FLORIDA FOLKS AND


FAMILIES.


only fault is that they were born, reared, and trained under
absolutely different social conditions from those which now
obtain, and they can not learn to fully accustom themselves
to their new life and surroundings. They mean well, and
deserve respectful sympathy. They can not learn the Chi-
cago-New England spirit of progression, and it is useless to
expect it of them-that is, of that generation now passing
its latter day of prime. It is to be hoped that the gen-
eration now growing into manhood may better understand,
and be more disposed to take, an active part in the "mani-
fest destiny" of the State. It must realize that in Florida,
as elsewhere, "the old order of things passes away, giving
place to the new."
 It is entirely useless-notwithstanding all arguments to
the contrary-for the Northern immigrant to expect to be-
come an intimately familiar guest and neighbor of the old
residents and aristocrats of the South. They will tell you
they welcome you," and if you are a gentlemanly, peaceable,
respectable citizen, they do welcome you, after a fashion;
but it is the welcome extended to a polite stranger-sincere
but cool, honest but always formal. It is vastly different
from the state of society at the West, and for vastly dif-
ferent reasons. In the West is found no former "old-time"
society; the settlers there are themselves the original and
only society; and, as is always the case with sensible peo-
ple when they meet in far-off places, they are sociable,
hearty, and cordial toward one another. There all are
deemed respectable members of society until convicted of
crime or misdeed. Here in the South, the older residents
do not, and I believe can not, understand that sentiment of
social intercourse and bluff, hearty good-fellowship which
is felt among the peoples of the East, North, and West;
and the new-comer might as well give up any hope or re-
sentment in the matter. It is caused by the laws of human
nature that make the Esquimau, the Chinese, the Russian,