Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1889-05-03

has said except in one point. We have
never been convinced that IL is valuable
Tor farming purposes, ar suitable Tor
profitable fruit growing We must adj
nit though that nearly all appearances
are against the opinion We hold.
greater part OF the soil is rs rich IN APP
pcarance as any we ever saw on the
western prairies. Still, in the face OF
this fact and others like 1t, our opinion
remains the same. Within the past ten
wears. Bro. Barnes and ourselt have dl'-
fered about many things. The lapse OF
a little time has proven, invariably, that
he was right. We hope the present case
will not bc an exception. Other iacts on
his side are. that the citizens down there
generally agree with him; and that about
10 people have gone there 10 live, and
the population is gradually increasing
OF ali the places we saw in the South
Sanibcl is the best and most delightful
for a winter resort; and if capitalisshould
build large hotel there-a thing not at
all improbable property would enhance
in value, the island would attract the
attention OF all the Northern and East
.,n States and become the leading resort
in Florida.
There has been some talk about Bro.
Barnes demonstrating. Out in the dusk
there is the usual powwow concerning
the step taken as well as his motives for
taking il. His friends seem to " salts
fed. Those who are not his friends
have no right to open their chops. IL
the whole thing were failure financial
Iv. If tomorrow the few dollars he has
extended were swept away and lost Tor
ever. | would count this island venture
one of the most profitable performances
of his life. As TO his motives at all
times-they are the jewels that sparkle
in his golden life.
We would love TO tell OF the delights
and beauties of Sanibel il we could. Bro.
Barnes attempted il and failed. with
his great descriptive powers, ms pen
has drawn only a little from the gran
deur Of the island and its surroundings.
To attempt 10 tell OF our great JOY dur
ING our stay with the Troupe, would
be TO attempt the impossible 1t is still
onr Measure to think of the good time
we spent at Palm Ranch" and with
many a longing for that life again. We
often think of the many things that
made MS so happy there. And often do
we recall the hustle in the early morning
when we all arose to plan and work
and fish: the day filed with variety of
nlaosant occurrences; then the gathering
on the small porch OF the great preach
er's humble island home to watch the
sun disappear and the day fade out.
We have never seen such sublimity at
sunset as WAS Witnessed almost daily
there. We were all so single in our de-
sire to watch its slow descent, that we
have often wondered whether good
spirits sometimes gathered together with
us To watch the sun as it seemed TO kiss
the great waters and go slowly down in
a blaze of glory far west OF Sanibel.
The bitter to all this sweet came on
the day OF separation. When we parted
from the Troupe" we had an aching
throat and no voice. But we were com
in large measure, by having
for our travelling companions, two as eX- |
cellent and happy friends as one will
meet i'm life's iourney-Will Ferguson,
the quiet, true, unselfish gentleman and
his lovely and gentle sister May. When
we bid them good bye at New Orleans 1t
was like parting with brother and sister. !
May they abide here long and always in
peace.
NV entire trip was delightful one. |
can never forget the many pleasures at
tending 1.-THE congeniality, the sympa- |
thy, the kindness OF all. May this sea-
son of rest and refreshing, with all its
good and happy hours, soon return un-
changed to me.