The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-19
Addresses OF Presentation and Acceptance of Silver
Service and Other Gifts to the Batteship FIOrd

Feeling the inspiration which comes
to a speaker who has the soul of his
audience Hon. William A. Bours, mas
ter of ceremonies at the presentation
of the silver service and the other
tokens of good will and love from the
people of Florida to the battleShip OF
the same name, made most excellent
presiding officer. He said he felt the
honor of presiding at such notable
occasion and that it was one of the
most pleasant occasions of his life
Mr. BouFs did not make lengthy ad-
dress and, his words were well chosen
and well directed. In introducing each
speaker he spoke with feeling and
force.
ADDRESS or WELCOME.
In introducing Hon. w. A. Blount,
who made the address of welcome, Mr..
Bours said that he was introducing
man whose name. when mentioned,
always made one think of Pensacola,
the queenIy city of the gulf.
Mr.. Blount extended a Pensacola
welcome to the vast crowd in the
streets, as well as on the balcony. He
asked that the brevity Of his remarks
not be considered as lack OF hos
pitality for he wished to convey well
come to the entire assembiage.
He spoke of the women of the state
organizations ard said the heroines of
the vars which have passed are the
rioe5St heritage which Florida has to-
day The women he welcomed most
cordially. To the rank and file of the
navy, the army and the officers of
both, Mr.. Blount said he extended an
especial welcome because they carry
the flag which has never been lowered.
To the German officers and men Mr..
Blount asked that they feel that Flor
ida and Pensacola welcomes them, and
to the governor of Florida and other
civil authorities of this and other
states, he said there was nothing in
the city that was not at their disposal.
Gov. A. w. GILCHRIsT.
Gov Albert W. Gilchrist in present
ing the silver service said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies, Officers and
Men of the Navy and Fellow Citi-
zens.
December Is. 1911, will long be re-
membered in Florida as a day on
allied to the navy, through the pre-
sentation OF this beautiful silver SER
vice, in behalf of all our people, to the
pride of the navy, the great battleship
Florida
One of the pieces is decorated with
oranges and orange blossoms, sug
gestive of the delightful fruits and
flowers of our great state. Orange
blossoms are also suggestive of matri-
mony. The name and deeds of this
great battleship are forever married to
the highest and best thoughts of our
people.
There is also representation of the
landing of Ponce de Leon, Easter Sun
day, three hundred and ninety nine
years ago. Beneath this is a likeness of
the discoverer of Florida, Ponce de
Leon. While in search of the Foun-
tain of Youth, Ponce de Leon landed
in Florida on Easter Sunday, a day
celebrated throughout Christendom as
the day on which the Fountain Of
Eternal Youth is freely offered to
whomsoever will freely partake.
= But few people realize that owing to
our climatic conditions and healthful-
ness, We are renewing the life and
youth of thousands of men and women
who could not live elsewhere, making
them valuable and useful members Of
society.
In our berries, fruits and vegetables
we are making life worth living to
many people of the other states. In
our millions of pounds of fish annual
ly shipped to all parts of our country,
we are rejuvenating the brains of the
nation. Through our phosphate, of
which we furnish more than half of
the nations output. we are rejuvenat-
ing the lands OF the nation. Through
our pine forests we are furnishing
one-third to one-half of the tupentine
with which, as a basis for paint, we
are renewing and rejuvenating most
of the buildings of the nation. In our
cotton seed oil. We are furnishing our
part of the delightful olive oil you use:
through this oil we are out Heroding
T. \ -. II l. lnw1
of King Hog, and through the meal Of
our cotton seed, we are providing the
meat on your cattle. In our high
grade sea island cotton, of which we
produce about one-half of that raised
in this country, we are furnishing
without their knowing it, part of the
fiber of the silk dresses of the women.
Through our plume birds, we are fur
nishing the hues of the rainbow of
promise" to the hats of our women.
Though not a corn producing state,
we are furnishing in many instances
so, IS and 115 bushels of corn to the
acre-bread, the staff of life. In all
that contributes to the necessities, the
comforts and the Injuries of mankind
and of womankind, We are an ever in
/, creasing facor.
On the reverse side of this piece is
y representation of two Seminoles, in
q dug-out canoe, Florida tropical
scenes being in the background. The
Indian canoe is the first dreadnaught
known to our waters. Great as was
the dreadnaught feet of Ponce de
Leon. yet it would be as Significant to
the dreadnaught battleship Florida as
the dug-out canoe was to this great
feet. In the great battle of suprem-
acy. in every line of human endeavor.
Florida is one of the dreadnaught
states of the world. Extending through
over five hundred miles of latitude, our
climate varies from sub-tropical to
temperate, producing the varied pro-
ducts incident to such climate. We
are great in the products of the field,
forests, mines, manufactures, fish and