“In conclusion, my good friends of Ocala, I beg to thank you again for your generous reception to-night. I believe there is much in the spirit that rules here that bespeaks the dawn of brighter and better days for the people of this region.”
The following day a special train took Mr. Plant and his party to Leesburg, where arrangements had been made by the people of that beautiful little town to give Mr. Plant and his friends another ovation of most healthful pleasure and exquisite enjoyment. The Mayor and leading citizens of the place met the party at the railroad station and welcomed them with marked cordiality to their best hospitality and friendship. At the close of a day’s most delightful sailing up Lakes Harrison and Griffin, and many carriage rides on the shores of those beautiful lakes, situated as they are in some of Florida’s most picturesque scenery, the party sat down to a banquet in the hotel given by the Leesburg Board of Trade. “It was truly a feast of reason and flow of soul,” for nothing could have been in better taste or evinced more genuine esteem and friendship for the guest of the occasion than was shown there.
On the next day a special train took Mr. Plant and his party to Eustis. At the station all the prominent people in town were gathered to welcome him. Carriages were in waiting to take him and his friends through the beautiful little town. It was with visible emotion that he looked upon the withered, lifeless orange trees bared by the terrible frost of the preceding winter, a drear and desolate scene as compared with the bloom and beauty of other days. Mr. Plant, however, was never given to fruitless murmuring. To a young editor in the carriage with him he said: “No, we must make the best of even the adverse situation. It might be worse. You must publish words of cheer and hope to your people, and do all that you can to help them over this trying time. Suggest to them the planting of other crops, the rearing of other fruits. It will not do to be altogether dependent on oranges. The soil is capable of raising many other things besides oranges, and it may be that this calamity will become a blessing in disguise.” So he ministered good cheer and practical instruction to the people, who felt that he loved them, and who were very responsive to his encouraging words.
I doubt not these people uttered the true sentiments of their deep feeling when they said as they bade him good-bye: “Mr. Plant, you have done us all a great deal of good, we shall never forget you for this visit you have made us. It will be a pleasant memory to us always, and if you and your friends have enjoyed your visit half as much as we have enjoyed having you, then is our happiness increased a hundred fold.” Never have we witnessed anything more beautiful and tenderly impressive than the kindly interest which Mr. Plant’s visit called out among these people. His every want was anticipated, luncheons, rare and delicious, were carefully stored away on boat and train and brought out at the right time. After sail or ride in train and carriage in this most appetizing atmosphere had made the party hungry as prairie wolves, then a sumptuous repast was served and enjoyed to the full. Rooms, and rest and care in hotel, cars, or boats were provided with a skill and tact that made one think of the Plant System.
Honesty is the foundation and keystone of every noble character. It is the quality that must pervade the whole nature. Nothing can take its place or atone for its absence, nor can there be a perfect manhood where it is not the warp and woof of the whole man. “Honesty is the best policy” says the policy man, but he who is honest only from policy and not from principle, is not an honest man, but a knave, if not a fool as well. Genius, scholarship, wit, humor, brilliancy are worse than worthless when they do not rest on a foundation of honesty. Never was a greater tribute paid to man than when President Lincoln’s neighbors dubbed him “Honest Abe.” Nor did poet ever rise to higher flights of truth than when Scotia’s Bard wrote “An honest man’s the noblest work of God.” “To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand,” says Shakespeare. In the history of the human race men of all ranks have ever paid the highest tributes to honesty and accorded to it the first place in human character. It is this quality, combined with his great energy, which has enabled Mr. Plant to carry his undertakings to so successful an end.
One of his associates in business for long years said: “Mr. Plant does not rashly promise but when he does, performance is sure, cost what it may. Were I having a business transaction with Mr. Plant for any amount, and knew that he would live to fulfil his engagement I would ask neither bond nor written contract. His word would be just as good to me as any security that could be drawn by the best legal authority in the land.” “I should name honesty as the dominant principle of Mr. Plant’s character,” said another.
It has been naïvely said that no “man is a gentleman to his valet,” but the testimonies here quoted are from men of long and most intimate acquaintance, and might be multiplied by hundreds of those who were once in his employ as well as by those still connected with the great System over which Mr. Plant presides. Careful scrutiny and good judgment have characterized all Mr. Plant’s dealings with his fellow-men, but crooked ways and mean advantage never. He has rendered to his generation an invaluable service in that he has demonstrated to it that honesty is the best principle and the surest way to the greatest success. And he has done this in departments of commerce proverbial for their unjust and unfair methods of dealing.
He has a wonderful amount of unconscious power which moulds those who come within its influence. Hence his associates have remained long with him even when tempted by other positions. The following extracts from a letter of ex-Governor R. B. Bullock will be found of interest in this connection.
“Rev. Dr. Geo. H. Smyth.
“Reverend and Dear Sir:—
“Replying now to your esteemed favor of March 17th, would say that Mr. Henry B. Plant came to this city in 1854, representing the Adams and other express interests, which were then being extended through this section of the country; and he continued to make this city his headquarters in that connection until ’69 or ’70, when he made his home in New York. There are no ‘incidents’ within my knowledge connected with Mr. Plant’s life here, which would be of special interest to incorporate in a biography. He developed then the same persistent, conservative and industrious perseverance in planning for and directing the interests in his charge, which have since developed into the important and widespread interests over which he now presides.