The Lakeland evening telegram., 1919-08-02
(By Frank Whitman, in Florida
Grower

The sun, in its north and south
ward journey, and from which, as well
as does all the rest of the world, we
derive heat, becomes central over
Florida as early as March, at which
time its rays are tempered by the
near cold states. AS the sun goes
northward to warm the states to the
north of us, it naturally leaves us still
in cooling atmosphere, owing to it's
drawing away to the north. For this
reason we usually have long and
perfectly sublime spring time that is
as near perfection in the way Of
weather as we will ever have this
side of eternity. These springs do
not constitute our rainy season, as
they do in many less-favored sections,
and the rains only come when the
north begins to swelter, and when the
heat from that section would influ-
ence our section very much on the
side of torridity unless these rains
came and lent their cooling influence.
Again, you see we are lucky and
have an advantage of geographical
position enjoyed by no other state,
for the sun is our friend and not our
enemy in all our seasons. In the win
ter, when the icy grip Of winter holds
all things fast in the north, the sun
is close enough to us on the south to
temper the cold to condition that is
utterly delightful No one who has
ever visited Florida can say with
truth that the winters are not nearly
ideal, and anyone who spends the sum-
mer here for the first time will of
necessity be greatly surprised There
are many thousands of people in the
state who have means enough to 60
anywhere in the world, but prefer
Florida in both winter and summer
seasons for the simple reason that
they do not know of any better place
to 80, and who never leave unless
they 60 to the mountains or back to
the old home "for a change"
Geographically speaking again, the
state runs to point, with the Gulf on
the one side and the Atlantic on the
other, and as all summer winds come
from the south, east and west as a
usual thing, Florida gets all the
breeze! Cooling, bracing, and with
enough of the salt tang in it to make
II absolutely enjoyable. And how It
tempers the suns rays, and how
grateful you feel toward it. 1t gets
hot in the middle of the day, it would
be untruthful to say otherwise, but
get in the shade somewhere and no
tice what tremendous difference
there is in the temperature there. 1t
Is almost unbelievable and must be
experienced to be appreciated in full.
The nights are of such coolness that
you unconsciously reach for covering
you have handy, If you are wise! l |
counted less than a dozen nights dur.
iEg a summer" six months long that
! lay all night without covering.
These are the "torrid" summers that
all the uninitiated mentally attribute
to Florida. 81
II we tell the truth about these
facts we are said to be boosting"
Along these lines let me say that to
my knowledge the real truth about
Florida has been mentioned so con.
seryatively as to almost err on the
side of good judgment. A great deal
or criticism comes out of the North
regarding certain statements about
the excellencies of this blessed state.
but the pens of the writer's have been
unable to tell it all, and we have
some good men and women in that
line here. The truth sounds like the
grossest exaggeration, and with this
handicap conservatism is always exer
cised. Do you think periodical like
the Florida Grower would publish
statements like those contained in
this issue unless it was blessed truth {?
Hardly, for we have reputation built
upon honor, and we would hardly he
likely to tear down this fabric by any
misstatements of facts.
Having put ourselves on honor, as
1t were, we will go little further in
the descriptions of the delights that
are ours. Look at map of Florida
and you will see thousand miles of
coast line on its three sides, over 900
OF which is composed of the finest
bathing beaches in the world! Does
this condition appeal to you as a
summer resort possibility? Do you
know that there are scores and hun.
dreds of places easily accessible
from a nearby real town that will give
to you the delirious delights of splash