The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-07-31


its language, no money and two young
sons, one seventeen and one thirteen
dependent upon him for support, it
might be said that Aristides was
slightly up againt it,"
However, he had a logged deter
nlination, an ability to work, and. un-
limited hope and confidence in Amer
lea, the land about which he had heard
SO much, the land Of milk and honey,
where one must only work and save to
eventually become Independently rich.
And so he started. A rickety fruit
wagon, propelled by much more
rickety horse and varied assortment
Of fruit, took all his money. He emf
barked on career which was not on.
ly to bring him money and ease, but
fulfill his greatest wish to return to
the mother country rich beyond ex-
pectation.
Peddled Fruit Four Years
For four years he toiled with the
fruit wagon. For four years he was a
familiar sight on the streets, crying
his wares, beseeching the housewives
to buy de MICA banan'' or perchance
apples, grapes or oranges. His stock
grew larger and he made it point
to keep his stock fresh at all times.
Meanwhile, Victor Soumplis, the
youngest boy, had entered school and
was wrestling with the intricacies of
the English language. Charlie, thv.
older boy, worked with his father,
aud studied at night. Today both
Charlie and Victor speak English.
Charlie still has trouble pronouncing
all the tongue-twisters, and occasion
ally he lapses into his native tongue,
hut Victor talks the language like a
native.
During the four years that the
lickety fruit wagon was the sole
means of the three's support, Aristides
was slowly accommodating money Not
a day passed, but what he put aside
a certain portion Of his daily income
in the bank--the savings teller of one
Of the principal banks of the city
vouches for that-and his little pile
began to grow and grow.
At the end of the four years, Arts
tides decided to branch out. Casting
about he saw the opportunity for
making money in the insignificant.
business Of peddling wieners-popu-
larly termed "hot-dogs." So, he pur-
chased portable hot-dog stand, and
started his eldest son in preparing
them for the crowd which constantly
surges up and down Decatur street.
Business proved good and pretty soon
another was added. Then the third
and finally the fourth.
Then Came the Chance
Four years elapsed and Aristides
continued to make money out of his
wiener stands and his rickety fruit
wagon, which he chung to all the
while. Then he bought out the soft
drink establishment at the corner Of
Piedmont avenue and Decatur street,
and gave up his fruit wagon to man
age this business. Victor and Char
lie were called upon as assistants.
And the bank account doubled and
trebled again.
Just after the new year had been
ushered in, Aristides passed his six
tieth birthday, and he resolved to re-
turn to his native home, in Columbus.
Greece. So he wound up his affairs.
turned over the soft drink business
to Victor, drew an even 100000 out
of the bank and left. Aristides said
just before he left that he might re-
turn--his wife is still living in Co.
lumbus, and also another boy, Polls,
IA years old, and daughter, vessie,
16. =
If | come back" he told the boys
before he left, "Im going to brine
mamma and the children with me, so
they can see this great country"
Aricfidac hos uona ua nauar