The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-04-25
APRIL %. 1889.
GRAFTON OF w. X. HENRY,
ESQ.
Delivered i'm BurWell Hall OIL the
Occasion Ofthe Visit of the Dur
ham Tobacco Association to
Henderson, April 18th.

Being introduced by Mr.. w. II.
Smoot Chairman of the Reception Com
mittee Mr.. Henry said:
GentLenaen Of the Durham and Henderson
Tobacco Boards Of Irade, Ladies' and
Gentlemen:
This is an exceedingly brilliant, in
tefesting and happy occasion. and es-
pecially is it happy one to the citi-
Zens of Henderson, for their neighbors
and friends, and generous. high-minded
rivals in the race of progress and pros
perity. are with them to-day, as hon
ored and honorable guests.
l have said that Durham and Hen
derson are rivals-but they are friends
and while doing at all times. all in their
power to climb the Hill of Success, l
am sure the time will never come, when
each will not do everything, not incon-
sistent with her own interest to advance
the welfare of the other
We welcome our noble friends. the
representatives of Durham. to-day. as
gladly as Cardinal Wolsey welcomed
the Ambassadors OfFrance at Hampton
Court, and if we do not entertain them
as royalty, if we do not invite them to
a banquet as grand, as that is said to
have been-''tO a hall hung with silk
and cloth of gold, with tables that gilt
ter with massive plate, laden with the
rarest meats, and a-blush with the cost
Hest wines, with fruits ripe and luscious
in baskets of silver, entwined with
leaves plucked from royal conservato-
ries; with fountains rising up from en-
closures OF ivory, in jets of crystal, to
fall i'll rain of diamonds and pearls -
while all around from mysterious re-
cesses, yelled by curtains of Tyrian
purple, floats music with it's '.vOluptu-
GUS SWELL" if we do not entertain YOU
thus royalty, O, men of Durham. it is
owing to our lack of ability, and to no
want of a desire to thus signalize your
visit, and testify our great apprecia-
ton of your presence in our midst.
While the army of Darius. King OF
Persia, was beseiging the City of Baby
Ion, one Zopyrus. soldier, in MANY
ways proved his intense friendship fo1
the King. and one day, the King, hold
ing at the time a pOmegranate in his
hand, was asked by one of his CAPTAINS
''What good is there that YOU would
wish to multiply, as often as that fruit
contain sseed.?' The King replied
without hesitation. such friends a.
ZOpyrus.'
And, II had a pOmegranate in nv
hand at this moment, and were asked
'what good is there you would wish tc
multiply as often as that fruit contains
Seed l should reply without hesita.
ton, such friends as Durham and Hen.
derson are, and will continue to be, tc
each other; such treasures as they both
are, to North Carolina. North Caro-
lima, God bless her
"A word as to her: Not long since 7
was sitting on the deck of the, mapnifi.
cent steamer ''CarOlina," part of the
splendid Seaboard Airline system
as she plowed her way through the foam
crested pillows of the Chesapeake. I
entered into conversation with fellow
traveller sitting near by. After awhile
ne SAID, Il am from the State of New
ork, You are Virginian are YOU not p,
l told him no, that l had the honor Of
being native of the ..Old North State :,
lie paused, and then said. Il hear some
strange stories about your State: 7
nave been Informed that she is back
ward non-progressive. without energy.
rlches or resources. Isaid in reply Won
nave been badly informed. and surely
by an enemy of North Carolina. Permit
me to say word in her defence She
has shown herself grand on the field OF
battie, grand in the halls ofstate. grand
IN the tribunals of Justice. and ever
grand III the cause of Liberty. beinr the
hrst one ofthe colonies to declare against
the oppression of Great Britain.
She is grand in resources. and if tho
good mens!of the country will cease
creditlng such ISLANDERS. and come wifi
their labor and their capital, and make
tner homes within her Borders. and de.
vote themselves to developing her won.
oerful resources, they will find her men
as strong as oaks, as brave as lions. and
az public spirited as any>in the Union
ana her women, God bless them. as
pure and as pretty as the petals of .
pond lily. Let them come. and NORTH
Caroiina will soon be. as grand ir
wealth and prosperity. as she now is i1
intellect, honor, beauty. and chiyalry.
All that our State needs is Labor anf