Florida Mr. Plant’s Hobby--Banquet at Ocala--Mr. Plant’s Speech--Sail on Lakes Harrison and Griffin--Banquet at Leesburg--Visit to Eustis--Cheering Words to a Young Editor--Make the best of the Frost--It may be a Blessing in Disguise--Must Cultivate other Fruits, (and Cereals) besides Oranges--Importance of Honesty--Sense of Justice--Consideration for the Workmen--Unconscious Moulding-Power over Associates and Employees--Letter of Honorable Rufus B. Bullock. Mr. Plant’s associates say of him: “Oh, Florida is one of the President’s pets.” Anything touching the prosperity of Florida is sure to get a sympathetic hearing from him at all times. He loves the Land of Flowers and has spent many pleasant days in it at all seasons of the year. Nor does it fall to the lot of every man to receive such high appreciation for the good he has done and such esteem and affection as Mr. Plant receives from these warm-hearted, whole-souled Southern people. Mr. Plant having recently included Ocala in his railroad and hotel system, a fact which promises much for the future progress of this enterprising town and section of Western Florida, the people wished to express their grateful appreciation of the man whom all the South delights to honor. So, in the winter of 1896, they tendered to him a grand banquet to which he and his friends and associates in office were welcomed. Nothing was left undone by these good people to make the occasion pleasant. The feast was held in the Ocala Hotel which came into the possession of Mr. Plant during 1896, and was opened that season as one of the Plant System Hotels. The house was elaborately decorated with Southern ferns and flowers. A reception was first held in the parlor, then about seventy ladies and gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous dinner, enlivened by sweet music, and good cheer. Many beautiful tributes of esteem and friendship were eloquently presented to the guest of the evening, who had been requested by the committee of arrangements to speak to the toast, “The Plant System.” The following account taken from the Atlanta _Constitution_, is a fairly good report of his speech, which held the audience spellbound from beginning to end. He said: “I am gratified and pleased beyond measure to be with you to-night on an occasion of social enjoyment to exchange compliments and greetings with the undaunted citizens of Ocala and revel in the bounteous hospitality of this proud and prosperous little city. Words count for but little in the effort to express my sincere appreciation of such evidences of cordiality as have been shown this night to me and to my friends and associates in business. Surely the very presence of so many of your community’s worthy citizens, your city’s leading business and professional men, who have rendered the further compliment of bringing with them their charming wives and daughters, would of itself inspire any man, who is not