Milford chronicle., 1919-09-26

I
Earl Atkins, is making a trip acros
the United States by automobile, ant
who expect to pass the winter in Cal
ifornia, has consent to write an ac
count of this trip for the Chronicle
On Lincoln Highway,
Sept. 16, 1919.
My dear Col:
As you promised to correct al
"writin' and spellin' before, publish
ing my letters, l will proceed to tel
you something of our trip.
Our California Special" was sched
uled to leave the Atkins home in Mil
ford, Del, September 9th at a. m
However, by the time we had our gooC
old Overland car, Minnie" loaded i
was just $40 when Capt" (Earl At
kins) stepped on the starter and we
were off on the first lap of our long
journey. The least said about the
roads from Milford to Wilmington the
better. The word "Detour" stared us
in the face every few minutes all the
way to that city. This, however, gave
us a chance to see more of our good
farming lands, especially the famous
SOper apple orchards. Mate" (Alrs
Atkins) made the remark to Colonel
(Alr. Atkins) Il don't suppose we will
see anything that looks better than
those pretty red apples" We wondered
if they would taste as good as they
looked-No, sir, we didn't, for there
were NO trespassing" signs all along
that detour.
1t took us four hours to get to Will
mington, and then we still kept on
detouring until after we reached Ken
nett Square. Just beyond Kennett
Square we ate our first lunch, and [
guess old Delaware fried chicken
tastes good any old place. Our next
stop was made at CoatesVille for gas
and oil. The country is getting more
hilly and to us fiat country folks" Of
course the view seemed more beautiful
After leaving this town we struck the
Lincoln highway, which we followed
to Lancaster and York, and then on
to Gettysburg, but first I must tell you
Of our first nights camp, for which
we got permission to make at Spring
Water Farm, about % miles before
Gettysburg. To get unpack-
ed and tent up was a matter of only a
few minutes for Col and Capt" .
while Mate" and yours truly, who is
Chief Clerk of the Commissary De-
)artment", set up our little kitchen
.tte and got supper. It was now be-
ginning to get dusk, so we started
lur electric lights. These had their
unpleasant effect for after we got
eady to sleep, Mate said Il guess it's
ooties," but this breed had wings and
ice sharp bills and could sing. Ev-
rything goes on a camping party.
lough. 1t also rained in the night
nd more later in the day as we went
n. In fact, it was stormy when we
cached Gettysburg that we did not get
guide to go sightseeing, but deferred
lis for our return trip. When we left =
ere we were directed on the "Old Ma
onal Trail" and let me tell you this l
ad is fine. If our friends wanted to 1
ke a short trip, they couldn't beat 4
is one to Gettysburg and then on to d
lgerstown. The roads are good and 9
e scenery is beautiful; up hill and I
wn dale. We coasted for three miles
tween HagerstOWn and Hancock; at ~
g latter place we had to abandon Il
mp and go to a hotel as it was so K
Drmy. p
Here we are now over 500 miles u
m home. 1 have skipped so much
can hardly tell how far to go back.
only had to abandon camp that one
hit. The next night we camped in
'hurch grove where we had a little
re rain. We have come through
mberland, Nd, back up into Penn
vania, again through Uniontown, he
shington, then into West Virginia. FRI
er we left Wheeling and crossed
river we surely struck some roads tW
TX about your good roads, we Dc
ught we had been on them before
now we were on paved ones, te
cks Just like our own Walnut street. no
IS was a stretch of nearly 200 miles
h Just few breaks at intervals. FIR
S route took us through GAINESVILLE, da
ingfeld, Ohio; Richmond, Indiana;
on into indianapolis. The country thi
Ohio is prosperous looking tire
l would say that there is no scare J
OF pork, for all the farmers seem Sp,
lave large droves of pigs. it'll
am sailing along with Nthis letter of
while we make stops for gas and ]
er accessories. However, most of He
time the Chief Clerk has to re- Mr.
lish the larder, for all these days ]
have camped and eaten. Yes, eats Sta
e played a very important part in the
trip. Just on this account we do
have time to do much else. We ret
trying to make a daily average so
t. keeps on going until time to on
Ie camp. Everyone is treating us
so far. About five o'clock in the DIRE
ling we commence to look for a Ere
I camping place. day
ow we are past Indianapolis and
say goodbye until our next. All que
well and happy. Til
Very truly yours, I
E. G. Stidham. Wis