At that time he was giving employment to twenty people and owned the building in which he carried on his enterprise. In fact he was then getting ready to build a larger building more suited to his purpose. His patrons were only among the very best people, and he thought nothing of serving banquets or weddings, when his bill alone would run as high as one or more thousand dollars. I found him a most generous man. On one occasion I went to him, asking aid for a department of church and educational work I had been commissioned to raise funds for. I had hardly stated my case, when he handed me a $100 bill. I am told that he has given many such gifts to churches and other Christian societies. Many who have attended my illustrated lectures will remember a picture of Mr. Smiley. I regret that I am unable to produce it in this book.
E. I. MASTERSON.
E. I. MASTERSON.
Mr. E. I. Masterson is a successful merchant-tailor in Louisville, Ky. We present his cut and a few words about him, with a great deal of pleasure, because he is a graduate from the tailoring department of Booker T. Washington's great school at Tuskegee, Ala. It has been said by those who are not friendly to the Industrial Schools that we never "see any of the industrial graduates putting any of their industrial education into practice." Then, again, it has been said that the "industrial training given in these schools is never thorough enough to be of any practical benefit to the students." So as an offset to these objections, we are glad to introduce Mr. Masterson as a successful tailor. Not that he is the only one engaged in business as a result of an education received at a trade school. In fact, we know of some printers, blacksmiths, harness-makers, and others who learned their trades at the different Industrial Schools. Mr. Masterson is patronized by both white and colored people, and having had clothing made by him I can recommend his workmanship as first class.
CHARLES A. WEBB.
I shall give in this sketch what I consider a very interesting history. The latter months of 1876 saw the dawn of a business career which was destined to spread itself like the mighty Mississippi, though small in its incipiency; having been retarded by many obstructions, which were gradually removed, it worked its way through valleys and plains, finally broadening and deepening itself as it went; having gathered volume and velocity, it is no longer mindful of such small obstructions as hindered its course in the beginning.
Such has been the business career of C. A. Webb, whose cut adorns page 311, and who is the president of the Webb-Jameson Co.
Like many others, he saw the light of freedom without money, education or friends, but being possessed of courage and a determination that always succeeds, having worked a few years as a laborer and in a few other minor capacities, he decided to venture for himself.
