The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-01-01
SINGLETON RECALLS
CONTINUED from Page One)

Dor is crowded with war vessels
and the streets with men gath
cred to defend democratic gov
eminent. We called it THE War
to End Wars"
Yesterdays follow fast ro-
mance-laden young lovers
walk the blossom perfumed
moon-Iit streets proud pos
terity Of prosperous piratical pa
ternity :. daring, fearless, am
phlblan race -. The moon waneS
and the skies redden as the boats
of alien spongerS burn -. morn
ing rises on the Noble. Expert
ment" and baseball team is Or
ganized The Coast Guard VS..
the Bootleggers fast curves
today; bullets tomorrow.
1885. The wind blew the
railroad departs forever -. a
glorious Highway begins to take
its place . enters Key West in
1888 and travellers crossing
the Seven Mile Bridge" marvel
at the tapestry of color as the
waves of the ocean and the waves
of the Gulf don white caps and
dance together.
1941-'45. Pearl Harbor . The
day of Infamy and Key West
becomes a fortified city in grim
earnest mightier by far than
ever before.
New faces on the street 4. new
paint on old weatherboards .
there is a world conflagration
again the marching feet of men
the insistent notes Of bugles
the recognition of the fact
that here is the GIBRALTAR of
the CARIBBEAN all the tur-
MOL of hurried preparation
Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Ma
rines, Air Force, builders . . fine
tall lads from the Bible Belt, the
Corn Belt and the crowded streets
of the cities ready to render that
''last full measure of devotion" at
their country's call Not yet
has all this grim haste robbed
Key West of all its most gracious
charm the slow pendulum
swing of its courtesy, hospitality
and leisure but the visitor
gives place to the Men-at-Arms
and the Essential Worker
there is a shady fringe; but .
the adventurer, the exploiter,
might as we'll remember that Key
West has dealt with pirates long
ago and has not forgotten how.
1945. KEY WEST TOMOR-
ROW: Not "Manana" +. that
soul-comforting ward belongs to
the Key West of layer" :. now,
tomorrow is definite must
break the record of today >.
more men more planes .
more houses :. a Highway, mod
ern throughout giant pipe
line gushes a torrent of fresh
water replacing cisterns that
have served well J.. can no long
er fill the growing demand.
But in storm or calm, in Peace
or in War, still will Key West
remain:
A Scimitar that guarding
sweeps
Before the Nations heart and
ever keeps
Unsheathed its vigilance. 1t
Watchful waits
The outpost sentinel of our
Southern gates.
Key West, 1916 =? ?? One safe
bet is the ferry for your car and
you to Havana; another is the ex-
tension of the Intracoastal Water
way to this southernmost point in
the U. S. A. Another (and this
is betting on a certainty is the
better management of the city
under a modern Commission
Manager form of government,
provided by the Charter adopted
this year (I945).
COMES A MORE REMOTE TO-
MORROW and KeySWest is city
of shining homes, the fountain OF
restoration to the weary and
heavy-laden, in the kindliest eli
mate in the United States. Tenny-
son saw that day when:
1.-THE war-drums throb no longer
And the battle flags are furled
In the Parliament of Man, the
Federation of the World"
This is the hope of the
world and in the meantime
Lovers of sea and sky and sun
Rose-tipped clouds when the day
is done,
White-capped waves where the
swift tides run;
Behold Key West
Well, this is part of our story.
It all sums up to this: You are
invited to Key West, to partake of
our famous Turtle Steak, Cuban
Coffee, Crawfish Enchilada and
Coconut Ice Cream. Enjoy our
hospitality.
In the meantime, you have
correspondent in Key West.