The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-03
~ 0ptiI,,lst
ossotsd - Cheering Up the
LAND Of 8unohlnoyr
(Dy Gene Jonss.)

Here's another definition submitted
to us OF an 0ptimist. AN optimist
sees the cruller and q pessimist on
~ sees the hole!"
There are several advantages in
being q citizen Of these United States
beside paying taxes. E. E. Johnson.
chief Of the Dayt0na Beach Fire de-
partment rightfully uses such an ad
vantage through the medium of the
Morning Journal in declaring an ar
ticle unjust and misleading which ap-
peared in the Gazette-News on Decem-
Der Goth.
Chief Johnson surely did the cor
rect thing. When man finds himself
in box he's naturally got to climb out
the top, or II the box is too high, he
can bust open the side. We are not
cOndemning the action of Chief John
son or the Davtona Beach ire depa::
ment. Oh. no! We've only heard one
side of the story even after reading
the chiefs article. We feel sure there
is another side modestly concealed
by the department. We should be glad
to give that other side publicly-if
We could discover it.
Let US quote a selection taken from
the literature of Chief johnson. Dur
ing the last year the fire department
has given three banQuets. the cost of
the parties being about 81 each. The
object was to bring the boys out and
create more interest in the depart
ment. think this was we'll spent as
these parties we're we'll attended and
thoroughly enjoyed by the firemen and
invited guests. The department had
a right to spend this money any way
it chose.
OF course it had! Oh, gentle reader,
we are always putting our foot in it
and kicking over the bottle. Chief
Johnson also adds Jack StrOther at
tended most of these parties" and
enjoyed his share of the refresh
ments." Jack, how could you? We are
glad the firemen had a good time. Ger
tainly, il the money raised from the
pockets of the public is given to the
department, certainly it should be
used for beer or anything else the
brave fire-eaters wish. The organiza-
ton is a volunteer one, risking life and
limb for the property of it's fellow
citizens. What better thanks can we
offer than the wherewithal to purchase
booze? Nevertheless, we have sneak
ing bunch that Jack Strother is or
the wagon. How about it?
THE LIGHT OF THE SOUTH.
There's a light that you find more
joyous than day,
Elusive, yet tearing your smugnes:
apart;
You cannot describe it except whel
you say,
It's the light that is warming you
heart.
When the sun slips behind the Ever
glades' screen,
Clutching the clouds with its ragge'
hand,
Lonely palmettoes twisted and lear
Bask in the light of a Fairyland
Where the beach like a strip of me
lasses rolled cold,
Slides out to meet the whisperin
sea,
AS smooth as a floor yet sparklin
with gold;
There's a light straight from Heave
that's calling to me.
Even when Northers run grey on tn
= Touching the dunes with their hurr,
ing tips,
While far out at sea the whitecaI
boast
A challenge to sailors and ships.
There's light cold and dim that
painting the sand
Where the gulls and the seabirt
Like the frozen fear of the mid-nigl
land
Stark dead meath the midnight sun
And then when the rays Of the trua
orb
Peek fleeting at you through a car
Il less cloud,
Turning to blue the great gr
daub,
And lifting the oceans shroud.
You gasp at the miracle worked
the skies;
en- You believe in a God and you quail
. You hurriedly wipe the salt from 70
eyes
To watch for the end of the gale.
You may talk of the lands of
northern climeS