The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-10-22
m The Orange


men have shed their blood, given their
souls, and was planted and nutured
solely for that gold of commerce.
Through it all; the wars, the bath in
blood, the trampling of the ruthless
feet of man and beast | have survived.
| was created for purpose and am
deathless. l am message to the
world of that gentle Creator who look
ed upon His handiwork and saw that
it was good
my homes in Florida are legion. 1
grow from shore to shore and / truly
nestle upon a multitude Of hills. In
rows amending stretch away into the
turquoise of skies that are broken sell
dom except by drifting, filmy cloud
pictures. The bees hum in myriad
blossoms and birds in gaudy attire
fit in and out my branches with glad
acclaim to the world of beauty. Hap
Ply people gaze upon me and from my
like those of the paradise that only
exists in fables. Here is a word |
have helped create, and I adorn while
| give of my riches. 1t is better
Florida for my coming and | am happy
in the consciousness of a work we'll
done. | have repaid in full measure
and am satisfied.
"Modernity has swept away much
of the FLORIDA as it existed at the time
of my coming. One by one the tower
ing pines have fallen to be made into
domiciles for swelling throngs that
ever and ever grow larger. GThe deep
jungles have been made habitable and
always in the cleared places am
planted. l have battled with those
frosty breaths that come from the
north but always multiply-for l am
III the hands and keeping of a brave
race. These Americans! This up
right and staunch people haze done
their all for me, and rejoice, for
am capable of returning fourfold to
them for their efforts.
=
"By the birth of Venus, when she
rose out of the sea and with her >
smiles did fill the Grecian Isles =
with everlasting verdure-she was =
not, fresh from the soft creation g
of the waves, more beautiful than
thou, the orange, the golden ap- 8
Pile of Hesperides!"
Nov comes a time in my history
that would rather not refer to. An
era is with us when men strive for
that pelf which really means so little
to our inner life. 1t is an age of gold,
and as l am desired, sought after,
have been made into a commercial
commodity. No more am L given to
the accomplishment of a lovers sigh
as in those days when love. and life
were young; as a gift, a priceless tok
en- of undying affection. You must not
from this that l have not
progressed with the ages, for l am a
part of life, but I abhor the passion Of
barter and trade. However, as this
seems to be an age when the greatest
good for all is paramount l must as
nf WI
sidered for the peoples benefit. So /
give and give!
Huge buildings have been erected
and from within them comes the roar
of machinery as | am washed, polished
and wrapped in softest tissue, packed
in boxes with my fellows and sent to
faraway places in cars pulled by puff
ing, snorting iron horses. Here | am
before shouting men,, who
bid and wrangle for me. Separated
we move about on the streets of the
great cities in carts by hallooing buck
sters, who cry "nicea sweeta Flow
reeda orangeS!" This cry is some
times given in the soft, throaty tones
/ can well remember, even though the
memory carries me back to the misty
past Sometimes | am carried to the
great stores, where l am displayed in
manner. Few can resist me,
tor am not delicacy of delicac.es-th
Florida orange?
Il am messenger from the south
land, the land of the mockingbird, of
of tropic breezes. My lure
none can resist for none there be who
cannot interpret the mute song l sing.
am placed in my soft wrappings in
bags or other receptacles and carried
to homes where | am hailed with cries
OF delight. l am considered a mark
OF aristocracy on any table and grace