Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-02-04
Miss Florence Minis Writes OF
Visit to Seanan's Home.

MISS Florence TMlmS writes OF
Visit to Seaman's Home.
Dear Advertiser:
I wanted to send a telegram home
this afternoon saying how elated
was, but could tell much more in
this letter, and that seemed more
practical. had the pleasure of wend-
ing my way through the Italian quar-
ter of the city through the snow, to a
building known as the Marines
House where sailors are cared for
and entertained Here l was to read
at three o'clock, but since 1 can never
tell just how far I have to go, l left
early and arrived at the place about
jtwo-ffteen.
Then 1 met the minister in charge,
a certain Mr.. Small, though he was
not only large of statue, but large
of heart and voice, as l soon found.
Then he began to talk about Leland
Powers, and Immediately my atten-
tion was riveted to his every word.
When he said at last that Mr.. Powers
was the greatest man in his line in
the entire world, I of course, wasn't
surprised, but only gratifed to hear
someone else who thought as I did,
express himself.
In the audience were large group
of sailors, wounded soldier, a pro-
fessional humorist, the manager of a
lyceum bureau, an English lecturer,
five negro singers, baritone, a
cellist and myself, motley crew.
The negroes with their accompa-
mist called themselves the Southland
Quartet" and a very excellent quar-
tet- it was, breathing of the cotton
fields and savouring of all the
rhythm that the negroes voices al
ways contain.
If there is any one thing a North
ern audience cares especially for, it
lis Southern negro dialect, so when
my time on the program camel made
my first attempt before an audience
of reading negro spiritual selection,
which was called "The Glory Road"
We are all like ships on the ocean
that take new voyage every day,
and each day we meet new people,
but whether they be like the great
ocean liners or only ordinary sail
boats, they are interesting as were
these sailors at the Mariners House.
They had touched far ports, intimate
ly lived with wind and salt wave, and
helped to carry on the work OF the
world in the great ships that touch
our ports. 4
On my way home, saw the frozen
Charles river for just a flash between
the tall buildings. 1t is always beau
tiful, but at night it is especially so
with the myriads of lights along the
bridge, and tie domes of the Boston
School of Technology silhouetted
against the grey and rose of the sky.
One can pass the same route thou
sands Of times and still see some
thing interesting, for in the winter
the snow so disguises the landscape
as to make it almost unrecognizable.
It is not what lies along our walk to !
office or school that makes them fac
mating or otherwise, but rather what
We see into them or fail to see into
hem that makes the disguise.
Tonight as l passed the public;
gardens the grey statues of New Eng
and's statesmen and soldiers were
alone in the snow,
ome with cold, stone capes, OF mill
ary uniforms and each with the
now protectingly against him.
Over on the Boston Common. the
oreign workmen were shovelling, the
now into huge wagons preparatory
o hauling it away. For snow is a
hing of beauty, for a long time, only
n the primeval forests where there is
10 traffic for it to mar or be mar
ed by.
As l think il over, I know it is a
rood thing to read to an audience
# sturdy mariners because they call
Up in the speaker certain rugged
which they understand bet
er than any exterior fnesse.
FLORENCE MINIS.
142 Hemenway ST.,
Boston, Mass.
Ecrc EnD uhTruINr