The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-05-14


city upon this occasion Of your annual
session. Mindful OF the pleasure ap.
proach the discharge OF that duty with
misgivings FOR the reason that / fully
realize my utter inability to clotbe in
language the true sentiment which fills
the heart Of each citizen Of our town and
collected into one great pulsatine heart
throbs out from Madison and her people
to you az our guests. Had l at COM
mand the languages of the world 1
might hope to express, though teebly,
che welcome which we desire you 10 un-
derstand we feel for and accord to you.
"Welcone" A simple word but fill
cd with meaning, and by us at this time
and upon this occasion every signi ficancs
with which the word 10 endowed 10 pray.
ed TO be taken by you as an expression
OF the sentiment which Ellis our hearts.
In the good old daye-knowp TO many
OF you, 40 to me, more by tradition than
by actual living experience, Southern
| WNASohAV NCuhb bOmONbthks ~ hDbll US
our earnest effort to 30 impress you dur
ing your stay in our city with the SINGER
ity and full heartedness OF our welcome
that when you have departed 10 your
homes m the various cities Of our below
ed State, you may look back upon your
visit with tender memories, and carry
with you the consciousness that for
short while, at least, you have lived IN
the "days before the war; when every
Southern dwelling place was the temp.
orary home Of whomever might there
abide for season.
We extend to you as daughters Of
the South genuine Southern welcome.
We bid you make our homes you,
homes. our daily lives your lives, our
every comfort aud pleasure your com
forts and pleasures, And yet more:
We beg that you will not permit your
Inherent mo1esty to stand in the way
when there is not at hand something de-
sired by you. Let us know your re-
quirements-it will be our pleasure
to provide them. Our own ladies will
see to it that everything dear to the
feminine heart il provided for your
comfort and pleasure, and should it
happen that through excess Of zeal
upon their part something necessary
has been omitted, you have only to call
to your assistance any man whom you
may see passing, state your needs and
they will be Immediately supplied, for
we are all eager to do your bidding,
In the days Of chivslry when Kings
and Knights we're wont to pay ceremo-
NAL visits to neighborlng cities it was
the custom among the chief magistrates
to deliver the keys Of his city TO his
visitor that he might come and go at
his own good pleasure. l do not re-
member to have read in history, sacred
or nrnfane, where this privilege has ev-
er been accorded 20 woman, but this is
a good time and place to establish a
precedent and, exercising an official
prerogatve, deliver 10 you, Madam
President, for your own use and the use
Of the delegates and visitors to this con-
yention, the keys Of our city, With one
Injunction only, which is that you will
please not exercise that prerogatiye Pc
culiar to woman and lose the entire
bunch
And now, IN conclusion, in the name Of
Madison ana her people, again bid you
a Joyous welcome. In you we recognize
sisters and workers IN common cause,
women loyal and devoted to right and
justice, the medium by and through
which our cause will yet triumph and
our heroes receive that measure OF
praise and applause to which their val
orous deeds upon the fields OF battle en-
title them, May your deliberations be
prodnctive-of additional comfort TO the
veteran and may your every further Of.
fort be crowned with increased glory
aud success,