New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-24


One Of the most interesting among the numerous
celebrations of the birthday Of 'the Father Of his
Country which took place in our city on the 22d,
the complimentary dinner given by the veterans
of IA and is, to his Honor our worthy Mayor, at
the Paris Restaurant on Bienville street. The
sion was truly interesting and complimentary; first,
because of the high estimation in which this ever
honored class of our citizens hold our young Chief
Magistrate, for the impartial and able manner in
which he has discharged the important and aborious
duties Of his Office and secondly because the dinner
was given in return for the kind and aterng atten-
tions his Honor has shown this noble remnant OF the
defenders of their country at time that tried mems
souls
tappears that on every occasion which has occurred
since his Honor has been in Office In which the yeter
ans have been called upon to participate, he has
made It his special duty aud pride to do honor to
them and in which, also, he has never forgotten the
survivors of the colored battalion. These attentions
have been so marked and delcately bestowed, COM
pared to those of by gone days." as to have com
pletely won the respect, affections and gratitude of
the old soldiers such as the brave know best how to
appreciate, and which were shown by the tender of
the dinner above alluded to-
At the early, old fashioned hour of o'clock, the
veterans assembled at the Office of their worthy Pres
ident in full force and prompt il called by the
tap of Old Jourdan's drum, formed and marched to
the spacious dining room prepared for them at the
restaurant aforesaid, where they seated in few
minutes with one of the most sumptuous and ee-
gantly setouts ever similar occasions in our
city for which, by-the-hye, all praise is due to
the proprietors of the establishment above named.
The ages of the veterans present ranged from go to
50 years. and yet such was the harity, gaety, wit,
humor and smiling faces of the whole company that
If the Of seeing of bystander could have been
suspended for the moment he would have imagined
himself in the presence Of party as young as the
houored guest who is the youngest Chief Magistrate
elected to the high and important Office he oceu-
pes in short it was assembage full of interest and
glorious to behold But, when the toasts, songs and
speeches were called forth, it would be vain attempt
to induce our readers who where not present to believe
that 50 much of the fire of youth and patriotism could
exist in men Of the ages of those old heroes or there
not one present who is not worthy of this appel
lation,) as was displayed during the repast.
We regret that so few of the numerous, patriotic
and noble sentiments which were given were reduced
to writing.
The health of the honorable guest having been
gwen ana drank, ne rose under eengS OF excitement,
evident to all present. and returned thanks in
the happest style and manner he has ever been known
to display any public occasion; he declared that
this occasion, which brought him in contact with the
brave defenders of their country at period long be-
fore he was born, the proudest of his life that
the honor he was then receiving, coming from the
source it did, was more than be really deserved, as it
was nothing more than the duty of every young
American and lover Of his country to venerate and do
honor to the veteran who barred his bosom to the
bayonets of enemy who about to desolate our
noble city, perhaps to violate its beauty therefore,
except in the kind estimation of those who surrounded
him. he felt that he had but performed his duty-the
appreciation, however, of which, on the part of the
veterans, was Of such character as to be well cal
cuated to unman of his age and experience After
again returning his thanks in very feeling manner,
he gave the following sentiment
"Andrew jackson, the true patriot, to whore mem
DRY we, of New Orleans, will always turn with devo-
ton and honor"
After appropriate toasts and speeches from the
officers Of the Veteran Association and the company
generally, Col Christy proposed the following:
"Young America, faithful representatives of their
prototypes in peace and in war they will never fail
to bestow suitable honors upon the old soldier
The company separated at an early hour may its
number not be decreased for many years to come.