The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-08-23
EDITOR
TELLS INTERESTING
STORY OF VACATION


section where resident of Florida
hnds everything different, yet delight
FULLY so; where he may secure an alb
solute change in altitude, climate and
scenic surroundings, at the end of q
Journey which normally may be made
IN little over twenty-four hours
from South Florida. There is not
much here except surroundings; :"
the hotel is the biggest part of the
village, and traffic policemen are un.
necessary, except, perhaps, in the
hotel corridor leading to the dining
room, where there is considerable &C.
tivity when the dinner-bell rings. II
Is an ideal point for those who are
seeking rest and quiet, "far from the
madding crowds ignoble strife
Some people complain there is moth.
ing to do, and these sit on the piazza
all day and discuss their acquaint-
ances and their -boarders, ex.
employing the truth of the saving
where there are roomers there are
rumors." But ito him who in the
love of Nature holds communion with
her visible forms,' this section offers
manifold charms. The station of Bal.
sam is 1851 feet above sea-level and
rising all around are a score or more
OF mountains, some of which rise to
an altitude of over 5000 feet. Their
slopes are thickly wooded, and in
their shady depths numerous brooks
and riverlets brawl and murmur, now
and then taking leap over the noun.
tain-side, forming cataracts and wat.
erfalls delightful to the eye of the be-
holder. Then when one follows the
dim trail to the top of some lofty
peak, the panorama of mountain and
peaceful valley spread before him for
miles on every side amply repaying
the effort involved in the climb.
Here and there, far up the noun
tain side, will be clearing with a
little cabin and fields of corn-and
good corn, too, despite the altitude
at which it is grown. Even at the
top of these mountains there is a
wealth of rich soil. My friend Lii.
zotte declares that some Of these
mountain patches" of corn were not
planted. in the usual way, because of
the steep inclines upon which they
are located. His explanation is that
the farmer climbs a tree at the low
er edge of the clearing and shoots
the corn into the field with gun.
Far be 1t from me to question the
veracity of Georgia. namesake of
our Washington.
Farmers here-and it is a failing of
farmers everywhere-seem to be
afraid to have any fruit about their
places. Apples do well-indeed with
in few miles Of here there are some
thriving commercial orchards. But
one sees few trees on the farms, and
most of these seem disheartened from
lack of attention. The country Is
naturally fruitful but most of the
fruit is wild. Wild strawberry plants
cover the earth; wild grape vines
and wild raspberry canes yield fruit
,abundantly in the woodlands; but
none of these fruits are grown by the
jewellers here, either through indif-
ference or lack of industry. Theo-
rectically the black -berry season is
over but every day members of our
party gather all they can eat of big,
soft luscious berries-the kind that
are mostly juice and practically with
out the hard core our Florida berries
have.
Vegetables of all kinds are in sea-
son now-tomatoes, roasting ears,
cucumbers, new potatoes, and others
They all do we'll here, and they have
a superior flavor The table of our
hotel is well supplied with all such
things. George Lizotte, of Pass-a-
Grille fame, so well known in Lake
land, is operating the place, and is
making a "killingI He has about 125
guests-possibly more-and his rates
are based on the altitude-and this is
the highest railroad point east of the
Rocky Mountains!
We are enjoying every minute Of
the time, out of doors most of the
time. The weather is delightful, and
several days during our stay here
fires have been enjoyed by those who
prefer that way of warming up to
mountain climbing. But the great
out-of-doors here is full of delights to
us, and we are getting all the good Of
our short vacation we can. Standing
on one of these mountain peaks and
watching the clouds and shadows