Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-02-06

Nieht-oood Speaking and a Merry
Time.
The firm of Durham Brothers.
wholesale and retail boot and shoe
dealers. held their annual salesmens
school last week Thursday and Fri
day. and the occasion closed, as
usual with a banquet at the Brooks
House Friday evening, given by the
firm to their employees and invited
guests. The company gathered at
the store at s o'clock. and went in
body to the Brooks House and were
ushered into the dining ROOM where
Ga covers had been laid. The tables,
prettilv decorated with flowers and
ferns were arranged with one long
table across the upper end of the hall,
at which were seated on the upper
side the members of the firm and in
vited guests. At right angles 10 IhiS'
a long table ran down through the
nall giving all a chance to see ana
hear.
After grace had been said, an hour
and a half was spent in dlscussloh
and enjoyment of the excellent am
ner of seven courses whlch was
served. while good-fellowshlp aDounu-
ed. This essential part OF the pro
gram over, Mr.. G. l.. Durham calleu
the company to order, and by way Oh
brief introduction said 1t gave MIN
great pleasure to look into the faces
of all these people on such an aus,
picious occasion. He congratulated
the company individually ana coileC-
lively on the prosperous year which
oil a
had pasSed and extended TO all d
hearty welcome. Assuming then MS
duties as postmaster, Mr.. Duhhaii'
with a sly allusion to certain eNl,
dences of business ability when hau
developed in his elder brotner at
very early age, introduced {. w. Dun
ham as the first speaker OF the even
ing. with EARLY Beginnings as MS
theme.
Mr.. Durham, after getting even
with his brother in paying OH Ialllly
scores, spoke in very earnest way Oh
the pride it gave him to look at the
long lines of young men and women
before him. The time was, ne salu'
not so very long ago, when he repre-
scented in his own person the whole
travelling force of the concern, put
now if took - good men to represent
Dunham Brothers. The questions ne
psed IN meet were who in blank are
Won and who in blank are Dunham
brothers. and where in blank is Brat
tleboro. anyway? That time has
gone by, and the statesmen of Dun
ham Brothers have put Brattleboro on
the man to stay. Mr. Durham be-
lieyed the firm had got the best sales
men on the road, and the success
which has been achieved was due to
these statesmen and to the goods or
the Mishawaka Wooden company. HIS
words of recognition of the loyal SER
vices of all the firms employees were
spoken in the broadcast and strongest
way. In conclusion he spoke of the
efforts of the rubber trust to throttle
the Ball Band concern, and in clos
ing illustrated his point with hui
morous story of the bear hunter on
whom the bear turned the tables and
brought him to terms of prayerful
duplication.
The list of speakers who followed
Mr.. Durham and the toasts to which
they responded were:
l.. NJ. Graves, Rhode Island"
w. IL. Lyman, The Pine Tree State"
Edmund Putnam, Boston Inside out.
F. c. ellison, Ball Band"
w. i. DunleaVy, Hood Rubbers.'
+. S. Knight. "Our Past Record"
J. A. Greenwood, 1903
o. r. Butterfield, our New Posses
sions"
H. e. Hamilton, The Strenuous Life
r. w. Lowell, THE Ladies'"
w. A. Greasy. THE Gloucester Fisher
men"
o. d. Stowell, My Impressions of the
School at Mshawaka"
J.. L. Durham, work the Condition
of Success"
C. w. r. Hill, The Boot and Shoe
Trade"
II. r. Durham, The Lay of the Bal
Band Boots"
NJ " BIGGER The Conditions of Sue
cess
OF these speakers, eight were from
the ranks of the Durham Brothers
travelling statesmen, and their speech
es abundantly proved their right tC
be counted in the ranks of the bright
young men of their craft. Each had
his own point to make; each made II
squarely and effectively, and to man
these speakers proved the belief OF
these statesmen in the work they are
doing There was no chance for
doubt that they believe in Durham
Brothers, in the Ball Band" goods, in
the future of the concern, and in theiI
own ability and loyal purpose to hell
assure the firms success. There was
a generous seasoning of fun, but un
derneath the serious purpose was
constantly evident
Mr.. Stowell and Mr.. Knight spoke
from the inside as employees of the
store, the connection of Mr., Stowel
dating back to the time when he was
the firms only clerk. His long and
valuable services have been recog
nized in the important confidential
position which he now holds. He at
tended a few weeks ago the annua
school at Mishawaka, and it was o.
this that he spoke after Mr.. Dun
hams introduction of him as young
man who for II years has been faith
full to every trust, and who now bears
a large share of the responsibility.
OF the Mishawaka goods, he said
with assured confidence, in closing
"All we have to do in future is II
lead the procession and let the trus
bring up the rear" Mr.. Knight, the
next oldest man in continuous ser
vice. was appropriately chosen to tel
of the firms growth, and his figures
are quoted later on.
o. II. Butterfield's theme, "Our New
Possessions" was apropos to the fac
that the Greenfield retail store ha