The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-09-19
Mrs. Rutherford
Writes of Auto
Trip North

Mrs. W. l.. Rutherford Miss Ruth
erford, Mr.. H. l.. Rutherford and
Mr.. Frank H. Thompson, left sever
al days ago on a combined business
and pleasure trip to New York and
Baltimore, and of their trip up, Mrs .
Rutherford writes very Interestingly
to the Telegram as follows:
Easton, Maryland, Sept. 16, 1918.
We are really feeling that Lake
land should have place on the hon
or rolf for a record time-making trip
to Baltimore. We left Lakeland on
Monday, Sept. 9th, and before we haG
gone thirty miles, we had two pune
lures and another ten miles brought
us into a heavy rain. We began to
think If this was fore-taste Of what
was to follow, we would be some time
in reaching our journeys end. For
tunately, we had all our trouble at
the first and by the aid of our good
friend, the blue Book" we made
speedy time. The least said. about
the condition of some of the roads, the
better. But of the roads of North
Carolina we can not say too much Of
praise. It would be joy to motor
lists II other States would make the
same provision for the comfort of the
tourists.
We met hundreds of cars from
Pennsylvania, New York, Massachu-
sets, Connecticut Kentucky, Illinois
and Ohio, making their way south,
and IL the early start is at all an in
dication of the great rush of travel
south, Florida had better prepare in
good style. We do hope Lakeland
will advertise her many attractions
in such a way as to draw some of
them. The Southern States-Geor-
gia, South and North Carolina-are
simply covered with the most wonder-
full fields Of cotton. Cotton is surely
king this year. We wondered how in
this scarcity of men, these fields were
ever to be relieved of their snowy
looking crops. Men, women and
children are at work, and yet Il
seems they have only touched the
edge. Prosperity travels in the wake
of such crops and everywhere one
sees new houses being built to re-
place the old shacks. The colore9
folks, many of whom own large fields,
ride in Packards and Cadillacs.
The cotton gins are running at their
full capacity, and unable to handle
what comes in. Passing on farther
north cotton is replaced by camps.
Everywhere one sees soldiers and
such fine, manly looking fellows, too.
The South has given gloriously OF her
sons. Even the smallest shanty has
its service flag and in some of the
homes four and five stars show what
1t is costing those who stay behind.
In the larger cities-Savannsh Au-
gusta, Richmand and others-the SOL
der boys have made prosperous con-
ditions for the merchants.
We reached Baltimore late Friday
night in. time to see our own soldier
boy who is in Edgewood, Md, at the
great arsenal that is supplying our
allies with the gas for the Huns.
Then on up to Easton. where we
are the guests of ex-Mayor Nichols, +
who was a Lakeland visitor las. year, !
and was much charmed with our de-
lightful town. Hubert and Frank
Thompson have gone on up to New
York but will meet US in Philade!-
phia for the return trip next week.
1t is good to be back among our
northern environments, but with
many others who have been captiVat-
ed by the charm Of Florida, we will
be glad to come back again TO the
land of sunshine, flowers and song.
Very sincerely.
Mrs. W. L. RUTHERFORD.