The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-04-22
Interesting Story of Trip
With the Editors
lNDUSTRYISlN EVIDENCE
Optimism Permeates Very At
mosphere; Fine Description
Of Country 81
4. N. TOMPKINS

Key West, Florida, April 1921
Sitting alone in my room in this old
city of Key West with doors and win
dows all wide open but shutters closed
10 keep out the sun, yet opened so as
to let in the cool ocean breeze, my
thoughts wander back over the past
four weeks of wanderings through
sunny southland to the day when Mrs.
Tompkins and myself left good old
Mankato and bid goodbye to the many
friends whose warm hand clasps,
cheerful wishes for a pleasant trip
and return to health and strength and
later newsy messages from the home
town reaching us at various places
along the way have contributed so
much to the pleasure of this outing
and my own return to a normal con-
dition.
Ny good wife has for nearly thirty
years been my best nurse and the
present instance is no exception OF
the rule, but to obtain the most pleas
ure and first hand information on a
trip with the National Editorial as
sociation one should be in the best
of health and possessed OF almost un-
usual vigor and ambition, for the itin-
erary demands that one arise early IN
the morning, keep on the move until
late in the evening, and sleep on a
Pullman, moved none too gently. Ny
condition made il necessary for me
to forego many interesting side trips
and frequently spend whole day at
a time in my berth, but here again
nv never failing side partner was an
ever ready help, for she took most OF
these trips with the party and each
evening brought me many spoils OF
the days wanderings and her de-
scriptions and stories of the sights
seen, the country, products and peo-
pie visited, made the evenings most
pleasant. In this she was ably assist
ed by the splendid people in our car,
most of whom were from Minnesota.
gained rapidly as the days went
by and toward the end OF the trip was
able to enjoy everything personally
with the exception of an occasional
evening banquet and ball.
A trip with the N. E. A. is always
educational and this one, through
the south covering part Of Alabama,
much of Florida, Havana and part
Of Cuba, was exceptionally so, being
q revelation to most of our party as
to the general development or the
section through which we Journeyed.
the climate, products, soil, roads, edu-
cation, natural beauties and people.
In an nv travels, and / am familiar
with many sections of the south,
never saw such thorough hospitality.
The Civic Organizations
I was particularly impressed with
activity and functioning or the civic
organizations with which we came in
contact from Birmingham, Ala, to
Havana. Everywhere we went the
Commerce association, Commercial
club or like organization. whatever
its name might be, was on the JOB,
backed by all the farmers and bust
: ness men of the community. Be
cause of my connection with the
Msnkato association l was particular
ly interested in the plans, finances
and activities OF these civic podles
and found that in the two cities in
AIabama. which we visited, and
Throughout Florida the civic associa-
lions have large and active mem
hership. are well financed by mem
bership dues, ranging from SIS to
800, liberal subscriptions and ar: I.
preparations by county boards and
CITY councils. Thousands of dollars
are appropriated and used annually
for advertising and the printing of
beautiful booklets and circulars set
ting forth the advantages OF the city,
county and state. These are literally
distributed by the officers and mem :
hers of the organization, the county
boards and city councils. The auto
mobiles of members seemed always
to be subject to call for service to
convey, not only our party, out otner
Interested visitors to points OF inter-
est. Frequently these enterprising
citizens came from a distance OF
twenty 10 thirty miles to add their
cars to the motorcade organized tc
take us on delightful drives, and the
well informed drivers were source
Of never failing information.
The quarters Of the Chambers OF
Commerce or Commercial clubs are
usually real home and house of en-
kertainment for visitors-with billiard
room, bowling alley, reading, RESI- and
recreation rooms, and bureau OF In :
formation. It is a regular tourists
HEADQUARTERS where visitors may
meet and get acquainted or renew OLD
acouaintances. In compliment to visi-
tors these clubs frequently provide a
series of concerts and entertainments
10 which no admission fee is charged
The stranger in the city will find the
OFFICES of the association in the club.
which is usually located, and around
II centers the civic activities OF the
entire community.
Enterprising newspaper men were
nearly always the first to meet our
tram OF ulOIOTCduc Win uuhuiCD Va
the latest edition Of their paper which
they freely distributed to every mem :
Der of the party and they came
cordial greetings and hand shakings
was the order of the hour. / wish
might remember the names and faces
of all of these good fellows indfvid :
ually. but though l am not able to do
so their cordial welcome and hearty
"Godspeeds" will make the memory
of the towns they represented pleas
ent and abiding.
AS a matter of course it should be
easy for the enthusiastic town lover
to exaggerate on the merits of the
town in which he lives, for unless
he is able TO Praise it, Improve it.
Talk about it, Trade. at home, Treat
strangers we'll he should at least be
willing to move out Of it and give
sor1e live wire a chance to help
make real town out of 1t.
No Value To Pessimists
After years of careful study, am
still unable to discover the value OF
a pessimist to any community. IL
should meet six pessimists in sue
cession my first thought would be -
better get away from here-a couple
- hun1raH vo0re awQuo am Glad