Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-26
Mrs. Webb Visiting
In Florida Tells
Of Journey There

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No.e-Mrs. ]. c. Webb Of Hsr-
linRen, who, with Mr.. Webb, is
visiting az their old home and with
friends in Florida, writes from
Tampa of her trip there.
We left Harlingen on July 5, for
our first vacation trip in several
years, and as our journey has includ-
ed many pleasures and interesting
features, ! thought il might be OF
interest to the readers of The Herald
in the Valley. Leaving Harlingea at
night, we were in Houston in the
morning. While there We visited the
zoo At Herman park which we found
full Of interest because Of the many
kinds of animals, birds and reptiles
in the most naturally arranged en-
vironments. We were greatly amused
when we reached the alligator pond
containing many specimens, big and
little. One huge alligator was watch
ing an old man with a scythe, inside
the enclosure, moving the grass. The
big alligator came slowly nearer and
nearer, showing only his eyes above
the water. The reptile approached
within S feet where he lay for q long
time. Suddenly, with incredible
swiftness, he jumped for the mans
legs, but they were going over the
fence at the same moment. He made
the same trial everytime the man
went back 70 NOW.
We left for New Orleans that night
on the G.. c. Line, going on TO Gulf
port, Miss, where we visited our son
and family over Sunday when We
and family over Sunday When We
left there for jacksonville, TO see old
friends and spent the week, seeing
many lovely scenes on the shore Of
the Rio 81. Johns, and visiting the
San Jose development with a mag
nificent stucco hotel and numerous
fine stucco homes, but almost all
Imply and abandoned. We found
many such abandoned and desolate
places as well as farms and sawmills.
Sunday evening we were invited to
ride with our friends to Green Cove
Springs then on 10 their summer
cottage on Kingsley lake, near the
site for our old orange grove.
Here we enjoyed bathing. fishing.
a motor boat ride and the picturesque
scenery around this gem OF fresh
water lakes. Huge trees draped with
long grey moss swaying in the breeze,
and The snowy blossoms Of the sweet
bav and magnolia trees added their
beauty 10 the view Of h lake.
We saw many old friends. In
Starke, we saw Colonel Weeks. now
90 years old, who had been in the
battles Al Goliad. Texas, and other
places Of history. We asked TOT
many to find they have gone beyond
In the IS years Of our absence.
We enjoyed a trip to the J. 2.
Penny.Gwinn Farms. a novel project
which ] will describe. II includes
one-third Of Clay county on the west
bank OF the 81. John. The property
begins three miles west OF Green
Cove. A 16-foot paved road biseets
the 1900 oacre tract Of which 10000
acres are under cultivation. Here IS
found the Pennev-Gwinn Institute OF
Applied Agriculture and Penney
Farms grammar and high schools. all
fine brick buildings, a le-mile stan
dard guage railroad, owned and oper.
ated BY the company, 100 miles O
paved roads through the traer, zOo
miles Of good wire fence, a canning
factory with home for the laborers,
800 farm houses. a general store, post
office. demonstration poultry DEPART
housing 1000 birds, dairy farm,
asa acres with 20 Guernsey cattle,
hotel, water system. tele-
nbore. sewers, trees and shrubs avail
able for planting. all equipment aud
at cost.
A large acreage is devoted to the
]. @. Penney Memorial Community N
OF his parents. Doctor Daniel
Polling. president Of the United
Society Of Christian Endeavor OF
America, il director Of the founda-
There are % separate apart
ment buildings, some have five, some
four or three rooms, each having Q
bath. electric lights and stoves, re-
friserators, and furniture, free Tor
retired ministers and families. A
beautiful chapel, seating sou, ~
architecture, with . Isrge "a
brary, community room, Class tooms,
complete kitchennstte, with electro
features. The chapel bears tnas IN
seription w the entrance, Dsol-
Gated 70 the Memory OF Alberta Hess
by her sons nOS"eH
James Cash Penney" Here 10 n
stalled q grand piano, also a wonder
full $4,000 pipe organ. Services are
provided by the different ministers
The chapel is always open. and Is al
ways decorated with fresh flowers. A
splendid pier and bath and boat
with bath pool, is provided at
Kingsley lake, for those living on the
Penney-Gwinn tract.
Our newt trip was made to q state
prison at Raiford, near the town OF
We were accompanied by three
Of our old time friends, and after. a
pleasant IL mile drive we reached the
prison office, where we were given
to enter. Our guide was
Gate Warden Hicks, who took great
pains in showing US the departments.
We went first TO the shirt factory.
an average of $4,000 dozen
shirts are turned out every week. Gar
are blocked out and caria5 20
by machinery opersted BY
Next we saw the shoe de-
partment where the prison shoes are
made from leather tanned and fin
here. We were shown some