10 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



may be strong to meet the life we must face iu our future 

 homes." 



And so, having been taught that it is as impolite to 

 ignore a message as to refuse to notice a verbal question, 

 we ' ' take our pen in hand to let you know " of Florida 

 Home Life — " the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but 

 the truth." 



Florida's climate has been spoken of, and justly, by the 

 most eminent scientists as one of the finest, and, aAvay 

 from the miasms of the swamps, as one of the most health- 

 ful in the world, and we, who know her well, know that 

 she has no need of exaggerated statements to plead her 

 cause, and we propose to make none. 



We who dwell and have dwelt for years within her bor- 

 ders know that our beautiful State has no need of over- 

 drawn, rose-colored pictures. 



It is better to understate rather than overstate the 

 truth; it is better to climb up than fall down. Human 

 nature is apt to fly to extremes, to expect too much, and 

 then, not finding it, to shut the eye to the good that really 

 nestles amidst the evil. And so it has fared with hundreds 

 who have gazed on highly-colored pictures of Florida life, 

 pictures tinted with rainbow hues, not a shadow or a 

 flaw any where ; and, so gazing, have hastened there wdth 

 pockets empty, yet full of anticipations of a quick and 

 easy fortune to be obtained without time, or Avork, or 

 patience, or deprivation, and then finding that Florida is 

 only an earthly country after all, not a paradise, and that 

 orange trees are so unreasonable and willful as to decline 

 to grow up, increase, bear, gather, and ship their fruit of 

 their own volition while their owner sleeps, they turn their 

 backs upon the prospective golden fruit and draw a black 

 brush over the rainbow-hued picture that had drawn them 

 Florida-ward. 



