St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-20

you and all Of us initiate his virtues, aud try
and deserve some Of his rewards With our
kindest wishes for your continued success
in life, accept this our gift
AS Mr.. Wilson concluded his opening re-
marks, Col John T. West arose from his
seat and made the following particularly
happy and timely response:
JOHN ]. VESTS REPLY.
Gentlemen thank you most earnestly
and heartily for your presence, one and all,
on this occasion and for the motives which
have prompted this gathering. regretting
only that the founder OF this magnificent
structure is not one Of our number, that be
was not permittedttO witness the completion
Of his plans, and the public appreciation of
his great service in behalf OF our young city.
The gentleman who has Just dwelt uDon the
virtues ana characteristics of nv deceased
uncle so fully and feelingiy has left little 10
be said thereon, and yet Il Il not proper that
l should BE- wholly silent. Few hsd better
opportunities 70 know Charles V West than
myself none more cause 10 remember his
many exeelleneies- he was in all respects
man, one o. NATURES nOblemen; uuswery-
Ing IN his friendships. eminentiv social, al
ways just, active. energetic. self-reliant. kind
and generous in disposition, decided in his
opinions, and firm IN maintaining them. vet
ever ready 10 listen TO tac opinions OF others
and profit by their counsel l could not say
more, i cannot say less.
Thus pass away the men Of might
whose Eoiseless footprints stamped the ace:
heir thoughts that filed the earth with light
stiil gov and blaze on memory's pages
The beautiful vase which, as has been so
well said, was intended 70 be presented to
my uncle aud benefactOr, but which has lust
Frf- "a toll tn. I
spirit in which 1t is offered. and will ever
preserve the same Is a gift in trust rather
than as personal gift, encnsing aud dis
playing the same in such manner as to re-
mind all who visit this edidce not only OF its
founder and his great work but OF those who
appreciated his great work also.
Peace 10 the great mans memory; let il grow
Greener with years, and blossoms through the
flight
OF ages. And in the book o; fame
The glorious record o. his virtues write
And holc II up TO men, aud bid them claim
palm ike his"
Ii will not be deemed out Of place al this
time II l add few words relative TO the
structure in which We are assembled. This
hotel and its furnishings, as is well known.
cost about % per cent. or nearly half 4 mil
lion more dollars than was originally con-
TEN plated, and the question Is asked: Can
II be made 10 pay reasonable interest on
the amount investedfi II is a satisfaction
10 be able TO answer the question afirma-
hyely-it can and will, all that is needed is
the cordial support of all OF our citizens and
the citizens OF our state generally, and we
have no reason 10 doubt receiving the same,
This gathering IS an earnest Of your kindly
feelings, and thank you for your good will
and indulge In the hope that nothing may
occur to make our relations less cordial than
they are tonight.
Nor can /, ON this occasion, fail TO publicly
thank one who, next TO the founder of this
hotel, has done SO much for Minneapolis and
myself-a gentleman whom every one pres
ent halls as friend, aud who has as my ad-
visor and advocate proven friend indeed.
From the earliest thought OF building a hotel
here down TO the present moment he has
been never firing, but always ready and anx-
iOus To do more; many trips has be made
away from the city in the interest of this
hotel. giving his time and neglectingIbis own
business, doing any aud everything To en-
courage and assist me and advance the in
terests Of the city he loves so well, and all
this without any pecnniary interest. and
without thought of fee or reward. How To
sufficiently thank him know mott cannot
lind words TO express my gratitude to the
man who has uniformly declared that he
would ''stand by John until the. hotel is fin
ished aud every obligation satisfied" You
all know to whom l refer, but you do not
know bow much he has done, OF the strug-
giles of the past few months. One thing we
all know: The city of Minneapolis, the West
hotel and ourselves never had a better friend
than the tried aud true, genial Thomas
Lowry. God bless him. To the contractors |
and furnishers with whom / have been
closely connected for more than two wears |
am also under special obligations / regret |
that time will not permit me to tell how well !
each and every one of them performed their |
part of the great work, and the pleasant
times We have had together; they all know |
that Mr.. Lowry and myself will always hold |
them in grateful remembrance. trust later
in the evening to hear Mr.. Lowry tell what |
be knows about building hotel.
In conclusion, let me say a word concern-
ing new conner in our midst, Mr.. Charles |
w. Shepherd, the manager of the West hotel. |
who, though young in years, is n thorough |
master OF his calling, having graduated under /
that monarch of hotel men Mr.. James III. |
Breslin OF New YOrk-whom / expected to |
be here tonight 10 tell YOU about our mana
ger, but who is unavOidaby absent. For |
nearly fifteen years Mr.. Shepherd has been in |
the hotel business, and 1 have the word of /
the most prominent hotel men in the United /
States that his superior does not exist. Quiet /
and gentlemanly, yet quick and active, a /
strict diseiplinarian OF great executive ability, /
he knows what ought To be done in a first |
class hotel, and always sees that it is done.
That the West is now second 10 none in this |
country is conceded, and confident that II /
will take no steps backward under his az min
istration, / cheerfuily entrust the hotel TO /
~ hs-~, -, ~, 10
good feeling.
I have been handed the following letter:
My DEAR Mr. WEST: Referring TO your favor
OF the 18th instant, beg 10 assure you my reply
causes me more of a sacrifice than can possibly
be your disappointment have made every eff
fort TO be present az your opening. but must
forego all the pleasure had promised myself in
the interest Of my darling wife, who is again
under the knife Of our medical profession.
The interest feel in your enterprise Dartakes
not OF any selfish character. / feel to a certsir, !
extent from its conception that have been more
o. less Identified with il. My relations with your
very popular fellow townsnan, Mr. Lowry In the
building and opening the West could not have
been much closer were 70 have been the ten
ant. In my failure 10 be with you the loss Is |
mine, as should have taken great pleasure 10 |
give utteranee to my feelings in the interest Of
your deceased uncle, as well as my friend, Mr.
Lowry
In conclusion. let me bespeak for my friend
aud associate for the past twelve years, Mr.
Shepherd. who has the honor 10 be your man
iger, all the consideration you may be able TO
extend TO him, he is one OF the few connected
with our calling that You can rely on day and
night, having no peer in point Of integrity and,
n nv humble opinion, few II any in point Of ex-
ecutive ability.
That the West may realize your most sanguiue
is the earnest wish of yours, sin
cerely, j. Il. BREsLIS
For the gentlemen of the press / have