The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-12-15
As TO LIFE N A TENT

nU ~ LII III u IlUI
Noting the growth Of the "tent
cities" near various Florida resorts,
the editor of the Lakeland Telegram
talks a bit about the possibilities of
millions Of tent dwellers, and even
dreams of the time when a great
part of the population may be living
in portable houses and moving when
ever the climatic conditions or fancy
suggested new view from the front
flap. There are millions Of families
that cannot find regular and comfort
able homes just now, according to the
Telegram, and what wonder If they
should take to tents-and then be-
come so enamored Of the freedom and
fexihlity Of such an existence, turn
gypsies and refuse to buy or build!
| Naturally the kilograms extreme
comment upon the tenting idea is not
to be taken too seriously, for, regard
less of the steadily increasing num-
ber Of tent cities and tent dwellers in
Florida at this time, there's not the
slightest possibility of the plan with
an individual becoming permanent.
Camping out is delightful, especially
in Florida, in winter, and everybody
would enjoy a season of it-but few.
IL any, want to live permanently in
a tent--at least no one in America.
The plan to come in the car and camp
out is the fancy Of thousands of tour
lists sOuthbound this season, and next
year maybe the number will be in
creased for others will catch the idea.
| Florida's tent cities are being ar
ranged just as comfortable and pleas
ant as the various resort officials and
Inhabitants can make them. In num-
erous places not only parking space is
designated for cars and dry, clean,
we'll arranged places set apart for
erecting the tents, but also electric
lights, water and even firewood ex-
cellent. The campers will have fair
chance, and no doubt will enjoy camp.
ing out, for while. Some will stay
ir one place, and in one tent, all
winter, and be ready to try it again
next year.
i 1t is safe to say that many of the
campers will find that living out-of,
doors has its disadvantages, even in
the most favored locations. But 9th,
ers will take their places and some
will prefer periodically life Of this
kind, and as one or another of the
| parties decides to buy or build, or rent
or board, and moves into a building
with walls and a real roof, and may
be pictures on the walls and windows
that can be raised and lowered, and |
doors that can be closed and closets
in which to hang things and furniture |
to fall over in the dark and all the i
other conveniences and inconveni,
ences Of modern living, others will
take their places. It has been LONG
time since our ancestors lived in
caves, and maybe longer still to tre
garden period, and we have become
very much accustomed to hot and cold
water faucets, Hartshorn shade roll
ers and chiffoniers.
Tent cities are splendid for several
reasons; one of them being a real
shortage of available acEommoda.
tions in some sections-another beins
the novelty of the plan. Thousands
OF people will live part of the win. |
ter in Florida outdoors, insofar as |
the word would apply to tents and |
portable houses and quarters rigged |
up with Ford and a bit Of canvass.
They will be none the worse for Ct
and in the main will enjoy the ex.
perience; but there's no danger what. |
soever of their becoming nomads, as
suggested by the Telegram. We are !
entirely too fond of bodily comfort
for that. Much as we may enjoy
camping out, very few will be content
permanently to call a tent "home -