Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-03
tic view IN dealing with the latter part

Hon. Baker. p. Lee, Judge Of the
Elizabeth City County Court. responded
to the toast. "An Ancient Srlire-The
County Of Elizabeth City" He called
this old colonial shire the brightest
gem In the old colony
In responding 10 the toast, THE
Peninsula--At Once Historic and Pro-
gressiye. Hon. d. Gardiner Tyler gave
q brief outline of the events that have
made the Virginia peninsula the land
Of memories and history. He referred
TO the fact that almost in stones throw
to Phoebus the American troops under
washington secured the birthrlght OF
living under a government OF their
own making. The peninsula, he said.
was filled with the ghosts Of mighty
past, and engarlanded by an active and
fertile future. I'VE stand now here"
ne said, mot in the new era. but in the
continuation OF an era of increased
greatness and progress"
GOV. TYLER SPEAKS.
Governor Tyler responded to the
toast, 'The Commonwealth of Vir-
Sinia." He said in part:
In these modern days Virginia cities,
down here on the Eastern shore, spring
up so fast that scarcely one has bloom
ed before another puts forth Its bud.
Newport News and Hampton have not
more than opened in their morning
glory beauty when Phoebus watts forth
her fragrance on the-Sreeze, and, with
softness of kiss, waves happy SAL
utation to her sisters In the rival race
TO greatness. Let these older sisters
take care lest they soon be dstanced
In the race. But this is an occasion for
more serious thought: many speeches
have been made, and are to be made,
and my subject demands at least few
outline touches.
THE Commonwealth! This embraces
all the word implics-people, land,
mountains. seas, farm and CITY. ripping
rill and rolling rivers, the merry music
Of the song-bird and the stirring
strains of the winds as they sweep
through the Aeolian harps of the forest,
and the sweetness that is exhaled from
every flower.
I'VE are proud of our Commonwealth
for all she Is, for all she has been and
for all she contains within her borders.
She has given to the nation its great
est warriors, Its greatest statesmen,
and the first principles of constitutional
and religious liberty. All that was
greatest and most glorious in this
grand Republic was given by men who
sprang from the loins OF the sons of
our grand "Old Commonwealth"
Scarcely three hundred years ago
that vast domain, of which we are a
part, was chartered by the English
King and started the march of human
progress on these shores. Twas then
the red mans land; 1t was where he
roamed and hunted and fished and
where his children romped and played
at Will, and where he titled his maize
and the blue skies swept over him in
peace; but moon has indeed made Il
change-the deep forest and shining
rivers know Kiwassa no more. The
hunting trail is marked out by the rail-
road, and the shouts of the war dance
have given place to the piping notes of
peace. These waters, over which one
time iloated the rude canoe OF the wild
man, now team with ships freighted
with the commerce of the world; these
shores. where the tall pine played to
the winds, now reSound with the indus
trlous hum of mighty enterprises. In
stead of the tommy-hawk' we have
the 'tilt-hammer'; instead of the bow
and arrow we have the Mauser and the
Krupp gun; instead Of the spear, point
ed with the spur of the wild turkey.
fastened with the glue of the deer's
horn. we have the torpedo boat and the
man-of-war. The beavers tooth as an
implement of the husbandman has
given way to the steam pillow, and the
sein and fsh-pond takes the place of
the pin-hook and the gig. and the call
of the Conch shell has been silenced by
the tick of the telegraph and the voice
Of the telephone. All! what mighty
progress Imarks our onward step and
what may not the future hold. We are
proud OF our grand Old Common
wealth."
OTHER TOASTS.
The next speaker was Hon. Charles
Il. Bland. OF Portsmouth. who re-
sponded to the toast, 1.-The Tidewater
Endowed with Natures Gifts" Mr..
BANDS description of the Virginia
Tidewater section. which he declared
was Gods chosen part of Virginia, was
well received by the audience.
1.-THE Eighth judicial Circuit, Where
Justice is Administered and Law Has
Full Sway" This toast was responded
to In an inimitable manner by Judge
]. w. G.. Blackstone, OF Accomac coun-
ty, who kept his hearers laughing dur
ing his speech.
College was responded to by President
Lyon G.. Tyler. OF that institution. He
pointed to the fact that 1t Is coming to
be more generally recognized that cdu-
cation is necessary to material prog
ress.
Mr.. John Whitehead OF Norfolk, asso-
ciate editor of the Journal OF Com
merce. responded to the toast TO the
Press as a Factor of To-day"
Impromptu speeches were made by
Hon. e. I1. Montague. Mr.. Kelly, Nf
Newport News, MIR. l.. T.. Causey and
ex-Mayor Richardson, of Hampton.
These speeches ended the days exer-
cises.
OFFICIALS OF THE TOWN.
The officials of Phoebus are John A.
White, Mayor; Edgar NJ. Tennis, Treas
urer; Louis r. Furness, Clerk; Joseph
II. Mastin, Sergeant.
The Councilmen are Reuben o.
Clarke and Captain ]. n. Smith. from
the First Ward; Frank A. Kearney and
Edward G. Kaiser. Second Ward; Ed
ward Duschere. William II. Shelton and
L I'LL IL