The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-30
THE RECEPTION.
A JOYOUS OPENING TO AN I'M.
PORTANT ENTERPRISE.
MIR. Denelis Exhibits to His Guesto
the Wonders of His Enterprise,
and Demonstrates the ImpOr.
lance Of His Undertaking.

1t was a somewhat unique idea of Mr..
p. A. Dcmcrs to signalize the opening of
his extensive wood working establish
ment by the ceremonies of formal re-
ception, usage more commonly applied
to matters of fashion orceremony, but in
this case jnstrfying happy departure as
giving an aspect of rejoicing to affairs Of
business. Why not? Because the phases
OF the one, II more gay, are more ephem-
| craI, while the other becomes associated
with what is fixed and enduring. And
the pleasant party OF twenty or more
| representative gentlemen who attended
the reception of Mr.. Demens cannot say
that they did not have their full share of
some Of the features of the reception of
fashion; Tor more tasteful and elegant
repast than awaited them had never been
spread before them. But we will speak
of other things.
Mr.. Demens received his guests in the
beautiful little office which stands as the
outpost of his larger works. This office
contain two rooms, serving ordinarily,
thc one as Il reception, the other as bus
mess, room the first on this occasion
long its usual duty, the other turned for
the noncc into a rcrcshment room. To
the first the guests were first admitted,
where they had opportunity to view the
exquisite and most appropriate finish of
he walls and ceiling. There Mr.. Dcmens
with much taste and sound judgment has
cpltomized both the skill of his work and
he beauty of his materials. There are
combined in beauty of blending or skill
in contrast all the native woods Of West
ern North Carolina. The wainscoting
embraced three varieties of oak and four
OF poplar, among which latter wood
were panels of curled poplar so beauti-
fully wrought as to resemble finished
paintings i'll high art. The cornice was
OF chestnut and walnut, and other por-
tons of the room were adorned with
oak, poplar, chestnut, ash, walnut, ma.
pie and cherry, and perhaps other woods,
taStetully combined and admirably fin
ished.
After a full admiration of ali these
beauties, our host ushered us into the
other apartment, where bountiful and
elegantly appointed table lay spread, a
rich and hospitable board, to which am
pie justice was done. There was a mod
est popping of COrkS and moderate ius-
tice done to the sparkling champagne,
and then Mr.. Reuben Rawls proposed i
toast in honor of our entertainer, which
was responded to on behalf of Mr.. De-
mems by Captain Atkinson in appropri-
ate terms, that gentleman doing so be-
cause of the unfamiiarity of Mr.. Demons
with our language, he being a Russian
gentleman; though it is fair to him to saw
that i'll supplementary remarks he was
more ready with the English tongue than
he was assumed to be. Then followed a
course of toastsand happy imprompture-
plies by Mr.. Craig, Mr.. Blanton, Mr.. Van
diver, Mr.. Gaines, Mr.. Long, Capt. Pat
ton, Mr.. Tcnnent, Mr.. Cameron, and some
Others, all loi them playful or informal but
all heard and received pleasantly, and then
the party adjourned for an inspection of
the works. These are now in full opera
ton, and about forty men are employed.
Mr.. Fitch is the superintendent. The
main building, with its various ma
chincry, has already been described and
we only now refer to the character and
eXcelency of the output. Attention was
particularly called to the fine finish and
substantial and also tasteful work now
being done on the counters, shelving and
other fittings for Pelham's new drug
store, which leave the factory all ready
to be set in place. Here also are made
the beautiful mantcls, paneings and
mouldings which ad0rn houses now in
the city, especially those used in orna-
mcnting the residence of Mrs. Sluder.
Thence the party visited the engine
room, where a beautiful engine of 100
horse power was silently doingits mighty
work, giving lite to the thousand and
one members actively and deity shaping
into beautiful form the crude material
awaiting its transformation. This great
heart and handspring of the whole was
ncascd in structure absolutely fire.
proof, with its brick floors and iron roof
and support. Near by was the large dry
kiln, with its capacity of 10000 feet of
lumber, through which a volume of steam
is pumped day and night until the con-
tents are thoroughly seasoned.
When we remember that only a few
months ago the space occupied by this
establishment was part Of the waste of
the abandoned fair grounds, we cannot
sufficiently admire the energy, the indus
try, the skill and the taste which has so
soon changed the waste into the indus
trial garden. And admiration is mingled
with the more substantial satisfaction Of
the valuable addition Mr.. Demens has
made to ASheville and Western North
Carolina, and also the remunerative oc.
cupation he has given to so many need
ing employment and competent to their
work.