The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-03-25
LETTER FROM FLORIDA

VI course, our readers VIII agree
that the following letter would have
been more timely if it had been
printed when it was written and
when wintry winds we've blowing
when it would have been comforting
to dream about the sunny southland
instead of waiting until the pres
ent when we are having Florida
weather in Michigan. But it seem
ed impossible for us to do this, be-
cause auction sales and ether busi-
ness matters were so pressing, that
we were obliged to defer printing
this and other charming letters from
friends who are sojourning in distant
parts. But, do you believe us, we
hope our hurry is over and that we
shall soon be able to print all of these
letters at an early date? This is
true and we are glad to make a start
by printing the following written by
Mrs. |. d. Gillett from Florida:
Lake Worth, Fla.
March
"Mr. c. H. Reed, Greetings to "You-
allsv
1--WE enjoyed our trip down here
very much; and as we did not plan to
race with time were fifteen days get
ting to Jacksonville, Fla. Our route
took US through the oil regions in
Ohio to the hilly city cf Cincinnati.
The first cotton fields we saw, in
Kentucky, were an interesting sight;
the brown and leafless stalks, 3 or a
feet high, with the white bolls of cot
ton. From 1900 lbs. of cotton there
are 1000 lbs. of seed and 500 lbs. of
cotton, or one bale. The pickers get
$500 per hundred and even a negro
can make $400 per day. The
roads through Kentucky and Tenn
essee were very rough and hilly with
very sharp curves. One needed a
careful driver and ours proved his
ability in that way. Saw some fine
stone fences, were sorry they had not
built more, instead of putting so
many in the road. Went out of our
way a little to visit the Mammoth
Cave in Kentucky. At the cave
every couple was given lantern.
There were ten in our party that
went through route one. There are
four different routes. We had with
us small boy, some heavy and light
weights, but very congenial party.
We followed our guide down across
some deep caverns until we were 800
feet below the earth's surface and had
drink from the spring of youth.
Then a boat ride on the Echo River
with solid rock over head, passed
through the needles eye and out via
the cork screw, which was rightly
named. The guide told us we had
travelled five miles. After a good
nights rest, 1--WE found the best ho-
tel accommodation at Cave City of any
place on the trip were ready for
another days journey, but when only
few miles out we had our first
puncture and it was raining. But
that was part of the pleasure. We
were very thankful that we only had
two punctures in that long drive.
We visited the capitol at Frank
fort, had Thanksgiving dinner at
Nashville, Tenn, where they have
some of the most reckless auto driv-
ers we ever met. When you had
that first big snow storm, we had
very severe wind and rain for about
an hour. Later on, we came to a
place where the water was over the
road and saw several boys ready to
help motorists with mules. After
some discussion one hitched his mule
to our car ;the engine was shut off
and we prepared for the march,
through the water. A car behind us
tried to get through without the
mule, but when in the deep water had
to call for help and no doubt had to
pay well for it. We went through
many little narrow, covered bridges
with shingled roofs and sides board
ed.
We crossed Gunther's mountain in
Alabama, because they were repair
ing roads on the regular route. 1t
was new experience and a grand
sight to look way off and down on
the tree tops, the beautiful color
ed leaves set in with green pine trees.
Were very thankful not to meet
autos in rounding those curves and
glad when we were over it, although
it was grand sight. The best
roads we found were in Georgia, at
first hilly then a level straight road
of red clay, but when it is muddy,
the only thing to do, it is wait until
it dries up as chains have no effect.
At Macon we saw some of the most
beautiful colonial residences of any
on the way. Then we went through
miles and miles of peach orchards,
and south of Albany were pecan
groves, turpentine mills and trees
tapped. Also small fields Of sugar
cane-always something interesting
to see.
We went in an orange grove at
Vero. and Mr.. Clifford said we could