The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-03-04

HU1+ MI -. 1c1A ~ <<sS1~s :.
some little twin daughters, Jane and
lJerry, who were born in Ocala-
our stay and impressions Of Bar
Itow were most pleasing. We remem
her visiting it on horseback in 1876
collecting the election returns. In the
| more than forty years since then whai
mighty transformations have taken
place there and in other sections o.
| Florida.
we were sorry that we did not have
thine to visit the phosphate plants a
Agricola which are said to be the
largest in the United States and those
at Mulberry hold close second.
aAny port il storm"-A Delightful
| Haven
Lakeland was our next stopping
place which we reached just in time
to miss a tropical storm which near
| ly always comes unheeded and with
more or less fury
Lakeland now is one of the show
places of South Florida and is grow
ing with prodigious strides.
The '.Kibler.r now the 'Theima'
hotel has been enlarged and its regis,
ter shows that it continues to be CON
gested with tourists and commercial
travellers.
Our Ocala friends at Lakeland we
are glad to remark are al prosper
ing.
Mr.. Sanford Jewett is now at the
head Of two drug stores, one the lead
ing one Of the city and Mr.. Edwin
Spencer, Jr., owns or has the controll-
ing interest in eighteen thousand
acres Of Ridge lands, mostly muck
soil, which are being reclaimed and
sold at fabulous prices, and he is well
on the way to becoming a member OF
the millionaire class.
We of course had the pleasure OF
meeting Mr.. Harry Brown, for so long
a time the moving factor in the his.
toric city of st. Augustine. He is now
sole owner of the Lakeland Telegram
and is pushing it to the forefront OF
Florida dailies. He has just installed
q fast perfecting press, another Mer.
genthaler type-setting machine of the
latest model and other needful acces.
series in order to keep abreast OF the
rapidly expanding city.
we attended dance at night given
in the ball room OF the EIks' hotel
where were gathered the beauty and
chivalry Of the city and take it from
us that no big city or any OF the
movies in the matter of dress have
anything on the bellies of this fast
growing city.
Like Orlando, Barlow and othee
cities Of that favored region Lakeland
has a beautiful location and its lakes
give it and all that section a vertiable
wealth of charm.
And speaking of lakes one remem-
bers with what rapture the Biblical
writer's dwelt upon the endearments
Iof Lake Gennesaret and yet we are
told that there is little variety or
beauty in itsA natural features yet
Christ loved to wander along its shores
and, too, one remembers what beauti-
| full description travellers and poets
have given us of Lake Geneva in
Switzerland, Lake Como in Italy and
Lake Killarney in Ireland
Yet in size or in natural beauty OF
surroundings they do not measure up
| to the beauty of our innumerable
Florida lakes.
Around some OF them one is struck
with the untameable profusion and
loneliness with which nature has en-.
composed them.
! Florida can certainly boast Of the
number as well as the beauty of her
lakes.
Homeward, Satisfied and Delightful
Out a few miles from Lakeland is
Auburndale where we again encounter
/ a number of orange groves Of wonder.
| full utility and beauty Rugged in by q
number Of pretty lakes which serve
as protection from frosts; the tall
cypress trees around their borders
Like sentinels stand.
To guard enchanted, land.
1t was here our good friend, Mr.. E
NJ. Howard, by the exercise Of good
| Judgment early planted an orange
grove which has rewarded his efforts
with a snug little fortune.
One thing We observed with great
deal Of pleasure that in an these rapid.
" growing towns the water and cleo
trio light plants are made most at,
tractive with flowing fountains. palms
/ and Towering shrubs. They are made