The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-07-23
Local Friends Give Him Elab-
crate Banquet at the
Waldo Hotel.
TRIBUTES ARE PAID
Cornered" by the Occasion
He Surprises All as After
Dinner Talker.


guest and more than a hundred
hosts, and which was given for the
unusual purpose OF celebrating
mans resignation from a high public
office. Business and professional
friends of Virgil i. Highland gath
cred to celebrate his recent restgna-
ton as chairman of the new state
public service commission. which of
fce had called for his change OF resi-
depee from Clarksburg to Charles
ton, and incidentally to pay him
tribute for, the many things he had
done for Clarksburg as well as TO
testify their esteem for him.
Springs a Surprise.
The hosts commemorated the oc-
casion fttingly and caused Mr..
Highland to establish a reputation
for himself as an entertaining post
prandial speaker Never before had
Mr.. Highland spoken more than
few words at public gatherings OF
the kind-and he mad attended
many-but this time. being corner
ed" as he expressed it, he sailed
right into one ofthe incest and wit
tiest talks one ever heard and made
his friends feel somewhat ashamed
of themselves that they had not
cornered him long ago. He was
bit embarrassed as naturally any one
would be If a number of persons
should get up before a crowd and
say nice things to his face, but he
was not abashed, and taking the bull
by the horns, he made the best OF
the occasion and acquitted himself
admirably indeed.
The banquet was tremendous
success In every way and Mr.. High
land was given glorious welcome
back home from Charleston, where
he had spent six weeks in the ser
vice of the state and had become as
homesick as a lost cat.
Many Speak.
Edward Grandson Smith presided
as POSTMASTER with the incompara-
BILE eloquence and pleasing grace that
always mark his appearance on oc-
casions of this kind, and kept the
flow OF oratory nicely moving with
Appropriate references to the guest
of honor and the various other speak
ers besides giving a brief talk him
self The speakers included w. H.
Taylor, George NJ. Hoffheimer, Mel
vim G. Sperry, j. Carl Vance, Frank
R. Moore, Charles b. Alexander,
Arthur K. Thorn, George L. Duncan,
Joe Cohen, L. K. Richards, i. Wade
Coffman, Camden Sommers, C, H.
Harding, e. G. smith and Mr.. High
land himself. Those speaking in be-
half OF the hosts said the things they
wanted expressed in such fitting
manner without unseemly fiattery
as to make them feel satisfied and to
throw credit upon the judgment OF
the POSTMASTER.
G. H. Duthie invoked the divine
blessing just before all took their
seats.
Adage Amiss.
The toastmaster, among other
things. said:
THAT moss-grown adage that a
prophet Is not without honor save in
his own country has no application
to our guest this evening. The chief
executive of the state named him one
of the most important commission
4 in the state. His associates on that
commission at once recognized him
as their head and elected him unant-
mously their president. This met
with the general approval. OF all
the governors appointments none
I inspired more public confidence than
his. There was at once anxiety rs
to whether he would accept. The
period intervening between appoint
ment and acceptance was one of
public suspense only to be exceeded
by that created by his resignation.
we are proud to see one of our cit
izens and friends thus conspicuous
Il y honored. This honor was un-
doubtedIy the states gain but local
" it was our less and now his resig-
nation is the states loss and his
homecoming our local gain, and we
most cordially Welcome home the
monor guest of the evening. the first
and late president OF the Public
+ Service Commission. Mr. Virgil L.
Highland. Every important business
interest of his native county and the
city OF his home, most Loyalty vie
with each other in this welcome
see here ofacials Of the city, repre-