Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-09-04
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF DUNS-
MORE'S BUSINESS COLLEGE,.

to the public was the admirable address de
livered in the Opera-House on Friday nigh
by Hon. John w. Daniel, the accomplished
orator, who makes able, interesting, and elo
quent addresses on every conceivable subject
He seems to be always ready and thoroughly
prepared on all occasions to interest, delight
and instruct his audience. Though mucl
had been expected, the anticipations of the
most sanguine were excelled by his address OF
this occasion. 1t was able, learned, and elo
quent, and those who did not hear it missed
an intellectual treat. The pleasure of the oc
cason was added to by the excellent musi
furnished at intervals by the Stonewal
Brigade Band under the leadership of its &C
complished Director, Joseph NJ. Brereton.-
The audience, composed of ladies and gentle
men, filled the Opera House-stage, audi
torium, and balcony.
After music by the Band, and the arrival Of
the orator of the occasion, the proceeding
were opened with an appropriate prayer by
Rev. ]. c. Jet, Rector of Emmanuel Church
The President of the Alumni Association
Mr.. Kenneth Mccoy, made an interesting re
pOTI VI tut NOlh VI buO NOllOSC, III WjICI h'
said there had been 1000 students and ,l0(
graduates
Hon. H St. G. Tucker then said it was moi
his purpose to introduce, for that is unneces
sary, but simply to present the orator, and in
doing so paid handsome compliments both tc
the College and the orator it had selected tC
address the Alumni As ISOLATION on that occa
sion-the choice being peculiarly appropriate,
as Mr.. Daniel IN his book had done more than
any one else to clarify- the business and COM
mercial law of the land.
The Band then played "Dixie," and when
Mr. Daniel arose, he was greeted with great
enthusiasm. Abiding to the complimentary
manner in which Tucker had introduced him,
he said he hoped the audience would give him
time to get out of the flowers Tucker had
heaped upon him, and said if he ever found
Tuc ker in similar scrape he would treat him
in like manner.
He then entered upon his address.
Not having taken any notes, and wishing
our readers to be able to form some idea of
his address, we copy the report of the News
which gives the skeleton which Daniel clothed
with flesh and blood and made it a living,
and speaking entity.
Major Daniel said it had been said MANY
thousand years ago that he who was diligent
in his business would stand before the king
The kings of the earth in the 10Th century are
the business men. This age has been de-
scribed by many adjectives: has been called
The age of freedom. 1t has been called an age
Of enlightenment We have called it an age
hn If
reason. 1t has been called an age of law.
Whatever kind of age it may be, there is one
hing. it is pre- eminently, conspicuously, the
age of business. For over hundred years the
loors of America have been swung open to
he commerce of the world. America meant,
IS Emerson said, opportunity
Business in the early and primary sense is
he art of making meat and bread. In this
lge it means adding to the meat and bread the
uXuries of life. The richest man in New York
AN eat but one dinner day to his comfort.
The richest man in the world can wear but one
pair of shoes at time. The wages of the man
n business are always increasing under all
orms of currency. There is so much demand
n this world for skilled labor and the de-
nand is so great that his wages are always ad
RANGING. Business is democrat. The only
est of business is what man can do. In the
I'D age it was the strong man who was the
iristocrat. The lawyer came as the aristocrat.
lay you don't ask what is mans long pedi-
,ree, how much is he worth, but what can be
TO- Any kind of aristocracy that is not found
d on the merit of the man and what he can
10, is merely visionary. Major Daniel then
cad the petty employments to which the de-
cendents of the early English barons and
are now reduced.
When we read the history of the great men
Who have founded empires, led in battle, you
will find that they were great business men.
There was one business man in the beginning
# this century and he was Napoleon Bo
laparte, who made generals out of men ire
pective of birth, and opened the doors of ad-
and merit to whoever showed ca
,acity. Napoleon knew business better than
my other man who was dealing with him.
George Washington was the greatest bust
less man America ever produced. He was a
business man when yet boy He was a
business man when II years of age. He left
lay by Lord Fairfax. Another of the best
business men was Thomas jefferson, who as
PRESIDENT of the United States went down to
he market house every morning.
All the questions of the day are business
luestions Major Daniel enumerated all the
living questions of the day and showed that
hey were all business questions. Commerce,
civilization, The English army and navy, the
after the greatest in the world, is but a police
orce for the British business men.
The rise of the British Empire is the most
feat in the history of the world
4 little island in the Northern seas, in less
han thousand years, has stretched its en-
,ire over the whole world.
If you are a young man, don't look for ia
7ors from your relatives. If you expect to
ucceed come down to the rock bottom and
you must rely on yourself. Stonewall Jack
on had motto which he wrote down in his
,ook, "a man may be what he will be-"
Honesty is the soul of business" / pity
rom the bottom of my heart the man who
elies on anything else and expects permanent
uccess.
Life is chance, but Providence has put all
he chances on the part of honor, virtue, in
egrity and honesty. Go outside of the realm
# these into speculation, and you fight the
iger, with all the chances on the side of the
Tiger.
Impressing the fact that success lies in steady
md legitimate channels rather than in specula-
ion, Major Daniel said: Look at the unin-
labited hotels on the hilltops throughout Vir-
,inia, the cornfelds turned into streets and
avenues and the pretty pieces of paper held by
'he boomers, which were fair to look upon
out full of dead mems bones. He related the
Incident of Lynchburg policeman who
bought lottery ticket of tramp for half
dollar and drew therefrom $4,000, how he re-
signed from the force and went into specula-
ION, lost his S5U,U UU, his nome, and when last
heard from was working a day laborer in
Roanoke. Other instances of the baneful eff
fects of speculation were given.
Lynchburg was once modest, quiet town,
out the steady and legitimate enterprise of its
citizens had built it up. and one of the men
who had worked successfully and become a
factor was John NJ. Carroll. of Staunton.
But for the civil war Virginia would have
been one of the foremost states in the Union
The South during that war had 100000 bust
ness men. If you would ask me who were
hose 600 coo business men, | would say the
SOC, 600 Confederate soldiers. They were men
who turned from the arts of peace and during
four years of war, after many battles and VIC
,ories. during which they were never driven
rom battlefield in confusion, finally laid down
heir arms worn out with defeating the armies
opposing them.
OF all the blessings that come to man was
The faculty for work, and continued Mr..
Daniel, Il thank God for the privilege of
working" One should so work as to be able
20 say he could do that work better than any
one else, and then that person would find
pleasure in his work
Major Daniel said that he had often thought
hat the education of youth was begun back
wards, that their minds were frescoed with
Greek and Latin poetry instead of the solid
stone work of the foundation. Houses" said
Lord Bacon, ARE made to live i'm The first
consideration should be adaptablity for the