The Detroit times., 1911-08-26
ONCE 4 DRUMMER,
NOW BIG PREAGHER
IN HRE SOUTH
Rev. @. r HaascOm, Filling DR..
Hngsfs Pulpit Temporarily, Says
Experishcz :on the Road Has
Proven valuable in Ministry.
Declares NorthsTnsrs Don't Under.
stand the Race Problem and
Shouldn't Express Opinion.

One Of the interesting ngures III
Detroit during "the parson vacation
period" has been the Rev. George
Lorng Hanscom, ID. D., pastor OF the
Union Congregational church, Jack
sonville, Fla, who has been supply
ing the pulpit OF the First Congrega-
tional church, in this city, during the
absence of the regular pastor, the
Rev. J. Pe-ciyaI Huget, DR.. Hans
com Is one OF the virile preachers al
the south and a man OF the most
pleasing personality, with a hearty
cordiality OF manner and an ever.
present smile that impresses with It's
sincerity. Detroiters who have win
tered" in Jacksonville bear witness
to the fact that DR.. Hanscom is one
OF the most popular men in that part
OF the south, In or out of the ministry,
''It Is Just 25 years ago since ! was
In Detroit before-then ! was drum
mer for a Syracuse, N u, hardware
firm and Detroit was part OF my ter
ritory," said DR.. Hanscom, TO The
Times. In q pleasant chat, in the par.
lor OF the residence at No. 5S1 Wood
ward-aye., where he has made his
home during his months stay, in De-
troit. "All the time was a travelling
salesman I had convictions which
kept urging me to go into the minis
try. tried to get away from these
convictions In the life of the road, but
they were stronger than myself, and,
finally, made up my mind to sur
render to them and leave the hard
ware for the Lords business"
II have never regretted the time
spent an q drummer" continued DIR.
Hanscom. ''for II gave me an insight
into mems lives that ! could not
otherwise have gained, and have al
ways been grateful for the experience.
have q tremendous respect and Tx
inE for the Gideons, the travelling
mems Christian organization They
are doing a splendid work and their
aim. to place Bible In every hotel
and beat room in the country, 10
something, the effect OF which IN
Gods work, can never be estimated.
have known many man to be ar
rested in thought and action by the
sight OF that hotel Bible
DIR. Hanscom has lived In Jackson
vile, the past six years. going there
from Sioux Falls, 8. d. At present
he has under consideration calls from
two cities in Massachusetts, and from
Minneapolis, MINI.
81 love the middle west, its robust,
hustiing life. and for man who was
horn a New Englander and lived ms
life IN huEtiing communities, the
south is not exactly the outlet for
his energies" 10 DR.. Hanscom's smil-
Ing way OF summing up the situation
he "a now debating. ,.--t, ~. VI
Jacksonville is a delightful and a
progressive city and more like the
modern, up-to-date northern city than
any other place In the south, said
he. with enthusiasm. 1T IL ideally
situated, Is beautifully laid out and Is
thoroughly awake as TO its CONNER
cial opportunities. A decade ago,
when the disastrous IRE swept 1t
away. It's population was about eigh-
teen or twenty thousand, now II is
eighty thousand and constantly grow
ing. The city rose from the ashes
better in every way and, in place OF
the sleepy old southern town II was
before, II became a thriving and very
much alive city"
Asked about the land boom which
industrious promoters insist on In
Florida. and the truth OF the brilliant
ly-worded and highly colored litera-
ture Issued regarding the fruit
farms. etc, Mr.. Hanscom said:
FLORIDA farm lands are like the
farm lands OF any other state-no
place for the man who does not know
how to farm. No man should buy
piece OF property on the strength OF
4 promoters pamphlet, but should
see for himself. There are hundreds
and hNndreds OF tracts In Florida
that are highly productive and as
mary that are not The man who
knoks "a good piece OF land when he
seeg k ant knows how to farm X
when he gets II will earn a-splendid
income IA Florida --.....
beneath the sandy soil there Is q
cIayl soil, and the fact that crops do
not have to depend upon rain but can
be irrigated with the water from the
arfsaiail wells which can be found at
almost any point where a pipe Is
sunk, means that intelligence in
farming has every natural aid in the
PRODUCTION Of good crops. At one time
IL MAS thought Irish potatoes could
nof1b kfown n Florida. To-day that
fd&a a thoroughly exploded in the
rrontk sof tho finest potatoes In the
country. have seen everything III
the way OF vegetable garden truck
growing most plentifully, all around
Jacksonvilie. The native fruits are
Inc most delicious Imaginable.
consider Florida a wonderful vege.
table and fruit farming state on the
right ground and under proper and
int diieent farming. But as said be.
fore. there are places where you
conld71F sr6w q toothpfck. y : -
sp<SfihE OF The race Questfon, Dr,
rIan( 6n acknowledged that his
boInf 81 New and opinion with regard
"a ne Negro had undergone consid-
ef.Itk change during biz residence IA
JArI,Sonvillc sft~
~Norfhernefs, unless they have
i,x<d m the bouth and know the Ne.
rro from the southerner's side, have
ko firhf 70 express an opinion" said
81 II have given close and careful
andy "a the matter and believe
,knf the average southerner knows
exactly what he Il about IN hts treat
In<ht 81 the average Negro. They I'M
/. ...|...a 49, A<I&fHar. thnaa hofn