers and pal
metto treasure troves.
We have wanted to watch her
as she romped merrily through
the years, plumed with red feath-
ers from the Everglades and
strewing rose petals and jassa-
mine and scarlet threads of Poin-
settia in perfumed shower over
the thankful earth. But the hour
of transformation is at hand. A
woman, she stands, at the gates
of the Observation-Disclosures
ized by success, power for much
good.
Our united markets are open to
her soils yield-she has cut deep
burrows across her fertile breast
and the seed, taking root-has
hourished. From shore to shore
from boundary line to boun-
dray line, the song of rugged,
honest labor is in the air. 1t
sings its melodic way, from Jack
sonville to the keys and no fairy
bow on fairy strings has ever
matched the sweet chords that
yon plow coaxes from the upturn-
ed earth. Where-yesterday-
she played in her own sunshine,
nor knew her own great hidden
resources-today wheels hum and
tractors plod from dawn to twi-
light, the nightingale makes mag
ic, and on broad roads, lining the
tropic woodlands like bands of
silver, the caravan of commerce
seeks its outlet.
Oh-the wonder of it all
The sure knowledge we have,
that God, Himself, has guided ev-
cry plow and dampened every
tiny seed with heaven-sent dews
of promise-this must be Flori-
da greatest thought. For the
waiting has been long and the
suffering much, and many angry
seas have snarled upon the low
shores, ere reward was sent weep
ing in as comes a shining Argos.
We greet you, Fair Florida!
We share your happiness and
are proud-right proud of you.
Whisperings have come, these
many days past of ripening crops
and buried wealth that long has
slept, unreckoned. Your native
sons, with their heads bare to the
eternal summer-and their sleev-
es rolled up on brawny, brown
arms, have reason to sing as they
guide the plow. For every steel
blade uncovers an undreamed joy
and every grooming rain gives
drink to fresh prosperity. You
are in pace with the world, Flori-
da, You are building-creatingI
- raising a nation s
high standards to higher planes.
You have reached your hand into
the soil at your feet and are help
ing to feed the hungry, three
thousand miles away.
And while wars hideous touch
withers the old world and leaves
women and children crying for
bread, you are covering the dark
loan with seeding life-are, like
some master mason of the fields,
piling crop on crop, sheaf on
Sheaf-bud on bud and leaf on