The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-20
WATER, MOST PRECIOUS NECESSITY

the gentlemen's clubs OF London had TO do
with one Sir Percival GlascOtt who had
come from oDScurity into great personal
wealth by dint of hard work in the South
African diamond fields. Sir Fercival re-
TUNED TO London at the age of Al, the mar
rative goes, with jewels and cash worth
around one million pounds. (S5,000,000).
For four or five years he lived like a
king, travelling to Monte Carlo for the win
ter months, shooting grouse in Scotland in
the autumn, taking in New York in the sum-
mer, etc. He bought castles, chalets,
chateaux and the magnificent mansion he
once occupied on upper Fifth Avenue in
Manhattan has but recently been RACED to
make room for de luxe apartment dwell
ling
Well, to make a long story short the
upshot of it was that Sir Percival became
sybarite What's more. he had enough of
the old stuff left in him to be bOred-so
he determined to return to Africa, this time
to the Sahara Desert. where he and an
archeolOgist friend intended to dig up
ancient bones.
An expedition was organized and the
first thing you knew Sir Percival and his
professional sidekick were out on the hot,
scorching sands of the Sahara. We must
say mere that the sole eccentricity Of the be-
kni"hted Britisher was. that he carried
around his middle at all times (even when
asleep, they say a money belt containing
anywhere from 100 900 to 100000 pounds
in baaknOtes of large denominations.
We come to the point of our yarn.
The expedition ran out OF water sew
eral hundred miles from the nearest oasis.
Sir Percival became weaker and weaker
His breath came in hot, tortured gasps. His
tongue was stiff like board and swollen.
His eyes were dazed and craZed. The
shadow of death lowered over the little
party out there under the sun.
And then-when hope was almost
gone-a wandering caravan appeared
across the shimmering sands, headed by
cruel desert tribesman who was as avari-
cious as he was sadistic.
Let us have waterl' begged Sir Per-
cival with the next to the last breath that
was left in him.
For money, only sneered the desert
nomad. For many pieces of gold you may
have water and guidance to a PARKWAY
city"
So Sir Percival opened his money belt
and the tribesman took it all Only then
did he give them water. He kept his
promise. too, for many days later they were
~, l, no
desert.
Sir Percival paid almost 100000 for
a few CUPS of water
1t is not such far-flung analogy to COM
pare him with Key West and the water
problem here. Three days ago the Navy
Department promised that we would have
fresh water, piped in through an acqueduct,
for the first time in the city's history. They
promised we would have it within one
year.
Gone will be the cistern system, baths
in salt water. the terrible inconvenience
that disgustS so many of us-and our WISH
tors. HttE
And it WON'T cost us million dol
lars!
With the advent of fresh water. Key
West will r0urd the home stretch of prog
ress and have a pretty darn good chance of
finishing first in the race of South Florida
resorts.
Let's give our thanks our utmost APP
probation. to Uncle Sam for what he IS do
ing for the Island City,
To HELP THE GREEKS