The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-08-16
Key West Art & Historical Society
Undergoing Program Of Expansion

their lives.
People like you who lovingly
labor so close to earth and mother
nature know the true meaning of
sublime peace. May your own path
way be strewn with roses; and
may you live life, every golden
minute of it with happiness. The
writer could fill a book telling the
many kindnesses innumerable Key
Westers have done for him, espec.
tally when he has visitors. Graft
tude is the memory of the heart.
Some time ago I had the good
fortune to take an elderly couple
curing. He was "a. she 50.
They had been married for sixty
years; lived on a farm in Arkansas.
This trip to Key West was their
first journey from home. We spent
a delightful two hours together,
then we visited John ESperdy on
Catherine st. for my guests were
anxious to see bananas growing.
John had some splendid trees.
/ told him the. story of this
couple: out of their hearing; - he
said nothing: walked into his house
came out with q large knife and
a ladder he climbed the latter
and cut the largest bunch Of ba-
anas in his yard. When he reached
the ground he handed the entire
stalk to the lady;-said she, "you
should not have done that; replied
John; God gave me all this, and
He meant for me to share il with
others" Impulsive goodness en-
anating from q Key West heart.
Does one wonder ut the writers
love for people such as thesel This
is truly q Garden Of Eden, this
frost-free, queen city of Key West,
and most of its inhabitants per-
sonify kindness and a spirit Of
helpfulness. Emily Dickson who
wrote the following poem must
rave had such people in mind.
eff can stop one heart from
breaking,
I shall not live In vain;
If l can ease one Life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live In vain"
At considerable expense Dewey
Riggs started a picture gallery in
his famous Broadway Cigar Store,
$40 Duval St., about a year ago.
Chicho does the framing. and many
friends have C attribute d.
The walls are now covered; and
hundreds of people from distant
States and Canada have visited Il.
The pictures 50 and more years
old depict the old Key West. This
very day a native son returned
from far off place where he now
lives: (Arthur Fulford, age 6e:-D
Someone recognized him, and point
ed TO his picture as q ball player
in the long ago.
In 1908 Mr.. Fulford pitched 4
gainst the Cincinnati Reds. We
stood in complete silence gazing at
picture Of the team he had
played with. / wondered
what treasured memories were re-
vived as fond recollections were
recalled; tears Of JOY moistened
his cheeks and for the moment
he forgot all life's sorrows
and cares. Dewey Riggs; thank
you. your gallery Is bringing un.
told joy to many, young and
old, and a. we look at scenes
and faces of those precious long
years ago; we realize that too
many have gone to their reward.
It's like planting roses In peoples
hearts, Dewey. Giving them now.
ers while they are alive and can
smell them. You should be proud
and happy, for that's how you make
others feel in your sple i'd
Picture Gallery. 0rchids to you and
those mentioned herein. Each Of
you Is q spreader Of happiness.
scattering seeds Of kindness as you
travel life's pathway.
II we could only learn TO let our
minds dwell on beauty and keep
abiding faith throughout the day:
we could all join Henry W. Long
fellow In saying
"And the night shall be filled
with music,
And the cares that infest the
day,
Shall fold their tents like The
Arabs,
And Is silently. steal away