The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-04-14
Loving Cup Presented

promising pleasant weather for the ex-
ercises to be held atthe Soldiers Home,
when the Board of Trade would pre-
sent to the Hon. W. P. Brownlow a
loving cup, as testimonial OF the
great work he has done for our town.
Notice was given that the exercises
would be held in the magnificent new
Mess-hall, at 1880 p m, but long be-
fore that time crowds of people began
to fill the cars of the johnson City
Traction Co., vending their way to-
wards the Home. Ye scribe waited on
the streets for nearly an hour before he
could find a car on which to make the
trip, without swinging on the running
boards, and even then had to stand on
the rear platform of one that was filled
almost to suffocation with good .nNtured
humanity.
Much praise is due to the Traction
Company for the admirable manner in
which it handled the large crowd, and
as much is due to the crowd itself for
the excellent temper and pleasing con-
duct displayed under such circum-
stances.
The large, commodius and fine hall
was brilliantly lighted by electric
lamps, and under a canopy at one side,
sat the president of the Board of Trade,
the orator of the occasion, the guest to
! be honored, the Governor of the Home
and others. Near by were the seats Of
the Board of Trade, of the Brownlow
Rifemen who were in uniform and
invited guests; while around these
were seated large audience, composed
of the beauty and chivalry of our town.
Other towns were represented by
some of their best citizens, and across
, the aisle, facing the speakers, sat the
old soldiers of the Home. The Home
band discoursed sweet music and kept
the audience in good humor, until the
hour for the exercises to begin, and il
would be hard to find twelve and more
: hundred people better behaved and
: more orderly than were those who
honored with their presence and good
wishes that occasion.
Y At about o'clock, p M, L. E. Ellis
worth, president of the Board of Trade
introduced Mr.. John II. Bowman, ont
' of our most prominent lawyers, as tht
L orator of the evening.
We have not the space in which t.
give such an outline of Mr.. Bowman
G speech as will go him justice. Tit
consensus of opinion is that the orato
i covered himself with glory, and thu
theme of his grafton, the Hon. W. p
Brownlow, with we'll deserved praises
The presentation of the magnifcen
cup, given by the Board of Trade, wa
, made by Mr.. Bowman ON behalf of the
l. Board, in choice and appropriate lang
r. uage; expressing the gratitude Of tn
/
Board, and in fact of all our people
for the magnificent work dore by Mr.
Brownlcw for our town in securing 70
us the location of the Home here, anC
10 foI his ever earnest and untiring effort
n to build up and foster the country an,
10 welfare of his constituents.
That Mr.. Brownlow was deeply al
- fected by the affection and gratitud
shown him was very evident, and tn
> short speech, which he had intende
to make, was turned into heartfelt re
cital of what he had tried to do for hi
's people, of his love for and interest i
l. them and of his belief in and hope 70
q the future growth of johnson City
- He told of the great glory gained b.
Tennesseans for Tennessee and tn
l. whole union, in the many great crise
e that have come upon our country; Q
is how not one dissenting vote was cas-
ia against the adoption of the bill to es
=. tablish home on its soil for the bene
~ fit of the Southern soldiers of tn
y union; paid noble tribute to the dc
. tenders of the national flag, and the
e boquet, perfumed with praise, goo
" will, charity and love to the old cor
federrtes.
1t Eas noble occasion for Joenso
u City and was enjoyed and appreciate
ct fully as such by our people, The nm
v. Der attending the ceremonies has bee
n. variously estimated, but we have bee
informed that there were seats fc
twelve hnndre d, perhaps few mere
d. and those standing in the hall coul
not hardly have numbered over tw
hundred. Therefore, we would fix th
10 number at from twelve to fourtee
at hundred.
I'D After the ceremony of presentatio
was over, there was an informal recer
lg ton, when many shook the congress
1T mans hand and expressed in person
the sentiments that had already bee
more eloquently expressed by the ors
81 tor OF the evening.
III That Mr.. Brownlow was pleased an
H. flattered by the sincere affection an
IL regard exhibited towards him goe
"a without saying. He would be less tina
human were it otherwise, and being
n warm-hearted and genial gentlemen
a we are delighted to believe that the OF
C. casion was to him one of great pleas
al ure. Any man of feeling should b