The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-19

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tons of boom time was the purchase
OF that property by Lyeriy, Watkins
sam W. Divine and others, and In due
time the best building Chattanooga mad
ever boosted was erected there, n
comely. substantial office and business
edifice of six stories. which was the
first six-story building we had. and
was the pride OF Chattanooga so long
as II stood.
Apostle of Civic Pride.
This was perhaps the beginning OF
Watkins career in Chattanooga as a
promoter and apostle of civic pride and
ambition. He engaged in many other,
large enterprises, among them construc-
ton OF the Lookout mountain Broad
Guage railroad. and the electric rail-
way system, His mind was of the
broad gauge type. and he had a strong
natural inclination to great enterprises.
his EFFORTS as TO city developer were
not confined to Chattanooga, but he as
sisted materially in the development of
other cities in the south. Those who
have known both OF the men, as very
many of our citizens have, there has
probably occurred a similarity between
Col. Watkins and w. q, McAdoo, in
their conceptions relating to large UNI
dertakings and their capacity for pro-
ties was also noticeable a certain SINH
larty in social tastes and elements OF
popularity. Col Watkins had nothing
OF the brusquery--the slap fellow on
the back and hello. Toni" way tnat
so often characterizes men who affect
popular ways and cultivate popularity
as stock in trade. but he was natur-
ally popular The quality came TO him.
so that he did not find II necessary to
spend a great deal of time In going
after 1t, even when II was important to
be in good favor with the masses.
Nothing OF Aloofness.
There was, for one reason, nothing OF
the aloofness, the assumed reserve
about him that so many practice as
means of seeming important. To ex-
press the idea in homely phrase
he was plain as an old shoe" In all
presences. and felt at home among all
classes. wherefore all classes liked and I
trusted him. He was singularly adapt
able to exigenctes OF life, to emergen-
ries. TO situations OF a delicate nature. |
The writer very distinctly recalls an
instance of this the first time that he |
ever saw Ed" Watkins He had Just |
come to Chattanooga, and was walking |
10 Dr. Edward h. Wise was very strik- |
ing in those days Hugh Whiteside and :
he writer, walking together. met Watk- |
ms, and at once began to say tocular |
things such as friends may. mistakinR |
1im for the doctor. on discovering our |
we apologized for the seem
ing rudeness, but Watkins put us at |
ease Immediately by saying, with his
luiet, pleasing smile, ~ can readily see
hat DR.. Wise is a nice man and good
ooking one, and must make his uc-
luaintance. My name is Ed Watkins
low are you, gentlemen, | am mighty
dad to meet you" He became at once
| prominent factor in both the social
md the business life OF Chattanooga.
ust at n time when Il was easy for
'erson of considerable Importance TO
ome with meansto consequence and
ngage more or less activity In the
yhirl of affairs and yet remain pracu-
ally unknown.
judicial Mind.
lie was possessor OF a judicial mind,
md would have made good Judge.
indeed he was more than once selected
W his professional brethren to act as
Judge In special cases. as for instance
he disqualification OF n regular Judge.
While his taste was doubtless more for
he counsel room than for the forum,
le was not lacking I'm elements which
inter into successful advocacy. Ora
DRY OF the decamatory type he did not
lffect at the bar, neither on the re-
'trum. But he had serious manner.
uch as might be expected OF one given
o serious thought. and II seemed easy
or him to convince tures and audiences
# his sincerity regarding what he said |
While good Joke was no stranger TO
lis lips and pleasantly Mt the expense
u an adversary was natural to him. he
lever made tho impression OF fiippancy
10 never attempted gaining a point by
as lawyers have so often
zen accused OF a tendency to do. but
ent his arrow straight to the objcc-
i've, without poison tip or malice
Gather.
Yet there was a distinctly sparkling
lde TO his nature. and he was one OF
hose men II is always a pleasure and
mental tonic to meet II only for a
moment on the thronged street OF
ity. He had speaking eyes and lips
hat conveyed pleasantrles without ut
erance. but simply IN the mobility OF
smile. lie nearly always had some-
hing pleasant TO say no matter where !
G met friend, and the little story
'ould be well introduced by eyes and
ps. before articulation began. lie was
nat mannor OF man who made such
IMPRESSIONS upon his fellow men all
long the life journey that he never
Duld have slipped away, out OF town
r out OF life, without being missed. and
rat promptly. Taking French leave,
hlch is so much approved by the world
; TO many persons, would have been
scented on tho part OF ED" Watkins.
ow that he has gone into that bourne
ON which no traveller returns. those
no knew him well win ind new oc-
Islon for thoughts relating TO that
lurne, and they win more and more
onder, what kind OF beautiful realm
Is to which so many friends have
parted
Odd Fellow
Col. watkins belonged to the Order
Odd Fellows, the knights Of Pythtas
I'd the Royal Arcanum, all evidence
at he, like hbou Ben Adhem. loved
3 fellow men.
A man OF mediocre mind, engaged in
o practice OF a profession. and es-
cially law. would be apt to find him
II drawn away from one or the other
tercst for good should he combine
sorblng business pursuits with pro-
'slonal activities To lawyers a cor
In maxim or saw is ever familiar, G
he Inv Is n Jealous Mistress" II .
~ well have been made TO order. ms
warning to students and TO practl-
ners. that he who wauders away from
actice into business enterprises or -
litlcs, Is fcarfuly apt to fail IN tho :
,fession. II generally proves thus, for