The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-04-30
CreAla e wnem Credit 10 Dss.

Under the above caption there appears
in the Jacksonville Hnses- Union letter
from New Orleans, signed ~ Z. L.,
defending COMMUNICATING against
the reflections of certain anonymous cor
respondents Of that paper. We extract:
"Sarkasum" Affects 70 wound BY innuendo Il
suppose) General w. 81. 6ebring. United states
and State Commissioner for the state OF FioridA
TO the Exposition and am very sorry TO see II
ior every other United States and State Com
missioner 1T the Exposition knows the mighty
efforts he has made here TO overcome the multi
piled difficulties In the way OF success 70 inc en-
terprise and If an entire tweve months canvass
of earnest pleading within our state mas mol Sc
cured him from malevolent attacks, cannot De.
lieve that an appreciative word nom me VIII
serve him; but hoping that some Of your readers
will be pleased to hear good OF him I unhesitat-
ingly declare that no Commissioner has served
his State more faithfully and TO greater advan-
tsge than General w. II. Sebring. and IN this
assertion every officer connected with the Expo
stion viii bear me out
The insinuation that he is here with his family
merely to have "a good time" and attend fes.
tive occasions 10 certainly very ungenerous II
10 not generally considered q reproach tor man
to keep his family with him, and instead oil " be-
ing constantly OH attending some banquet or
festive gathering" / can solemnly aver he has
not been absent one day from his post since
have been here, and that his amiable wife, 80
tar from distracting him from his duties, daily
sat 10 a carpetless, cold and cherries office, TO
answer calls when her husband was in other de
paItments attending TO business connected with
his commission, while her little children attend
ed kindergarten in the same building. The =" les
tive occasions" referred 10 are special and
beautiful feature of the Exposition, commencing
generally about p. m, in the Government
building, and lasting about two hours, which,
though enlvened with music, consisted oil speech.
making reciprocal compliments and inexpensive
Observation-Disclosures indicative to a State s
resources of social hfe for instance, Vermont
gave US doughnuts and cider; Nebraska, apples
and cider, etc. And Q neglect to attend these
State sociables would lessen . Commissioners
standing and influence to a great extent-cer-
tainly create a question of geniality. Now
whence the harm!
1t ia possible IN an exhibit so perishable as
fruit that there are times that il may dwindle !;
but we have not heard the charge made here
against the Florida exhibit prior to the render
ing of the awards Mexico and California did
not come forward until the nine grades claimed
for Florida had been tested and recorded, and
the owners and agents in charge had filled their
mission, and completely sustained Florida
reputation in her peerless capacities for the
pToductiontof oranges.
General w. H. Sebring is the one man here
from Florida who has had any influence with
the management, however well Others may have
served the State and themselves in the adver
tsement Of their fruit While here in December
and early in January, when he had not money
from his State, he influenced General Burke to
buy Florida oranges to the amount Of $500 and
other fruits on the market, to hold space fol
Florida until he could 20 home and make one
more appeal to the people through the Legisla
ture not to let the opportunity be lost Of adver
Using our States products and resources; and il
he had been listened to with more credence we
would have much more to boast of, while we
have now nothing to bring the blush Of shame
1t was General Sebring's influence with the
management that secured the gold medal ant
$3.50 as special premiums. Without his reques
| it would never have been offered. And again
he it was that proposed to the Fruit Growers
| Association to contribute their stock, and which
secured TO them such liberal share of the State
| appropriation.
| Much is due to the private exhibits, and proud
we are that they all received premiums, and
wish there had been more, for General Sebring
| would have commended for their claim if they
bad been legion 1t Is not necessary to detract from
Messrs Elliot Rocks, Magruder and others, iI
order to do justice, for they have all worked un
ceasingly and earnestly for Florida, and no men
could have done the work better. Aud | fee
that may claim little favor and appreciation
for Your humble servant,