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

right But I believe with what Loweii
said in his BigelowS papers: They didn'
know everything in Judea-
Billy 'Possum's Debut
Just as the last bit Of baked possum
had been made way with. a wooden re-
minder made its appearance It was a
gift from Miss Willie Taylor, of Atlanta
to Judge Taft. 1t was the debut OF
Billy Postum, successor to Teddy Bear
The toy had been made entirely by, Miss
Taylor and is an excellent likeness Of its
quickened brothers that hang by rat
like tails from persinmon branches. 1t is
the destined exterminator of the. Teddy
bear Henceforth Youngsters may no
longer cuddle brown balls of bears in
their arms. but rolly-pully, grinning
'possums. On the ~woolen l'possum was
pinned the following verse, which is an
acrostic. The first letters of each line, II
taken in succession, spell TAFT:
Through many chase I have escaped
the hunters far and near.
Alas. TO see my kindred dead; and here's
the 'simmon beer.
Fresh tears will fall upon these biers-
God save the Nations toy,
Then help our Billy so to rule he'll be
the nations joy"
Banquettcrs Sing
Toward the close of the banquet itself.
there was a spontaneous action on the
oughly what a sincere. and informal spirit
inspired it. The orchestra began to play
Home, Sweet Home and everyone be-
gan to sing. The music changed to MY
Old Kentucky Home" and the singing
continued. Then to Dear Old Georgia. p
and the voices swelled out stronger than
ever.
President Asa G.. Gambler, of the cham
Der of commerce, was POSTMASTER. The
speakers were Mr.. Gambler, Mayor Mad
dox, Governor Smith, Judge Thomas G..
Jones, ex-governor OF Alabama. and Unit
ed States judge of the circuit court of
Alabama, and President-elect William
Howard Taft.
Mr.. Gambler first presented Mayor Mad
dox. His presentation speech was very
able statement of the commercial advant-
ages of the south. of it's possibilities, of
, the death of sectional feeling between the
states, and, in conclusion, contained a
hearty welcome to the president-elect.
Mayor Maddox's address was pithy, cpl
grammatic and witty. The welcome he
extended to Judge Taft was hearty and
appropriate. He. too. spoke of the dead
sectional feeling, pictured the awakened
condition of the south. and pointed TO a
bright future.
Governor Smiths address was pointed
and striking and embodied as did the
address Of each other speaker. warm
welcome to Judge Taft. In introducing
Governor Smith, Mr.. Gambler said:
What the governor of North Carolina
said to the governor of South Carolina
was question that was once vital with
import, but what more nearly concerns
us tonight is what will the governor Of
Georgia say to the next president of the
United States"
Judge Jones followed Governor Smith.
then the president himself was intro
duced AS he rose the light of the big
flag back of him flashed and died. maxi
ing it seem to ripple in triumph, the pic
| ture burst forth the crowd cheered, and
the tribute was complete.
A Mastery Address
Mr. Taft began with a preface to his
written address, in which he did honor to
the excellent qualities of Georgia pos
sum. Then he began the address he had
prepared. II was mastery, especially In
his statement of what his policy to the
south will be. In regard to his appoint
ments he said that. they shall be such as
will not conflict the southern sentiments;
and that in all things. the fact that the
south has viewpoint OF its own will be
considered.
His voice is clear. his delivery careful
and deliberate, his enunciatipn good
The result was that he could be clearly
heard throughout the hall. The good
humor that he seems to bubble over with
bobbed up continually, and kept broad
smiles breaking over the faces of his
hearers !. But his address was by no
means simply a collection Of graceful say
ings. 1t was serious statement of what
his attitude to the south is, and 1t
brought to the minds of his hearers a
much clearer understanding of the man
who ia to be the next president and a
much deeper regard for him. The recep-
ton of his speech was at all times en-
thusiastic.
His address, together with that of the
other speakers, will be found printed In
full elsewhere.
The Taft Laugh
One of the most noticeable, features of
Mr.. Taft's attitude was his interest in all
things. The orchestra struck up the
star spangled Banner" the crowd be-
gan to sing and among the strongest
of the voices was Judge Taft's. No one
laughed so hearty as he did when there
was the least occasion for laugh. In
deed. the Taft laugh is a full brother
to the Taft smile. His sides would fair
ly shake, and there would be the sin
certify of jooviality in his voice.
Whenever the crowd sang, his voice
was one of the strongest, whenever 1t
laughed, his laugh was one Of the loud
est, whenever 1t aplauded, his applause
was the most pronounced. OF all those
at the banquet, none seemed to have the
good time he did.
In addition to the Billy Postum. he
was presented with a silver flask filed
with clear Georgia spring water
gift from Mrs. Helen Long
street. And at the beginning Of the ban
quet leather bound, silver embossed
menu was presented to him by President
Gambler.
One of the most attractive features
of the banquet was the music furnished
by Wurm's orchestra of twenty-one
pieces 1t was under the personal direc-
ton of Charels T. wurm. This orches-
ira has played for FIVE presidents in At
lanta, Harrison, Cleveland. Mckinley.
Roosevelt. and Jefferson Davis, of the
Confederacy.
National airs, old songs that have a
reminiscent value. and popular pieces,
were played at the banquet.