The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-06-01

'he Oh tHtS point, ana no doubt know
yourselves how important you are. I
will desist. There is one thing. how
ever, that have in my bones to say
to you, and as I will probably never
have another opportunity, will saw
1t now: to the male members of the
fraternity only, however: AS an old
and wealthy gentleman whom knew
in Kentucky, who sometimes said dis
paraging things Of his neighbors, pref
aced his remarks through fear of a
SANDER suit against him, that he did
not intend to say anything actionable;
so say, do not mean to say anything
actionable. ! refer to the untrustwor-
thiness of the news columns of the
papers What / think of you along
this line brings to my mind in connec-
ton with your name the name of a
club of gentlemen, and i confess that
they are nearly all lawyers, living in
one of our middle states, who take
two or three trips a year camping on
Lake Erie. Their achievements, as re-
lated on their return home, and the
evident fitness Of the name, caused
them to call the club the "Ananias
Club" Really, do you not think that
fishermen have no right to a monop-
oily OF that Scriptural name? But, of
course, we cannot expect absolute per-
lection. and will go on reading the
news you give US, accepting il as true,
If not contradicted in the next issue.
Probably you would like to know
something of your host, the city of
.Ocala. We do not, like the Elks, claim
to be the best people on earth, but
modestly assert that we are the best
people and have the best city in Flor
ida; not so populous as Jacksonville
or Tampa, but we win say though we
have not seen the latest figures from
Live Oak, whatever they are, we dou-
bic them. We used to have numerous
orange kinds, but they stayed out late
one winters night and got frozen TO
point beyond resuscitation, so we
have replaced them with kings whom
the dropping mercury cannot affect,
though few drops in the market may
cause chilly sensation to creep over
them. Phosphate, turpentine and
round timber kings are as numerous in
this city as were mosquitoes in the
everglades before they got frightened
at Governor Broward and left their an
cestral home.
However, if you can stand us a few
days you will form your own opinion
of Ocala and 1 will not attempt to
influence it in advance we trust, how
ever. that it will be such that your
visit will ever remain a pleasant rec
objection to you, as we know it will
be TO us.
The mayors welcome was responded
to by Mr.. Tom F. McBeath, of the
Florida School Exponent, which APP
pears elsewhere in today's paper.
Mr.. G. L. Bittinger on behalf of the
local press, made a very happy i'm
promptu address of welcome to the
editors, which indeed, was so excellent
as to merit very frequent applause.
Mr.. Walpole, of the Manatee Record,
was to have responded to the same,
but in his absence this pleasant duty |
was delegated to Mr.. w. r. Carter, of !
the Jacksonville Metropolis, who rose
equal to the occasion and delivered a |
very pleasing speech, and at it's con-
clusion he grew eloquent on the ex-
ceptional treatment he had received, !
and in a burst of enthusiasm invited |
the whole city of Ocala to Jackson
vile at the next melting of the Press
association as his guests.
Miss Mabel Bittinger, of this city,
the Daughter of the Press associa-
ton" then recited a delightful lode
Of Welcome"
She acquitted herself beautifully.
The ode is as follows: