The Ordway new era., 1920-03-19
ID. c. ROBERTS WRITES FROM
THE SUNNY SOUTHLAND

After two years of silence in your
columns, will attempt a word of
news from the Southland. A year of
sickness followed by year of recov-
ery-how good life seems again and
what relief TO tired and anxious
wife, to have helpmate at the table
again.
Nearly three months since we left
the blizzard days in November last
and have rested in the balmy air of
Florida Never since we made this
our winter home have the days been
so perfect, at least since long sire
tch of them-an occasional shower
to wash the dust from the roads.
Several days ago we were pleased
and surprised in finding a note on the
front porch. left by Mrs. Gallavan
during our absence. Later they re-
turned and made uo a visit.
Several weeks ago when on our w.
C. T. U. picnic who should we meet
but Harry ingalls,. what are you
doing here" said he as he placed
his hand on my shoulder. I answered
II am chauffer for the w. C. T. W
visitors for half a day. What are
he replied. So after rapid fire of
news items we parted with his prom
isc to visit us soon. Fine thing to
meet old Ordway friends at home.
but much more so to greet them un-
expectedly in almost a foreign land.
Since writing the foregoing the
fine weather has stiffened to very
| chill and the first few days of March
was very severe for Florida. A kill
ing frost came and have wondered
since how Harry's tomatoes came out
We have had fire in our fireplace
about every day since until two days
ago. JUST now 1t seems as tho sum-
mer had come. Roy writes from
Hartford that he walks thru snow
banks three to five feet high in going
to his office.
We anticipate returning via Wash
ington and Hartford for visit to the
boys. especially the kiddies-we feel
that we must not miss year out of
their lives for youngsters grow UP so
/ fast. Only few years and society
will claim them.
/ This wonderful city of Mama is
more of wonder to me every year.
Twice in my life / have seen town of
only few thousand grow up under
[ ny NJS " NltitS--DeHNeT from lZ,-
| 600 to 25O,O00. When l came here
fifteen years ago Miama was the ter
minus of the Florida E. c. railroad.
a busy town of three or four thous-
and. Now it is a busy city of 80 to
40 thousand. with its consequent rise
in real estate. A few thousand dol
lars invested in Mama business bio
cks then would have made me a mill
icnaire now, but 1 have gone thru the
| '92 and '97 panic at Ordway and 1
could only set quietly on and see my
Denver home and block sold out one
by one at sheriff's sale and mort
gage on my ordway farm was all that
saved 1t. After looking 1t over the
Denver men said 1t was not worth the
mortgage of $4,000, But then was
still young and not much discourage
ed. Indeed those years of privation
and rigid economy look back on as
among my happiest days; but 1t cured
me of specializing.
Cocoanut Grove has expanded pro-
portionately as a suburb and is the
neighborhood of the millionaires
They own all the bay fronts and try
to keep others out or sight of that
beautiful body of water. But we go
to the public docks occasionally and
launch our boats, sailing in front of
their castles as peaeeably as tho we
owned 1t all.
d. C. ROBERTS.