Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-19

quite evidently in distress from the
weight ne carried staggered to the
speakers table, lifted his burden until
! it was visible, the orchestra quickened
it's air of Georgia Camp Meetin," and
posum, the like to which has surely
never before been seen, was presented
to the president-elect The banquet had
atty had been broken. and the spon-
taniety that made the banquet such a
success broke into evidence.
A plentiful helping of Georgia 'possum
and potatoes was given Mr.. Taft, then
from every side appeared walters with
'possum and potatoes, and the dish that
only Georgia can boast in its height of
perfection was served to everyone.
Meanwhile the Georgia Camp Meetin' .
put the mind in the right attitude to per-
NIT of the appetite being whetted to the
highest deree. ~
The minstrelsy of the ministry and the
bar began at this jucture. President Asa
G.. Gambler, of the chamber of commerce,
master of ceremonies, suggested that DR..
James W. Lee, of the Trinity Methodist
church, could sing a song of the Georgia
'posum that would better show Mr. Taft
what that tidbit was and how highly 1t
is to be appreciated. 1t was song of
the old ante-bellum days that DIR. Lee
fashion of singing to perfection. His
dialect, his Tone his manner were inim-
table. Mr. Taft listened with all ears
and was one of the loudest in his ap-
plause.
DIR. Landrum Sings
DR.. Landrum next turned troubadour
for the president-elect's amusement. 1t
was the story of the potato bug that he
immortalized in song. His vivid piece of
imitation rivalled that of DR.. Lee. Mr..
Taft had by this juncture forgotten that
his knife and fork lay unused by the side
of his plate and sat simply listening.
Judge Russell. of the court of appeals,
followed DR. Landrum and sang the song
of the watermelon. 1t was in choice
verse that he chronicled it's virtues. and
he ended by saying: II hope Judge Taft
will come back when we have the water
melon"
Judge Andy Calhoun, of the city court.
brought the impromptu bit of vaudeville
to az close first with the song that his
old negro nanny used to sing him to
sleep with. then with the sermon that
the hardshelI Baptist preacher preached.
With the end of the song, the apprecia-
; ton OF his hearers had been whetted to
an edge that demanded more, and. after
he had taken his seat he was recalled to
render the imitation of the preacher.
Taft Smile Appears
Then the serious work of oispatching
the dish of all dishes was begun. And
then it was that the Taft smile made its
first complete appearance. From the
beginning of the banquet. he had been
, the most jovial of the banqueters, but it
had been a hearty, jolly laugh he had
been giving, the happy smile, so far
famed. had been kept in reserve. With
the first SAVIOR of the 'possum, the first
evidence of the grin appeared The
SAVIOR was most reassuring and promis-
ng but the president-elect had had no
past experience will the delicacy THAI
smoked before him. He took a GIN
gerly nibble The smile broadened. He
tried again. The sparkle in his eyes
fairly lit up his face. He settled him
self more comfortably in his chair,
grasped his knife and fork, and the
'possum and potatoes fell as swiftly
before his attack as polnlcal opposition
did In the election just past Leaning
over to Governor Smith. he said "Fine!"
and the smile then was at its apex-a
perfect masterpiece.
Later, in the preface to his address, he
explained his attitude toward possum.
He said he had received a letter Friday
morning from Chicago, warning him that
possum is unclean food thorugh Biblical
injunction.
II sent for a Bible at the Piedmont. ("