The morning news., 1889-05-07

Whitaker and Liberty streets was built in
1920. In that year a disastrous fire almost
destroyed the city. at a loss OF S4,OO0,0D0,
and fever. brought by West India vessel,
broke out the same year, and of Dopula-
ton of Z, ,j2S but ,494 souls remained.
Here tue speaker grew eloquent as he
said: "Dasolation and gloom There had
been early struggles, privatons and suffer
ing; there had been storm and battle and Sa-
vannah had survived them. But here was
death itself poisoning the very air. Fire
aud fever did their work Savannah lay
PROSTATE. But natures God had laid out
here a noble plain aud a noble river. IL
was manfestly designed to be a great and
q beautiful CITY. Her people were un-
daunied and did not despair"
Returning to his local epitome of historic
incidents, be alluded to the laying of the
corner stone Of the Greene and Pulaski
monuments by Lafayette in 1925; of the
survey Of the Central railroad il 1898, and
tho running of the FIST train to Macon in
1913, the building Of the road due to the en-
terprile Of Wm. w. Gordon, father of
Capt w. w. Gordln, to whom monu-
ment was ere ted, and in 1853 tho Savan-
nah and Albany road, now the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway, was blilt
through the zeal of Dr.. Screvel, father of
Capt John Screven, who is yet to have
monument erected to him.
the city down to the firing on Sumter when
the Savannah military went out under
Barlow to Illustrate Georgia in war, and
Mr.. Meldrim sketchel eloquently the pri-
vatiOns of war, OF reconstruction, but out
from all of which size had emerged to enter
upon her commercial destiny, until she
has become the seventh largest exporting
city in the Unitod States, the second
largest cotton ex porting port, and the
ma ~ 4 kar. -fi 1f q
Her population is about 10000, and she in
creased her popula lion g, ,526 in the last year.
Fire has again visited her, but nobler
structures will arise from the ruins. She Is
building a massive hotel ana court house,
many residences, and will build railroads to
reach out into new territory. Georgia is
the gateway of the west,n said the speak At,
"and Savannah is the gate keeper. her ships
carrying the iron from the Birmingham
furnaces. Savannah is the natural dis
tributing point, and her success is largely
due o that fact"
Grouping much of interest about Savan-
nah, tho speaker eptomized some Of the
more historic incidents. Here Oglethorpe
located, Wesley sang, Whitfield preached,
DeEs aing and Lincoln fought, Pulaski
and Jasper fell Aaron Burr once resided
on South Broad, between Barnard and
jefferson, President Monroe was a guest
at the Scarborough house, which is now
used as a colored school building.
Lafayette was guest at Owens boarding
house Clay was a guest Of Berrien, at the
corner Of Broughton aud Hapersham. Cal
houn and Webster have visited here, and
Greene lies buried here Whitney invented
the cotton gin at Mulberry Grove,n only
fourteen miles from the city. George
WashingtOn's house stood on the present
site of the burned Odd Fellows building
The Telfair academy was the sits of the
colonial governors residence. The streets
are historic, taking on more republican
title when the colony was freed from royalty
King street was changed to President
street and Queen street TO Congress
street 1t is a city OF monuments to mill
tary heroes-Greene, Pulaski, Jasper,
and u monu nent to the confederate
soldiers Johnston and Sherman, Lee and
Grant have been here, and the uncrowned
king, Hoi. jefferson Davis. The Nartelle
tower on Tybee beach tells of Spanish i'll
vasion, Fort Pulaski of civil war, Bona-
venture Of Mulryne and Tattnall.
The speaker concluded In the following
vein in dealing with 'the most interesting
character-the drummer He said, amid
laughter and applause.
He is unique, picturesqe, useful and orna-
mental--a necessity and luxury. He is
neither young nor old, but his age like that
of a society belle is an unknown quantity
He is as strong to-day as when first went
in the wire-grass. He can bear fatigue,
and does bear it. He can bear everything
except his own expenses HIS personal ap-
pearance is attractive, and to none more so
than TO himself. He dresses well, usually
in the latest style, which at present consists
of a linen duster, a beaver hat, grip-sack,
and nothing more. His manners are good,
except he talks a little loud, but this
cones from the fact that some of
~ %
He is amiable, good-natured, full of energy,
with indomitable perseverance, a courage
that never fails him, an audacity that is
unparalleled, and judgment that is uu-
erring. With fair education, frequently
with the highest cultivation, he is particu-
larly well versed in current literature and
recent events; he knows men and the affairs
of men; he knows everything, or thinks he
does. He is at times lawyer and doctor,
a preacher and Sunday school teacher, a
politician and a farmer. In litigation he
always wins, for he is his own adviser; he
is the adviser of the J. p: he sleeps
with the jury aud he pays his
lawyer. He Is loyal to his friends, and
those who know him best trust him most.
Beneath the laugh he often hides tear,
and behind a gay song an earnest prayer.
Many broken-hearted father and SORROW
stricken mother have prayed God to bless
him for bringing home TO them their way
ward boys. He is full of wit and humor,
pathos and anecdote. He is charitable,
generous a d liberal He is social, fond of
pleasant company, takes drink when he
feels like it, and generally ne feels like it.
He is loyal not only to friend, but to his
honor and to his city. Like a sailo-, he has
a fair one in every port--she must be pretty
or rich--he prefers both, but will I le
either. in devotion 10 that SIX ne is at
times Don Juan, and again Don Quixote.
But his s,erlil- traits of character make
him al last the princely merchant, the pros
porous manufacturer, the wealthy banker,
the man who builds cities aud sometimes
commonwealths.n
PRESIDENT wEIsIGER'S RESPONSE.
President WeIsiger OF Augusta responded
in behalf II tAa association:
1T is no ordinary hpuor and privilege" "
he said go respond 70 words OK welcome
pronounced II Savannah. The hospitality
of Savannah Is proverb!al and lives in the
hearts Of those woo have enjoyed il as n
delicious memory The casual recipient
has only faint idea OF II. 1t must be
taken frequently and IN heroic Jses to bs
thoroughly enjoyed"
Afier referring pleasantly to the pleas
ure tha association took in meeting mere,
Mr. WeiSiger tarued to the commercial
traveller As the motive power OF CONNIE ce,
the life blood Of trade which places che as
sociation ia tho front rank Of the nations of
the earth. "While state craft and polit-
ical economy, "he added, " occupy the minds