Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1934-04-19 letter to Brother FralickEntry/Object ID
1990.1.201Context
920 E. University Ave.
Gainesville, Fla. April 19, 1934
Dear brother Fralick:
On the 159th anniversary of the battle of Lexington "whose shot was heard round the world" my thoughts turn to you, not because you are belligerent in make up I reckon but because scarcely a day goes by but that my mind turns to you, force of habit perhaps after over four years of fellowship with you. I have depended upon James largely as a news agent between us and the Seminary hence have written no one scarcely except Pres. Howard. Bishop Clippinger has told me a little of your work in the field. James has too much of his own personal affairs to say much.
As you know we left Dayton Oct. 20 and played on the road, arriving at Gainesville Oct 30 where we spent two days looking over the University etc. We then went to St Augustine, DeLand, Winter Park, Orlando, then 18 days at Lakeland, a beautiful place. The school there did not furnish what Richard wanted so after a Sunday in Tampa we drove back to Bok tower, then across to Vero Beach on the Atlantic, thence down the coast to Palm Beach etc. to Miami. We were with my brother Jordan (once lived in Lecompton) ten days then we decided to stay a month longer and got our own apartment. I presume we averaged four days in the week bathing at the beach. This is a very healthful exercise. When you folk were wearing two coats trying to keep warm we were in the water and lying about on the sand like dogs sunning ourselves. We surely got some tan which of course does not show much on me. You ought to plan to spend a month somewhere on the beach. Miami has the climate. It is a fascinating place and when we were there no more expensive than Dayton to live. Richard and I went on an excursion to Key West on Saturday. It is about 156 miles from Miami and only 90 miles from Havana. We went all the way by R.R., one of the bridges is 7 miles long- seems strange to go ship riding by rail. We drove out to several places about Miami. Pleasure is the big word there and if one had money I think he could well now to make investment in real estate.
On the 5th of Jan. we drove over Tamiami trail across the Everglades to the West coast. This was very interesting. I never before saw so many birds of such peculiar build and color. The cypress swamps are interesting. We spent a night at Naples, then drove to Ft Myers a beautiful place where Mr. Ford and the Edisons have their homes adjoining. We stopped in front of Henry's home but he was not there so we did not go in.. We took dinner at Punta Gorda then to Sarasota where we spent a Sunday, visited the famous Ringling Art Gallery and also the Ringling menagerie. Near Palmetto we ferried across Tamp Bay 7 miles to St Petersburg where we spent a day then up the coast to Clear Water, Tapon [sic] Springs, Hudson, Brooksville, Ocala etc. to Gainesville. We have been here all the time except that we drove to Tampa for the Annual Conf. Jan. 25-30.
Richard is in the University here and is enjoying it very much. It is very thorough school for men about 2500 students. The school for women is at Tallehassee [sic] with about 2000 students. This is the only State University that is not co-educational. I always had thought that the presence of ladies would prevent men from being rough and rowdy but I must say that the experience here is just the opposite. I never saw before a school where there is so little of the rough and rowdy element. Richard speaks of it frequently. The school comes the nearest being genuinely Christian of any State school of which I know and I could include some Church schools too. Pres Tigert says that practically every teacher is churchman. Seventy faculty members are identified with the Pres. Church here. We like the spirit of the people here very much. They set us to work at once in the Pres. Church so I am trying not to back-slide any further. I preached for the pastor on Sunday and have taught S.S. class nearly every Sunday. If ,my work were here I would be happy to live some place in Fla., but since we have no work except about Tampa, I presume we shall be coming back North. What I do will depend of course on the attitude of the Church. Whether our paths cross again on not I shall always appreciate your friendship and kindly and helpful spirit.
May choice blessings rest upon you.
Sincerely,
J.H.Harris.
