The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-03-11
PALATKA AS SEEN BY \ CANA
DIAN.
Her People, Her Churches, and Her
Future.


Canadian thinks of Palatka and its
doings. After asojourn of three months
in your midst, I can say surely it was
good to be here, ard if the deciding, sir,
Of my future earthly home were left to
me, I would willingly say, "thy people
shall be my people, and thy president
my president The Courtesy and kind
ness extended to us has endrared the
place to us, in the coming years. Where
ever our lot may be cast, the fragrance
of my Florida visit will ever be as
sweet incense. May you continue to
give strangers the hearty welcome vouch-
safed to us, and thus you may, by so
doing, be the means of making Palatka,
in every sense of the word, the 'Gem
City" of Florida of itself it is lovely. the
home for the sick and the we'll When
the last vestige of the dreadful fire, of
November last, is removed, and in its
place have arisin those beautiful build
ings, which seems to us as f going up by
magic, Gt puts me in mind of the
tales of the Arabian Nights the rapidity
of the erection, shall l say of your colos-
sal buildings, it impresses the fact on
our minds that it will take more than one
fire to crush the indomtable will of the
Palatka people you have, as one man,
manifested this spirit, out of this great
fire shall como our city, purified and
beautiful. 1t is city of churches, which
speakes well for the generosity of both
the white and black element. We have
had the pleasure Of listening to the sew
eral ministers and | cannot speak too
highly of their ability as expoundcrs of
Gospel truths, and also of their happy
and hearty way of inviting strangers to
their church homes.
Yonr court house. l think, is all that
is desired for some years to come. Not
having broken any of your laws, conse-
quently, sir, | have not had the pleasure
of accommodating the human machinery
that controls, adjusts and settles all dis
putes, inasmuch as we have been law
abiding visitor whilst here, we will be
unable to pass our opinion of .competen-
cy of your judges and lawyers.
Your merchants are courteous and
obliging, though sharp after their own
interest, they are ready to look well to
the interests of their would-be-buyers.
Surely success awaits them.
Your jail and public shool are not de-
sirable as public builings. 1t is incum-
bent on us as elders, as much as in us
lies, to make the place where our chill
dren spend the greater part of their
time, attractive and clean; object Lessons
are most permanent on the youth, mas
much as it is So we hope the city viii
see it their duty to have the school COM
Portable for pupils.
THE Jail" I will refrain comment; to
see it is to understand the whole matter.
Your drainage, sir, needs improving.
We are glad to know you are seriously
considering the matter. 1t is not pleasant
when walking certain districts to have
to flourish perfumed handkerchiefs,
but we have faith to believe that time
will even move this.
What most particularly cheered our
hearts was the privilege of meeting
with the ladies of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union. l felt at home
with them, for their aim and desire is the
same as our Canadian women, the am
elioration of the human race, to save
home and native land from the greatest
enemy our fair America has to deal with.
We are thankful to say this liquor ques-
tion is fast becoming the question of the
day, and that by the Divine help, the
delicate hand of woman has been the
lever that has lifted this and placed it
before the notice of our legislature.
also attended the organization of the
Band of Hope, and if possible the week
ly gatherings, which meets every Satur-
day afternoon at the public school house.
1 was much pleased with the children's
choice of officials. and also of their
bright faces and intelligent answers.
Perhaps some of our Palatka friends may
ask, Why the necessity of This Band of
Hope? and its object? 1t is the outcome
of earnest prayer, Christian men and
worien looking into the pathway of
time, saw that it had become paramount
that something must be done to save our
country from the fearful consequences
of drinking intoXicants. The question
asked, how shall this be done? BY the
help of the ministry and press. And
yet we could not accomplish all we
should; then the thought, let us educate
our children, hence the necessity of
Bands Of Hope, this so far seems the
most promising features of our work,
For who are the coming men and wo-
men of the future? The children of
to-day" We read, pehaps thoughtless-
~, of the thousands and thousands that
annually fill the drunkard's grave, and
Palatka, with her religious and social