The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-03-19
DUNEDIN, FLA.
An Interesting Letter from the
Palmetto State.

H Dunedin, Fla, March 4, 1908. -
Editor News: wonder if you will
give an old Rankinite little space
in your valued paper. | flatter my
self that many of my friends would
be glad to hear from me through
your columns, and that can offer
to others some interesting facts of
|my present surroundings.
| | left Pelahatchie just one week
ago, having purchased one
thousand mile ticket en- route for
this place-Dunedin. 1t would
seem that felt impelled to get full
benefit from the weeks travel be-
lfore reaching my destination. Fri
day and Saturday found me with
Mrs. Jeff Fills and Mrs. George
Manning, of Meridian. Both have
lovely homes with electric light and
water conveniences, and entertain
ed me most hospitality. Ny former
pupils, Stanton and Cleveland Ellis,
(Mrs. Lessel's grandsons; fine,
handsome boys) have not out
grown or lost any of their old af-
lection for their teacher-Which is
gratifying of course. A day spent
with the inmates of the "Moffatt-
McLaurin Institute" gave me
glimpse of what a sweet home in
fluence, combined with the careful
instruction of an able body of
teachers may accomplish in the
training of the young, and in con-
nection with the thought of the
benefits accruing to this limited
number of pupils, Though their
housing capacity is taxed to the
utmost) comes Miss Powers letter
as regards the Columbus Institute.
Think of nine hundred girls labor
ing for an education under the dis
advantages she enumerates. Would
it not be far wiser to have this
number divided; say to purchase
Bellehaven, and with the one presi-
dent in charge of both colleges, or
departments, have an east In
dustrial Institute" and "West In
dustrial State College" 1t is in
deed marvel how the faculty at
Columbus have managed all these
lyears to carry on the work of this
Woman's college with such wonder
full success, with but the one
great upheaval in its government
which, by the by, seems but a
necessary evil in the history of
every great college, to clear up the
atmosphere and promote healthier
conditions.
Sunday night spent with old
home friends at the handsome resi-
dence of Olin Green, thence on
ward towards Mobile. 1t was purely
accidental that fell into the
revelries of Mardi Gras there.
could procure a room for only two
hours at St. Andrews hotel-and
that at so cents an hour; so pro-
ceeded to make the best of the
situation; witnessed the grand pro-
cession of floats, which did not at
all come up to my expectations.
Took the train at twelve for PenSa-
cola. Here | thought to gain few
hours rest before witnessing the
days doings, for Pensacola in
dulges to the utmost in the fit of
insanity that gets abroad in our
southern cities just before lent; but
even here there was no rest for the
weary-not room was to be had
at any price; so once again virtue
of necessity betook me to a street
car and for several hours was be-
guiled even of fatigue. Pensacola
is beautiful city. | spent some
time at the wharf; there were
several large ships at anchor,
gracefully outlined against the blue
waters of the gulf. There was one
warship, the Montgomery, the
young tars regaling themselves
about the streets, picturesque in
their sailor suits; most of them
looked so young that | felt impelled
to ask, "My boy, does your mother
know you are out3' hope Uncle
Sam looks we'll to his charges.
The streets have very curious
Spanish names, neither spellable
or pronouncible by me, and more
wholesale whisky houses and sa-
looms than ever saw in any place
before-or believe, all together in
my life. Some of the citizens in
formed me with great pride that
"Our whisky houses are required
to close up at nine o'clock; now,
formerly, they ran night and day"
In this statement the heighth of
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