The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-07-03
TODAY | saw
BY DELIGHT YoUNGS

clouds gather and form a rocking
chair in the sky and the trade
winds above the city were as
ghoStly hands rocking II to and
fro. In fancy sat in that Rebu-
lous chair and rode the cloud
waves above The Rock" The
nandiwork of the elements. OF
God and man were the more clear
~ visible from the altitude of my
lofty perch. And | saw the meet
ing of those friendly enemies,
The Past and The Present. here
below and sensed the jealousy and
envy of each for the other.
.Cayo HueSo.' said The Past.
Is mine. II has always been, and
always will be so. II is as def
nltely a part of me as a child IS
= part of its mother. Although IL
has threatened several times to
forSake the old for the new. il has
always reverted back to me in the
end. II VIII do so again when this
war IS over and peace and sleepy
contentment once more return"
The Present frowned disapprov-
ingly- That, fortunately. will not
be true this time. Key West cher
ishes you for the abundance of
rich and picturesque history you
nave given it. Its memories give
YOU an enduring-and endesring
place IN its heart II recalls: The
rhythmic beat of the Indians TOM
tom centuries ago ! !! the bOnes
of brave men. both red and white.
that lay bleaching in the sun on
the KEYS ! . then called. Los Mar
tires. because they reSembled suf-
feTing men Juan Pablo SalaS,
the Spanish cavalryman who. in
1915, persuaded the governor of
Cuba 10 give him a grant to the
island the Mobile merchant.
John w. Simonton. who three
years later purchased the island
tor the fabulous CD sum of $4,000
the ships that sailed in and
near its Silvery coral shoals laden
with precious cargos of silks.
wines. SIlVeTware. spices and per-
fumes the pirates who preyed
upon the shipping and hid their
loot along the keys and in the
iungles of the islands the de-
velOpment by the Federal Govern
ment IN 1916. TO make Kew West
the military Gibraltar of Amer
lea Fort Taylor, the Martello
Towers. Fort jefferson and the
Dry Tortugas Yes. Kew West
remembers The Past for all those
things and many. many more.
= But il recalls also that each high
point IN history gave IL new ma
uonal and international impor-
lance. new improvements new
wealth and above all. new
ideals and new hope II * ready
now 70 abandon The Past 20 It's
proper place in history and come
10 The Present down the shining
new GATEWAY OF modern tcnor-
fow
The Past smiled vawned and
rubbed his bewhiSkered chm
You trouble me not. Senior Pres
ent ! have heard the melody OF
,our words ana the tinkle of your
promises man vtimeS. But they
mean nothing Key WestcrS.
the 3borigincS. still live with Hc
end IN me Your stay. my bright
amigo. \ but ten Corarv for YOU
pres ~ things of steel and brick
mt poured concrete. of gl'Sien-
ny chromium and shatter-proof
& lass modern buildings. air
conditioning. smooth asphalt
streets YOU represent indus
'rv end new paint and sweat
You are. for all your promises. q
-a>tiv and taX-rldden intruder
You are unwelcome
Nv white cocoon OF clouds sud
-staAlA wi tAt0 DaAt>lA- EAEN lAa>A AAAf.st
end soft rain began peppeTing
the island The two SpOkesmer
parted company and vanished. /,
ach still convinced vi tho right
ness Of ms own way Happy care
less. carc-frce indifference on the
one hand - which perhaps y thu
..av life on a tropical island should
ue Greater modernity. harder
g. 1rk. higher taxes. on tho other
And as fhc illuslonal figures DIS
appeared from view | found my
-,if whispering. Good luck. my
o6- both ot YOU And way the
u.>' faction ain"
\ rainbow had nova appeared m
bee ,iclnItv IF our house and rIs-
ny from uv ethereal cushions.
rScd It's colorful arch aS an eScala-
Tor 20 ride horne on Evidently |
.d. ie~n me wrong end. how
rer tor the pot oi gold was con
-alcuously absent