, 1859-02-09
Festival of the EXCELSIOR Society.

much interest by every t1ue son ot the EmPue
State, tool. place Last night ut the Richmond
House, and We think re risk nothing IN saying
that no festival ever took place in this city which,
In every respect, with the possible exception OF
j tho number present., Was 50 perfect success IS
this. Thc Society, vltbai truly Empire 1iberaltJ,
| gaze Messts. Tabcr, HAF * L Go. a earte blanche
to spare neither pains nor expense 10 render tile
| event worthy Of the Empire State and her gener-
oas and noble sons who make cur city their home
| And, ~ result, We think ve can say with con-
! fdenee, thst The table which they spread. both
a. regards ths bill Of tase and its ornamental
appointments, has never been approached in the
| Western States, and never exceled ia this or
| any other country This is high praise, hut re
think The facts justify it. The bill Of fare EN-
-'areeed every luxury and dainty which could be
produced within tic limits Of our land,
and iucluded considerably over enc hundrcd csh-
es. Tba Ornamental potion wc5 iu. keeping with
The bill Of fare, and was Characteristic Of the Or
jgn, and In consonauce with The design of the
festival Every portion Of this pleasant accompa.
nimcnt OF the teast vas tho Totk Of persons reg.
uiar]y employed III that treiiprdered establish
ment- There were mauy devices which We should
ltke to notice in detail In. re are pressed fnr
room and must forbear.
At little p1:t four o'clock the gues:s, the
larger portion Of when were " g dds hrst best
gift TO man. were requested to "fall H." and
to the music Of ponteroes march By The band
they proceeded to the dii;ing hall. All beicg
seated. the Rev. A. L Brooks inpiosed bleta.
ing il eloquent zad earnest words. After which
IN hour Was apsut in reading the "li.l of
fare" o: intervals. with knife erd fork ACCOM-.
paoiment The intellectual Exercises we.e thea
opened ay James E. Da'lbn, E:q the President
Of the Society for ,hs Les. ..o years, with the
following neas spesch:
LADIES AMI GRST1ENEH:- the programme Of
oar evening enterialnraeut is as &c; but half
;u:filcd-lne Other halt, j. Ia hoped mag proye
as acceptable Ge the exercises in which We have
oil been 50 agreeaalg engaged. Tae elegant
f-~t. which Laa Just been discussed, and to
which full jng.ice bas been done, has doubtleas
vel! filled u 10 erjoy the nors Intellectual re-
pass which i3 pr om!sed to fellow. Ia the t.H Of
}art for itis Pot tion oI the eatertainmenr ret
down ssa.i.:~nts. cris?y nrd sparkliag-toasts
just I5st dro1oA t,r ,3n regular Dishes while
respnn.so, well qpicei sud seasoned, age G1DonG
the "eatrt<s" and tie def1k+e.
LADIES ind gcnt.ru1eu. I'll to happy to cna'
graduate you Oh the Iecu-reace o! another Ex-
GELS or festival, uadcr such auspic:ous cifcuu1-
staaces. Tho attendance here this evening,
nroves that tue tie which unites US as New
forktsB is strongly telt :0i recognized. These
sociat reurlrs ars veil calculated to dereiop
aud perPetu:.,e genial Atul1ucn:s and k!udlY
feelings among uA-
II il gr..s!fylnE to know tha: The progress of
our 5oc!etT has kept pace with the growth Of
onr city :od Of ths West Each succeeding an
rirtraAry has marked that proSress, aud 1 an
proud to see that our preset. gathering shows
ua 10 have taken another long Step forward. and
thst it WITS not pFesua.psiva tor the sponsors Of
our society to hsve chrlstened it with the ziori-
Gus motto Of ou7 native State-"Exce1sior."
Since our last festival autling Of unuans1 in
tert:t 10 US as a. soce:y has occurred Owing
to the crushing haHnclal pressure Of th= last
feur it vas tnen thought unwjse to attempt a
public demonstration. But the feeling now IS
different. True, matters have rot yet entirely
Resumed their former sbane the cloud still
lsrRers upon the horizon aud casls i's shadow
on tue business world, but mpn's f<eliags hare
in measure cba1sed. rse first h=Av5 gloom
has worn olive have becnms accustomed to
the obscure light-here and there raY Of the
former brightness peeps through dependency
nus E'Een wy to cbeer!uloeas, and bright bish
hppes f,r this tAlure euss.iu aad animate ua.
During the Interval Il few Of the members Of
OUR Soclety. who have been wont to participate II
our festivities, land but few, considering our
nunbtr5.) have passed Away from earth. 10 tile
lu}cu 4Hu uDlOEtu IcAN W. ItuJcf 1Etn DlL
silent tribute; t1eir memories so live loreyer.
ircsh and forever sacred within our hearts.
