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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Watauga Democrat's Editor Describes Vacation in Florida, Feb. 19, 11920

From The Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., Thursday, Feb. 19, 1920

Back on the Job

After a vacation of three weeks in Florida, the land of sunshine, the editor of The Democrat is again on the job, feeling much refreshed by the outing, and the genuine pleasure of the visit will be long remembered by myself and my wife, who accompanied me.

Our first objective was Dade City, Pasco county, in Central Florida, where we made headquarters for several days at the suburban home of Mr. W.R. Jurney, a brother of Mrs. Rivers; from which point we “took in” the beauties of the surrounding country, going as far south as Lake Land, Plant City and Tampa. It was our intention to leave for home when we returned to Dade City, but upon our arrival there we found a letter from home stating that every thing was moving on nicely, our son and daughter, Robert and Velma, who had the home and office in charge, insisting that we extend our visit a while longer. With it was a letter from Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Long; of Lock Hart, Orange county, said to be the banner county in the State, promising that if we would visit them they would show us some of the real beauties of that wonder land. Their most cordial invitation was accepted, and at the station at Lockhart we were met by Mr. Long in his car who took us to his hospitable home one mile distant, located near the Dixie Highway, seven miles out from Orlando, a city of some 20,000 inhabitants, conceded to be the most beautiful in Florida. The Annual Sub-Tropical Fair was on in the city, which we attended two days with Mr. Long and his interesting little family. The roads are superb, distance being almost eliminated by the machines speeding over their glossy surface. The groves of orange and grape fruit are indescribably beautiful, the green foliage and yellow fruit presenting a picture that must be seen to be fully appreciated. To a mountain man it is indeed a land of ???, as you find in all our states, it has its quota of ???, Western North Carolina, still being, in our opinion, the choice spot of God’s creation that we have yet had the privilege of visiting, and, of course, we have disadvantages in abundance.

Mr. Long has succeeded well since moving here from Montana, eight years ago. He arrived at Orlando with his family and $250 in cash, bought a 20-acre tract of citrus land, went to work with a determination to win, and he now owns, clear of encumbrance, real and personal property, that he values at more than $15,000. His young groves are beautiful, but not yet in bearing, and when they come in he will certainly be on easy street. His many kindnesses and those of his family, during our short stay with them, will ever be remembered.


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