Address of J. J Willett

Excerpt from Address of J. J Willett: Before the Southern Society of New York, at Its Sixteenth Annual Dinner, February 22, 1902 Mr. Toastmaster and Gentlemen of the Southern Society: In the early settlement of Texas while immigration was pouring in from the other States the first question which meta stranger after he had crossed the Sabine River was, "What did you do at home that you had to come here?" And not infrequently that stranger had left his home in the older States under circumstances alike embarrassing to him and his creditors, with the words G. t T. posted up on the door of his late abode, which was well understood to mean, Gone to Texas. I will not ask any of you tonight "What did you do that you had to come to New York, or if you left G. t N. Y. on the door of your home in the South?" Such questions might call for explanations, which are always embarrassing, and particularly so upon occasions of this kind. Mr. Dooley has said the reason why reform is so difficult in New York City is, that it is full of men who have been chased here by the Sheriffs from the four corners of the land. This may explain some of the difficulties which beset your Mayor and District Attorney, but I am sure this does not explain why the Southern Society is increasing in such numbers or why it is in such a flourishing condition as to membership and social graces. My pleasure in being with you tonight is greats but the greatness of my subject rather overwhelms me. There are times when even hardihood is virtue and to such virtue alone do I lay claim this evening in venturing to address you on the subject assigned me. The story of Washington, however, will never grow old, or cease to be interesting. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.