The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-15

There were early breakfasts in many
Roanoke households yesterday morning.
The reason was everybody wanted to see
tho President.
AS early as o'clock people began to
gather about the Union depot and for
some time before the Presidential spe-
cial train arrived the long platforms
around the station were thronged with
people. Bevies of pretty girls occupied
all the available space in tho windows
of buildings overlooking the station and
many crowded about the depot.
When the Presidential special pulled
up to the station, at 0 o'clock, several
thousand people were eagerly watching
for glimpse of the chief executive of
tho nation.
The observation car, Vacuna, stopped
opposite the dining room of the Union
| station, and as President Harrison
stepped upon the platform, the people
that crowded tho narrow space between
the remainder of tho train and the
station made rush for position in
which they could behold the object of
oAOAa Oui AOoioJs ~ WAC Will SOulC
Guilty that tho police kept the people
back and prevented tho weaker ones
from being trampled under foot
AS the President barred his head in
tho presence of the people he was given
hearty cheer. but there was lack of
enthusiasm. Many pressed forward
immediately, and then began tho ordeal
that has made many President swear
with a sore arm. However, before
hand-shaking proceeded long there were
calls for speech, and as soon as the
buzz of excitement was still the Presi-
dent Strengthened himself and proceeded
as follows:
My Fellow Citizens: desire to thank
you for this friendly greeting. The
State of Virginia is entitled to be placed
high in the estimation of other states
for its great history and the contribu-
tions 1T has made to the history of the
whole nation.
s'For personal reasons can never fail
to love the state Of my father. I am
glad to be here this morning to con-
gratulate you upon tho wonderful
developments which are going on in this
great commonwealth. You not only
have an illustrious history behind you,
but you have before you prospects of
development in material growth, in
"So'eh anu PtOoPCIiCy anu all LQ2U
makes great state such as could never
enter to the imagination of those who
laid the foundations of this great COM
monwealth. (Applause.)
IL think you are now aroused now to
tho realization OF the benefits of di-
versified indus tries. In the oldcn times
Virginia was plantation State |
hope she may never cease to have agri-
culture, which is the foundation of all
statehood, but l rejoice with you that
she has added to agriculture the pro-
duction OF coal, tho development of iron
ana coal, is now working products that
enter into all the uses of life. 1t is out
OF this bringing together of these diver
sified industries that you are achieving
great growth. l see wonderfully
illustrated about me here to-day, a
future which mole of us can fully
realize.
I'm all these things we have a common
interest. beg to assure you this beauti-
full morning, personally and officially,
that everything that tends to promote
the stability of your government, the
social order Of your people, the develop
ment and Increased prosperity of the
State of Virginia, and that l am in
hearty sympathy with YOU"
The speech was heartily applauded
at the conclusion and then there were
continued calls for "Wanamaker. The
only reply of tho affable postmaster
general was his politest bow with a
significant wave of his hand, voluntar-
lily in the direction of the postoffice.
However, that bow was cheered to the
echo and it was evident that Roanokers
remembered what the PHILADELPHIA
merchant did for Roanoke when the
public building bill was pending and
had not forgotten the fact that Mr..
Wanamaker contemplatcs selling his
dry goods in Roanoke on a more extern
sive scale. He crowds the mails and
express lines with them now, but will
soon have them sold over his own coun-
tors in the Magic City.
Tho President drew the crowd and
MIR. Wanamal1er attracted much atten-
ton. While the latter has digniied
bearing he doesn't look like lord or n
minister. description of his personal
appearance is almost unnecessary, the
newspaper cut having got in its work so
thoroughly that he was instantly recog-
lied even by many of the children. lie
is slightly above the average stature,
with clean shaver face and pleasant
countenance. He has prominent nose
that is the climax of the features that
distinguish him as thorough business
man.
Mr.. Wanamaker has MANY aeouaint-
ances in Roanoke and was kept busy
shaking hands with them. He took the
opportunity to step down and shake
hands with many ladies that pressed
around, and he smiled in recognition of
his dry goods that made up the pretty
spring costumes of the ladies.
In the meantime tho President woa