Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-13
MR.. WILLIAMS
BIG RECEPTION
Music, Song and Speech the
Order of the Afternoon.
THE ADDRESS OF Mr.. PORTER

Martin Sing SwcetIy-A rIcn.nn,
Occasion Was the IiniIund Concord
at Night.
Yesterday was the day set for the
opening OF Mr.. o. L.. Williams mann
moth stables. Old Jupiter fluvius did
not smile upon the day but sent us
all kinds OF weather-rain, hail ana
snow, but Mr.. Williams, on this coca
sion. like many others, would not be
outdonc. and went on with the arrange
nents The same as il IL was one OF
the prottiest days that nature could
provide; and ut the appointed hour, 3:3n
o'clock, the exercises were begun. Fully
four hundred persons were present, in
Guiding members of the City Council
prominent residents of the city ana
county, and a large number of ladies
and children from both places The
entertainment began with IL selection
by the band. This was followed by a
snort talk from Mr.. John ". II. Porter
which is herewith attached. The band
then played chioce selection from one
OF tie operas. Miss Lena May E.dmcnds
sang a song of her own selection. and
| beng loudly encored, she sang Il Love
Only You She was followed by Mss
RIO Martin. who sang sweetly and, like
Miss Edmonds, in answer to an
Story Ever Toid.'' The entertain
ment then closed with a selection by
lac band, after which cream ana cake
vcTc SITvoCi ~ TIC iattics tn tf11,.e " ~
remained TO get it. Nj 400 o'clock a
parade. representing all branches of the
business i'll which Mr.. Williams is en-
gagged was formed. headed by the Sol
diers' Homo Band. In wagons ana
marched through Il number of streets.
This orded the afternoon exercises.
Mr. Williams was the recipient Of
numerous congratulations on all sides
for his energy perseverance, and pluck
III business and the great success
winch he has achieved. lie is a live
Wide-aWake man, ana too much can
not be said in his behalf lie is worthy
OF imitation by our young men. Ac-
compauists. Miss Gaskins and Mrs.
Irene F1theredge
MIR. pORTDR'S ADDRESS.
Ladies and gentlemen:
The subject Of orr sketch and projec-
tor Of this evenings entertainment.
stands yonder before You. in ali tho
PRIDE of young manhood. beauty and
success. Seventeen years ago he came
| TO this city from PasQuotank. where
| the bun frogs are said to jump from
| bank to bank. PasIuotanlI Is said to
| be mighty good place 10 be born in.
nut mighty good place to come away
from. our friend succeeded in gather
ing together two dollars and twenty
seven cents. which. by the way, WAS
said to have been all of the available
money in the county at the time. and.
shaking its dust from his shoes. he
started out into the wide wide world.
and following along thu line of the ca
nal bank. he came 10 Portsmouth,
where ne decided TO rest
When YOU come 10 think Of 1t, two
dollars and twenty-seven cents arc not
such q great amount OF cents. but he
| brought with him n great deal Of an
other kind Of cents, the kind q man
carries in his head and not in his nock
cts. In fact. his head was full and run
ming oyer With that kind Of cents It
taught him not only to embrace every
opportunity which presented itself. but
10 20 10 work to make other oppor-
tunites to he embraced.
He saw an opening in grocery store
and went through it into the store and
there proposed to the prourl tor 10 en-
ploy him as Z. clerk. Principal among,
the articles kept in the store were yeast
powders, and. by constantly handling
these. he began 10 he imbued with a de-
- -I-ll---a La
walls Of tho store We're hung around
with meats and the sight OF these hang
ing there suggested 10 him the idea Of
going into business "On his own hook"
one great stumbling block stood in
the way and the lack OF capital but
this he determined TO borrow. and thus
he 'saddlcd" himself with debt. He
fell no hesitation. however. in doing
this for the reason that his business
was stable" ana. having thus mar
messed" himself up To- the car Of pro-
grcss. it was not long before il became
";eeming' with prosperity and wealth
began coming to him by the cart
load"
About this time there presented IT.
self TO him another opportunity. There