New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-25
ST. NICHOLAS SOCIETY.
FESTIVAL. OF PAAS.

That me-honored institution, the st. Nicholas w.
ciety celebrated Easter Monday-recognized snosg
the old Knickerbockers the Festival Of Paas--wAh
a grand banquet at the Metropolitan Hotel last evca-
ing. The tables, two of which were arranged tho
length of the room and one at the head ON dan.
were loaded with all the delicaces of the season, and
presented the following beautiful ornaments statue
Of a Knickerbocker, surmounted on pyramid;
statue of st. Nicholas as an old monk fancy chapel;
fancy frosted sugar ornaments; Egyptian church;
Gothic pyramids graphic fancy temples sugar harp
decorated.
A. o'clock the company, to the number Of about
two hundred, sat down TO dinner. Mr. De Peyster
Ogden President Of the Society, occupied the char.
Among the company present we noticed John A
Buren,, Mr.. Van Wagner, Mr. Depeyster, snd COL
Ater the company had entered the hall, TIE Past
DENT made few remarks, abiding in happy man
ner to the return Of their anniversary and bidding al
welcome. -.
After the second course the cloth removed, when
Easter eggs in different coio, and pipes and tobacco
were passed around. In the place OF flenr de Say,
Heidsick and other favonte brands, the genuine
Schnapps was substituted. 1t was indeed jolly scene
to see many of the company, men whose hairs were
slvered by age joining in tho sport of cracking eggs
to them leaning across the table with an egg IN
hand, inviting their companions opposite 70 a .nei-
and then to hear the jokes that followed and the hearty
laugh. After this sport the company betook themselves
10 smokipg-pipes the stems of which were about three
feet long being substituted for the vulgar cigar. Each
and every one sought an easy position, and with the
long pipes pulled forth great volumes OF smoke The
scene was replete with jolity, and could dozen or
more of the old Knckerbockers have entered the Han,
they would beyond doubt have opened their eyes
with astonishrnent at the forwardness OF their
descendants. Order at length restored, when inc
President and briefly addressed the society. He
alluded to the festiva which he said was one Of the
festivals Of the Church but had ever been observed
by their ancestors The celebration of this day by the
st. Nicholas Society brought to their minds sweet
recoectons of oden times and the celebration Of the
day by their foreathers, and he hoped the Socio<y
would celebrate il now and forever. ......s.e
After.a half hour spent In smoking and conyersng.
the health of the Stewards Of the Society was drank.
and Mr.. Van Buren, loudly called for.
The PRESIDENT, in a few remarks, called upon Me-
Van Buren, 20 respond.
Mr. JoHN Van BrRRs thought that according 10
the remarks of the President these proceedings were
entirely out Of order, il one of the festivals
Of the church-a holy festival. IL was never.
theless good old Dutch festival. He was very
glad that the company appreciated the services
Of the stewards, apd he hoped they had discharged
their duty properly. For his part, he should
always stand by the stewards. The Dutch were q
long. suffering people, but they had been subject To
aggression. He briefly alluded to the attack on Fort
Hesse and other places but remarked that the Dutch
under these repeated aggressions had got patient.
and smoked Their pipes and drank their schnapIs with
out mndiDg their aggressors But now they hsda new
aggression from Saint Patrick, whose followers had
postponed the celebration Of his natal day from
the 18th 10 the gath. The weather showed that II was
true st. Patricks day. After some further remarks
the health of the Messrs. Leland drank amid loud
applause. Messrs. King. Hathaway, Ray, Ogden,
Augustus Scbell, DE Peyster and others made bref
speeches in which they alluded to the old Dutch Gus
TOMS comparing them with the customs of the present
day. After which the company broke up.