The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-10-09
Correspondence Of the Fioridian.l
EXPOhITHON LETrER.
LOUISVILLE Oct. f. 1888.


Byron said he awoke one morning and fou nd
himself famous. The years of patient waiting
seemed TO BIN but night when the goal was
reached-the many weary moments, the anxious
longings, the hopes and dependencies were all
forgotten in the glory of success. Perhaps the
geniuses OF to-day are not so fortunate in winning
renown in 50 short time, yet If Byron's remark
is but slightly changed and the word rich be sub
stituted for famous many could give utterance to
the sentiment. Among the most prominent is
Mr.. Frank j. Hinson, of Altoona, Florida. Com
menciug, we might say with nothing, for his first
investment in orange land was the meagre sum
OF one hundred and fourteen dollars, he in what
seemed to be but night, awoke to the fact that
he was the happy possessor of almost a half mil
lion. Recently he sold an orange grove for
ten thousand dollars and he still owns another
whose value is estimated to be twenty thousand.
Does it not almost seem fabulous--a story of the
Arabian nights, TO think that one hundred and
fourteen dollars would finally bring its owner
almost half million? In Floriias display is
tree from Mr.. Hnson's grove which was budded
two years ago and now from its branches hang
seveniy-ive oranges Mr. Hinson, kind, gene
rous, genial gentleman quite Won us over TO the
belief that Florida was the garden spot OF the
world, and like Canaan of old was especially
favored by benefcent providence One Of the
strange displays which has been recently added
to the Exposition is the
PASSION CLOCK,
which is quite marvel of mechanism and sci.
ence. The clock is about fifteen feet high, and
is run by electricity The dial consists of vari-
Gus little apartments in which are enacted
scenes from the life of our Saviour The first
action is the alteration of the magi. A veil parts
and we see before us the mother and child, pres
emily the three wise men appear bearing their
gifts The next action is the flight into Egypt.
Then follow scenes from the the passion -
Christs entry into jerusalem, the Last Supper,
Aceldama, Hall of Judgment, Galbatha, Via
Dolorosa, Outside the Walls, and finally,
Calvary While this clock may be mar
vel as far as science is concerned yet it is
one which we would gladly see annihilated
There is nothing impure or irreverential about it,
yet the human heart is so constituted that it can
not endure to see what it holds holy and sacred
to be reduced to purpet show. The queer gait
and ludicrous appearance OF the moving figures
nclnes one to laugh, and the grand and sublime
history of the Man of sorrows acquainted with
grief" loses its grandeur and submity from the
very fact that it has become abstract, hallOwed
by its former reality, and it can and dare not be
put into the concrete. May the American nation
remain steadfast in their determination not to
allow a Passion Play to be put upon the boards
Within canopy of delicate red hangings, so ar
ranged as to bring out the outlines of the beauti
full statue, is Thomas Barbee's
PRIDE OF THE WEST
There is something strange and unusual about
this statue which even strikes casual observer
1t is the statue of woman, beautiful yet not
modelled after Venus. The paramount idea
which it conveys to the mind is strength. The
waist and hips are large, the knees strong and
elastic, not the knee that is generally considered
pretty, and that is not true to nature, but real
truly formed patea one which the human form
really possesses. The attitude of the figure is
that of inquiry,a peering into the distance The
hand which shades the eye is study. Perfectly
symmetrical and the same time strong, snewy
The whole figure is typical of the West, abun-
dance, strength enterprise are all seen in the
poise and make up Of the statue.
Foridas display is not as beautiful as it has
been because of the decay ing OF fruit and witler
ing of plants. The Board of Commissioners feel
ing that it was necessary in order to sustain Flor
ida's reputation that new supply of both fruit
plants be sent up have authorized Mr.. T. J.
Henson to canvass Florida. 1t is hoped that the
Floridans will respond at oEce and be liberal in
their supply Dr. Lucas has secured free trans
porta,ion over the Louisville and Nashville road
for the Florida Press Association. Every men,
Der should avail himself of this opportunity to
see the magnificent City of the Falls and one of
the finest shows the world has ever seen
FAUNTINE VETrER.