Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-02-14
Fritz UP IN FLORIDA
MRS, MARTHA SHOWALTER TELL
HERALD AND OTHER FRIENDS
OF TRIP DOWN SOUTH,
Daytona Beach. Floridf

When | promised to write so many
OF my friends, I did not realize what
promised, although l ought to, as I
have promised before So everyone
OF my friends who want a letter.
take this. as personal letter to them.
and you, too. But first let me scold
little. | did not get my paper, ana
you promised to send it, and as you.
regardless Of your own wife, made me
promise to give you a little descrip-
ton to you Of how things were, as I
found them in Florida.
Well, here goes
It was SO hot when l arrived I had
to hunt for a cool spot to sit in. I
shed all garments [ dared. When |
got my trunk | put my bath suit on
and went in the ocean bathing, with
plenty Of company. One of the girls
Of the house went with me. 1t was
nice and warm in the evening, so |
felt fine.
Next day it turned cold and the next
it got colder. 1t froze the water pipes
on the north side of the houses froze
good and tight One of my neighbors
came with a kettle of hot water from
their. well and thawed out my next
door neighbOr's kitchen pipes She
then came to help me-(Oh, his wife
came, too). But one kettle never feazed
the pipe. The pipes are on the outside
OF the building So in the afternoon
got a kettle from the bath room
which was on the south side and away
from the cold wind l went out and
held the kettle at the top and pOured
the hot water gently down, and just
as I got discouraged the water came
with a rush and a roar, and [ could
not shut it off, so my man came again
and he couldn't stop it either entirely
so it's running yet.
For some reason the gas went on a
strike and the restaurants and baker
les were frantic, and we were in a
bread and cake famine They lost
many dollars they told me by the trou-
BILE. It was very funny They started
to bake about o'clock in stoves
! I have cottage rented for month
$50 Have the whole house, except
one bed room and the attic. The girls,
two Of them, rented the whole cottage
/ for the season-December until April
or June, | think it is. They wished
home OF their own while here, and
they sub-rent. They wait on tables at.
the Breakers hotel, just four buildings
from here. Artists, they are, | believe,
and came for their health, and don't
care to lose all business while recup-
iC1lo VI ,N1O, Of he
tween meals to take all the dips they
care to in the ocean. They are very
nice girls, SO that makes it pleasant.
All fruit trees are ruined, it is said,
and an old settler of 40 years, says
80 years ago there was just such al
frost which killed everything.
Well, you bet we hunted up our cast
off clothing; hunted up extra bed
clothes and thought of our home, far
away. We all joined together and
bought split wood, and had fire. Two
ladies have the extra bed room, so,
there are five lonesome women here,
to sit around the stove.
Today it is turning warm Some Of
the business and ranchers took cars
and rode out to see what damage was
done to the fruit ranches. The flow
ers and vines are black around the
homes here
MY cottage gives an unObstructed
view of the ocean, and yet is near the
main business street and delicatesser
stores, so | have no trouble | am iii
the fourth house from the Breakers
and Daytona hotels, and only two
blocks from the back door of the ONLY
moving picture show Although have
not INDUCED in such frivolties as vet
In the big gun" church, as one fell
low called it, they have toruist recep-
tons, and today was the address-to
all tourists in the place, but it was so
cold they had to gather in the base
ment, the only place which afforded
stove, it is a state of Sunshine and
| flowers" -ahem!
SO they put it off until next
sunday How could minister show
Off in basement, with all our red
noses, and with chills running I'D and
down his and our backs. Why if he.
preached Of warmer place at such
time, we would have all started for
there Immediately. No! he was too
wise for that, and we were all glad.
He is very interesting man | think.
and ! hope to hear his sermon. ANY
way he gave us a good talk last year.
and we all went home feeling better
for his talk.
The porpoises are playing in the sea
today, but I don't know what sign thar
whether better weather is coming.
or worse.
Well, I guess this is enough, SO good
luck to you, one and all OF my friends.
MRS. r. b. SHOWALTER.