The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-22
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to Stokes Hall.
The members OF the Durham Tobacco
Association were drawn up in double
column along our way, and stood with
hats off, with pleasant smiles OF greeting
and friendship upon their manly faces,
until We passed through their lines. This
WAS one of the most beautiful incidents
OF the whole occasion, and again doff
INV hat to those noble men, who looked
as grand as when they and their fathers
faced the flashing guns OF Gettysburg
and other fields immOrta1lzed by South
ern chivalry quarter of century ago.
We soon reached Stokes Hall-quite an
elegant one-very much like Burwell Hall
in Henderson, and were invited to seats
on the stage The Third Regiment
Band was present and rendered sweet Sc
lections at intervals. Some mistake had
been made about the announcement and
invitation to the ladies, and there We're
but few present. This was greatly to be
regretted 1t will be remembered that
Earth was wilderness, and the garden
wild,
And man the hermit sighed until woman
smiled"
Fortunately some of Durham's lovely
daughters were present, and we were
saved the pain of finding Stokes Hall a
wilderness of Inen-a desert without an
oasis, cloud without silver lining.
Capt. Thos Peay, vice President of the
Durham Tobacco Association, arose and
in suitable words introduced Mr.. Caleb B..
Green who then delivered a warm, ring
ing welcome.
In the course of his remarks he paid
Ir. Thad r. Manning editor of the GOLD
LEAF, very high and merited compli-
ment, and declared that Mr.. Manning
had ever labored with the utmost assid-
uity for the prosperity and improvement
of Henderson, saying in effect, that he
ought.to receive the utmost encourage
ment and support from the citizens of
Henderson and Vance county, and ever
have a warm place in the hearts OF all
labors in behalf of the said county and
town.
Mr.. W. H. Walker, President OF the
Henderson Tobacco Association, was
then introduced. His speech was humor
Gus, was happily delivered, and evoked
hearty applause 1t was unique and en-
tirely original and no doubt spontaneous
and immediate. Thanks to a good men,
Ory am able to recall the whole of it
and spread it's beauties on GOLD LEAF.
"Ladies and gentlemen, do not claim
to be much of a speaking man. We are
taught in our business, you know, to see
all we can, to hear all we can, to learn all
we can, to make all we can, and to keep
what we know to ourselves.
II am happy to see so many ladies
here to-day. No, | mean | am glad to
see a few here No, of course | didn't
NEAR | am glad there are Il few here. |
am glad there are ut least a few here.
Il had prepared an address for the
ladies, but their number being so small,
fear that my remarks might be consid-
cred personal, SO l shall be forced to deny
myself the pleasure of presenting them
with the bouquets of rhetoric which | had
so carefully prepared.
Mr.. Alexander Walker of Durham fol-
lowed Mr. ". H. Walker and made n
strong argument in favor OF the raising
of sun cured tobacco, with which to con-
tend with, and finally drive out the White
Burly tobacco, which he said had invaded
and entrenched itself in our territory
since wehad been raising exclusively, fue
cured tobacco.
Your writer then had the honor of
making few remarks, after which we
proceeded to the gigantic factory OF W.
Duke Sons & Co., over which we were
teous manner by Messrs. Brodie and Ben
Duke cannot now attempt to describe
this mammoth factory, it's details and
mOdus operandi. One must study it to I'M
derstand it, One must see it to beliee it.
| will say en- pdssdnt however, that it is
thelargest cigarette factory in the world
and in it are made the finest cigarettes
on the market.
Twenty-four great machines are en-
gagged in making the cigarettes. They
turn out two millions per day.
The cigarette is rolled, stamped with
Nv. Duke, Sons & Co." by a printing
press somewhere in the complicated
mechanism, cut off and thrown into a
box, all, by the machine. This machine
was invented by a young man living near
Lynchburg, Va, before he was % years
of age. w. Duke, Sons & Co. expended
last year in advertising alone, 5000, OOO
and will, they say, expend this year,
about one million dollars.
The engine which runs all the machin-
cry of this vast establishment, is q thing
OF great beauty and power.
The business Office is said to be the
finest in the South.
From Dukes, we went to that gigantic
establishment, the Blackwell Smoking
Tobacco Factory, J. S. Carr, President 1t
is the largest smoking tobacco factory in
the world. Hero we heard some sweet
music from the well known ''Dowd choir, >
There are but few mechanical wonders
described in the browning City," or in
''She'' Or in the ''Queen OF the Toltus,'' or
in any one of the many books of
fiction wherein the authors exercise their
luxuriant imaginations, that are not
equaled and surpassed by the wonders to
be seen in the factories, in Durham North
Carolina.
saw the new residences OF the Dukes
W. Duke, Esq, and his son, Mr. Ben
Duke. They are magnificent, elegant
and tasty in every way. The decora-
tons, and particularly the wall finish,
and a frescoe OF flying cherubsia the mouse
of Mr.. Ben Duke, are works OF art, and it
is worth trip to Durham to see them,
alone.
We all regretted very much that Major
John {. Winder was not with us, but
that clever, polished, popular gentleman
and most excellent railroad agent, Capt.
Henry Macy, was present.
The hour of three having arrived we
FASTENED to the banquet at the Hotel
Claiborn. 1t was elegant in every respect
and worthy the splendid hospitality of
our Durham friends. The tables were
beautifully decorated with ported flow
ers, and loaded down with fruits and
substantials, wines and desserts.
After the banquet an Informal meeting
was held at which, Col. f. J. Parrish, that
prince OF clever, courtly gentlemen, made
an eloquent address. 1t was determined
to hold these meetings each year, and to