The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-25
PERRY WALLS GREAT TRIB-
UTE TO SCRIBES
Full Text Of Address At Press
Affair
Tampan Tells of Power of Newspa-
pers and Their Workers and
Paints Their Final Reward

Among many good things
which came to public notice incl
dent to Tampa s Gasparilla Calni
val, the speech Of Perry G. Wall
at the Rotary Cub IS press break,
fast, will occupy a place of its own
Mr.. Walls tribute to the press on
that occasion was notable pro
duction, both in its composition
and delivery, and has been wide
ly commented upon Mr.. Wall
said:
eve are fortunate in having
with us to-day the original Rotari-
ans-the newspaper men-l say
they are the original Rotarians,
because the motto of Rotary is
Service" and the newspaper
men serve more people in the
broad and big way than any 9TH
er set Of men in the country
serve in the way of entertainment,
information and education. We
are fortunate in another respect
in having them here, because Tam
pa has lately been behaving her.
self, not being guilty Of any strik-
es, lynchings, or anything else of
a similar nature, and newspaper
men are always welcome when
people are behaving themselves
Only men whose deeds are evil
fear to have them around. 1t is
especially fortunate for them to
visit Tampa during the Gasparilla
celebration, because OF late, we in
Tampa have been feeling some
what neglected, having been lost
sight Of by the public generally
on account Of the great events
happening throughout the world,
but having the newspaper men
here assures us Of attracting some
attention, because they, of all
men, can thoroughly appreciate
the faith and optimism that in
spires us to celebrate at a time
when there is so much depression
and so little cause for celebration
Dark Days Sink,
Bright Ones Float.
"'The Bright Englishman, Je-
rome, said. that one of the pleasing
things of life was that, in looking
back over the occasion of life, the
dark and sad days, being the
heaviest, sink beneath the waves,
while the bright and happy ones,
being the lightest, could be seen
floating on the surface, and this
suggests that III celebrating old
King Gasparilla, we are only re-
membcring the romantic and
pleasing side of the old pirate
chiefs career. 1t is to be hoped
that in the years to come when
the history Of these times has
been written, the sadness of these
great events will be lost sight of,
and the patriotism, bravery, and
chlvalry Of the people engaged in
the great struggle for national ex-
iStcncc will be remembered, and
will be lesson and an inspiration
to mankind. Another thought
suggests itself here, and that is, as
King Gasparilla lurked around
the western coast of Florida, and
levied a tribute of war on the
commerce of the world, no doubt
the people of Florida, being as en-
terprislng in peace as the old chief
was in war, will levy the tribute of
peace on the larger commerce Of
the future. The newspaper men,
with their vivid imaginations and
versatile pens, will probably be in
spired by this celebration to link
the romantic past with the pro-
gressive present, and paint a pic
ture of the splendid Tampa of the
future, weaving a beautiful story
of fiction, fact and prophecy.
"The service that the ncwspa-
pcrs render to the country cannot
be estimated, and it is growing
greater and greater every year.
They are responsible for the de-
velopment of our national life, and
each advance increases their in
fuence. They mould public O.
pinion; they make and unmake
the reputation of statesmen, and
decide public policies. Rural de-
livery brings the newspapers into
the home of almost every man
puts him in touch with the mark
cts of the country, and
through the pacel post enables
him to buy and sell to the best adj
vantage. The doing away of
party conventions and party boss