The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-01-28

TnE BLACK belt.
ser.A s~~~e~sse.s ~ g che ReceP-
tioa New settlers Shsuaa NAVE.
JAcKsoxvrLLE, FLA. Jan. 81. 1885,
To the Editor Of the Timesunion:
have spent considerable part OF each Of the ne
past three winters in the black beIt,' or hill
country of Middle Florida, and avn deeply i'm
pressed by the economic questions that unueriie
it's development aud future prosperity, iuiy
convinced that by nature no part oil the o'a.e .s
so highly favored as 10 resources and p"ssso'h-
ties.
With q profound interest in the subject, my at
tention has been attracted to the interview with
Judge Christie, reported in your issue ot the AN
inst, and 10 a letter on the same suoJect In the
Times Union of the 9th inst, each oil whicn io-
dictates AN intelligent comprehension Oh sou'e "
the hndrances that retard the grown oi MS ''i
a country as can be found under the SUM- Du'
I do not think that sufficient emphasis has been
given 10 an adverse influence, To the remedy Oh
which the old residents ought to direct 'he' Z
most thoughtful consideration reIer 10 'he
apathe,ic indifference with which most new sell
tiers are generally treated
1t is unquestionable (whatever may have oeen
true ten wears ag,) that a strangers social stand
ing and relations with his neighoors are now no
more affected by his political leaning IMAM ny
the color of his hair, and that the most ahlpie
freedom of opinion prevails; that tnere IL never
theless general undercurrent oil ieehng ations
the majority of those who attempt 10 set'le ~
| that section as of being frozen out oy Inc
| want of sympathy that surrounds them IN theil
efforts to establish new home by irigidity o.
| behavior more potent than twenty degrees Oh
| frost by an unhelpiulness more dlscouraging
| than overt acts of hostility or unklndness.
In the face of an ostentati0ns display Oh cour
tesy and an affecatiOp oil we come, wnicn at hfs'
| graiitv the stranger, the glittering unsel soon
| wears of, and the new settler learns The lesson
! of being severely let alone in country where al
| his surroundings strange and so ioreiyn 70
| his previous experience as to make MN largely
dependent upon his neighbors for the numberles'
little helps-of advice Information ana sympa
| ihy--thlt really are inn ortant elements contrio-
| uiing to success, and making the difference be
| tween membership in the human family anu
parah in the land.
This is not characteristic of other parts oil
Florida, nor of other States towards which the
tide of immigration tends, and 1t ought not 10 o.
| true of Middle Florida, but there Is too much
concurrent testimony that an influential pro
| portion of those who dominate public sentl
ment do by their ordinary behavior create I'M
| belief that they are more eager for the dollar
that the stranger may bring with him to lnves
than for his presence as factor in the restora
ton of the waste places OF their lands
| Middle Florida is most certainly destined u
prosper and the overflow of those who wish l.
find land where the climate and conditions Q
life are favorable, without an exclusive depen
dence upon citrus productions, Will surei,
find its way there, and those who are native an
to the manor born and who have ii SO much Il
their power to promote the growth OF their sec
ton only retard the coming of the dawn an
hinder the march of progress by the way i
which their demeanor repels the lmmlgrallo
that their language invites. LEON COUNTY
The above article has excited considers
BILE comment and some just indignation
as disappearing our people and gan
saying their proverbial and indisputabl
hospitality. It. attacks all Middle Flor
da and Tallahassee is presumed to be II
cluded though not mentioned and W
submit that sour writer may color nal
ural circumstances in an offensive way S
as to make such an article seemingly az
ply in any community, north or souti
He comedies the warmth with whlc
strangers are welcomed, but libellousl
charges that it is affected, and complain
that it is not continued. In what com
munitv. no matter how warmly he Is rt
ceivel, can the settler remain always
guest, sedulously cared for, pleasant
entertained? At his coming here he
heartily welcomed and accepted az
member of the community, who IN hi
turn may welcome others. The countr
is his as much as any mans to max
his way in, and that he has to work tc
his own welfare is not the result Of "apt
thetic Indifference " any more than in tn
case of the older resident who also has t
work his way in life. He cannot becom
an old resident at once, and be as nea
to old residents as those who have spen
their lives together are to each Other
1t is not in the nature of things, and n
sensible person will expect it. In all oil
communities 1t is the same-the ne'
conner must pass through the gradus
stages of social naturalization to feel full
: identified and be in full sympathy with
community, no matter how much ne ma
be esteemed. " Frgidity of behavior" as
characteristic of the community genel
ally, is simply an assertion unsustaine
by fact, and the writer could have sal
nothing that would more impair b
claims to credibility among those VIII
know anything of this genial and hosp
table people. A few individuals of re
? pellent dep )rtment are to be found
f any community of size, but that peculi
arity does not stamp the whole. TIL
writer Of that article hath written som
f "glittering but mischievous nonsense
we hope not maliciously.
The Episcopal COnvocaiiOn.
The Diocese of Florida is divided into thr,
corvoca,ionS-the Eastern Western and Soutl