Milford chronicle., 1925-02-06
MISS STTDHAM in FLORIDA
New Smyrna. Jan. II. ,25

We left "Adel," Ca, Qast stop in
Georgia), yesterday morning eaCly
Our hotel lady, couldn't understand
why we were in such hurry, to
rush along and she in turn, told us
about little colored boy working
for her whom she scOlded for not
getting there earlier to build the
fires for the early rising tourists and
ETC. His reply was What de use to
glib dem Yankees a bed if dey haint
got sense 'nOugh to stay in it." So
much for his opinion of early rising.
Well any way, we hurriedly left
there for it looked like rain and oh!
deliver us from getting caught in
that Georgia mud again. But before
we got out of that state we saw
roses, hyacinths and other flowers
blooming and oh! yes have forgot
ten to mention what every southern
traveller writes back home. Saw
some peach trees in bloom too and
then we commenced to see the long
grey moss hanging from the trees of
which you see so much here in Flor
ida. Ugh! I don't like it. 1t makes
me shudder to drive through it.
Seems to me it's something choking
the life out of the trees and 1 can
imagine feel it wrapped around my
neck. Well will keep on going and
not get chOked. Just before reach
ing Lake City, Fla, we came to an
other terrible mud hole ION a de-
tour). Some were driving through
at the risk of springs or broken
wheels. Just as we had decided to go
around another way, 1S miles fur
ther, a colOred man stepped out and
said, "You all can drive fro dat !
mans yard if you pays him $1O0 to
cross his bridge" Which Mr.. Draper
decided to do. Even then the "Mr. |
Man" wouldn't open the gate until
he saw the dollar bill waving in the |
air. Reaching Lake City, Fla, we
had fine paved boulevard all the |
way into Jacksonville.
For miles before leaving Georgia
we Travelled through the pine forest
district, where they were tapping the
trees for tupertine. The bark is cut
for a distance of two or more feet
into a V shape with little tin troughs
set in to carry the tupertine into lit
tie metal or earthen pots from
which it is collected and carried to
the turpentine camp and here the
underbrush is a mat of scrub pine
and palmettos. Looks like lot Of
palm leaf fans going to waste. After
leaving Jacksonville our first stop
was at old st. Augustus, the quaint
and historical spot reeking with
Spanish legands and still preserved
interesting old buildings. We went
hurriedly over old Fort Marion with
it's numerous cells, tunnels and old
moat. On the walls and ceilings of
the interior of one there is a luxur-
ious growth of maiden hair fern.
This isn't a native plant here and it's
a mystery as to just how it started
in this place. We next stopped
at Dayton, where had hoped to find
Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Graves. However
learned that she was unable to take
the trip on account of broken arm.
Did not stop long at any of these
places for expect to go back on
my hOmeward trip. We soon reached
here, New Smyrna, where we stayed
for the night. One of the native sons
claims this town to be older than Il
st. Augustine. Claiming it was here
that the old Pirate Trumbull first
founded a town. The drive from here
on down was perfectly wonderful.
The pines had long since given way
70 the tall palms and live oaks,
springing up from the dense jungle :
If the 'palmettos where one expects
70 see snakes or alligators come
across the road. For sever
II miles we drove through a regular
green tunnel of these trees. Once in
4 while coming across some of the
.rees covered with that; to me "ter-
'ible Spanish MOSS" and then when
1ne comes closer to the shores of
either the Indian River or Bay and
sees the greenest of green waters,
cleaning between the palm or Aus
.ralian pines. These are something
Else new to me appearing on the
icene. Words fail.
We had dinner in the evening in
Vest Palm Beach. This too was
Dusy town as all these Florida towns
It this season are. One almost
kinks that there can't be many
,eople left in the northern towns to
hoVel all that snow that we are
eading about. Our next over night
top was at the (and spell it for me
With big T) town of del Ray" It's
he only mainland town between
jacksonville and Key West directly
n the ocean. We stopped at a nice
omely hotel "The Kentucky" only
short walk from the shore. I do
ope to go back here too.
lam almost forgetting to speak of
he coconut palms which we are see
1g now at Del Ray. I picked one up
rom under the tree and mailed
ONE. Most every tourist wants to
o this you know. 1t may take few
xtra mail pouches but why worry.
Te were told at the hotel that they
ad another Delaware family with
lem, Mr.. and Mrs. Diggins Of Will
lington who had been coming there
II the past eight years. He now has
one into the real estate business.
o we may hear something from our
neighbor about this and
he wants any help to boost Del
ay 1 am right with him. See, I too,
N getting the real estate bug.
We left Del Raw early Monday