Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-02-03
FLORIDA
Written for the Spirit Of jefferson,
By A. w. Hawks, Sr.

~ a. W. hawks, Or.
Speaking of Florida.
Who is speaking Of Florida?
everybody, and / have got a word
OF Uwo or three to say about that
Wonderland.
What do | know about Florida?
Lots.
Been going to Florida every year
Tor twenty years, doing lecture work.
Cnautauqua work and Evangelistic
work.
First, as the three most important
Things In Florida, from religious.
educational and moral standard. it
mas been and is uncompared.
Florida is filled with churches of
all denominations. They are all
well supported, contribute strongly
TO all church appeals and pay their
preachers well.
The Christian Endeavorers arc
large in number. and we will have a
great convention there this wear.
1t has great schools--its public
schools are not excelled in any State.
and all the denominations have good
schools.
Splendid roads, well built. well
kept.
And they sure do know how to
make laws in Florida that attract
money, even as magnet attracts
steel.
Since its first discovery. It has
been great country for real estate
dealers. And today, there are great
chances for the right man in the
right place.
have lectured. preached and ad-
dressed 7. M. c. A., managed Chau-
tauqua, spoken in schools, lectured
at the University, etc. As plat
form manager of the large Chautau-
quas, ! was compelled to stop at the
great, big, expensive hotels. And
did not like them.
The managers and all the servants
came down from Boston every wear.
all the servants were white. and the
menu Bostonian. | liked to get to
the small towns where the prices
were reasonable, and you got Florida
food cooked by Florida folks.
Perhaps my most pleasant mem
cries of Florida were at White
Springs, way down on the Suwanee
River, owned and kept by some
Maryland friends of mine.
Now, here Is town you have
not heard of-De Funiak Springs. 1t
IS a beautiful place, not far from
Pensacola, on the M. & 0. The town
is built around a beautiful lake-a
perfect circle--one mile in circum-
ference, the road around the lake
would make perfect one-mile race
track
A number of years ago, number
of the sporting fraternity decided to
invest a big lot of money there and
make it the racing and gambling CEN
ter of Florida. Then the Lord step
ped in.
Up in New York lived fine Chris
tan gentleman. named Wallace
Bruce, his wife, two sons and
daughter. God sent, he came to
De Funiak Springs just in time. He
bought some land built right on the
side of the lake large auditorium,
built hotel, and for a number of
years, ran very successful Chau-
tauqua for four months every year.
No trouble to get talent at very
reduced prices, just to get the trip.
Sam Jones, Col. Vending. Geo.
w Balm, VIM. j. Bryan, Bryon King.
Mrs. King, Nelly Bunnell, and
host of others.
Something doing every day. But
Saturday was the best day. With
an arrangement with the M. & O. r
H., they ran excursions every Satur-
day from 100 miles or more in all
directions-$1.0 90 for the round trip
and a trip admitting you to the audi
forum all day. The people would
come by the thousands One-quar-
ter of the auditorium was reserved
for negroes. Then the Merry-Go-
Round yielded the owner about
eighty thousand dollars in a few
years.
! never will forget a dear old
Cracker Lady | met her in the
morning when she got off the train.
and | had talk with her as she was
starting home. "Well, Madam. did
you enjoy the Chautauqua?
Indeed. did. / rode in it all
day and got the brass rings ten times
and got ten free rides"
Then the Ford ride around the
Lake for two bits. Then the Legis-
lature stepped in and broke up the
excursions. But Wallace Bruce kept
1t up until he passed away, and then
his sons managed it.
With the Chautauqua as a nucleus.
a town of culture and refinement has
grown to good proportions. 1t is
also business center-large saw
mills and other industries. A large
proletarian school, a Normal school.
good public schools, and churches of
all churches.
| went to st. Petersburg for sew
eral years-a wonderful real estate
center for years, now, of course.
as all Florida is and will be for MANY
years.
There is an idea very prevalent
that only rich man can make
money in Florida, and that he must
be in the real estate business. There
is constantly increasing demand
for men of all trades and profes-
sions. | do not know of a better
place for preacher, teacher, law
yer, or doctor to make money and do
good work.