L1iales and gentlemen, VIC hare met to.n gut as
Ne1o lo,E societv, and well may We all feel
prcltd Ut !le old Empse State. First in nnpula.
iiou, we1l!l, commerce aid il. political iudueucs
and surprised by nole III tue intelligence OF her
people, TIE perfect Development Of her iuter.os
Eesoafccs anu III tnat teads TO mike her re.1'y
great, shc stands olt p:e.cninens among the
s'a'es 81 t!sis uniop. Well d'vs sae 3o:'s'; tie
tered Throughout tue land, ever cherish for thtir
natiTe State. But F'il not attempt any extend.
| cd panegyric Of NEW Iuk-that il not now my
pr"vInce-the duty belops~ to Others, who Will su
night do the subject mo:c ju-tice than could,
| should ateupt it bcsd:s did not rise will
| any intention OF making L lengthy speech.
There Is one p'essaus ieature Of cur present
festival which cannot refrain to notice, for it
has seldom been our good fortune on previous
occaaons If thiB kind, TINT our festiEit1cs were
tiemen from our own state. Tonight furnishes
an agreeable exception to ,he rule. and an i1-
deed most happy to perceive amongst US this
evening oue OF New York's noblest and most
prom nent sous-ore who has long been lsved
| and honored in bis own Stcte, aud whose repu-
tatioa for genius, eioquence and atatesmanship
| 10 Himos, nationsl-i siiuae to my personal
friend and former fetlow-tov nsunan, Ex-iov
Seymour. 1t will hardly happen that be can
escape from US tc-1tght without letting us hear
| tram him, mud speech IRON him must add a
conspicuous aud sgreeable fexture to this eve-
| u.nR's eDteftainmrnt.
There is aao!Asr pleasing ,ass which nm
| specially called upon 10 perform, and which now
aIone zetna.ns !oE ue to do j. Is, gentlemen TO
| i5tfoduce the new President nj your society and
| to resign t4c sccpter Of oGice into his official
| keeping. II il natural aud proper ibat with tile
| sroxtu Of our socety in seass, those who in ts
railief days werc prominent iu its Af4irs should
| gracefully give way 10 younger men WHO eau in
fuse into it portion Of lheir own youthful v;gor
aud strength. For your new President yon ba7e
| selected such an ole-a gentleman whose zelloua
discharge Of the duties Of other otEic+s both in
this society and out Of it whose uatiling energy
| and rcssiu1ces, aud whose hisn standing ia th!s
community, both socially and protes -lonalg, pre-.
etnibently qualify t'm !or the p@stiun you have
| ASST gucd him. Under his administration The af
fllra Of our society must continue to {lrospcr ur
| With him there Il no such word as fail"
Gentlemen, lave the honor to introduce Elliott
Anthony, Eel., tue Peeslden; at your society.
lii. Anthony, the new President, in taking
the Chair, msde the following response:
LADIES AND GES1lIxrS or 7ns E1cs1s,oR
Soc1krr:-1n discharging The honorab;p trust
| which your kindness and parsialisy has assigned
I me on this cccaslon, deem it tuy tra& duty TO
return Jou my thanks for tbe high honor that
you have done NE, in electiu9 me to ill the
place o. the tjrst tfIicer Of this aociety aud,
which may contribute anything 10 tho advance
ment and succeas Of our society, I an deeply
consciou1 ofmy inRb1iity to perform its daiie.
with that grace and dignity 10 characteristic ot
the worthy gentleman who has Just taken hi.
! seat, and who has been our presiding officer foz
! The last Two JeArs-
A look over this assemhlsge Of neizhbors
friends and fellow citizens, comprising 70 large
pornon Of the beauty, Intelligence and enter.
| prise Of our city, 1t is proper that va sho1 I'D
dwell Tor q moment on the occasion ihAt hsl
| drawn US together. We hare came here th,.
evening 10 brighten anew the golden chalk
] which minds us to9ctter "a band Of New York
ers~ We have 1ei1 cur native S,hte-not driver
By persecution or unk1udncss, but as loving sou.
| from fond mother, with kiss and beuedic
tion. Our sentiments towards her wall b thost
Of fltai devotion; and this IL as it should be
Attachment to the land Of our birth il natural in
esiuct, aud bowerer barren toe tpot msy br, "
alopging look behind, aud often il distant clime1
and in alter yeArz nc revlas ia fancy and tre4s
| ure each familiar scene to the latest hours o
our lives. When 80 many New Workers can a.
sembtc and enjoy together tho delightful remi
niscencea Of their native home, the etnee a
absence and exile il lost in the happiness of th,
hour.
, Whstever NAV be said Of other Stetes api
| countries, New York can always add one wort
| that stimulates and excites the wayfarer thl
; world over it rings frum The mountain tops
and sounds in The vaiiey--ir sweeps over ID,
csuss The most affect 10 lock up-the mes
esovelins 70 lissen-thas word is Excelsior
Equally distinR Ruished is ahe when NC coutem
pla.e her geographical position, the extent 0
her commerce, tho opuleneo Of her ciuea - he
/ magnificent system Of fimproveulents-hers semi
g naries of 1esrning-her men Of science and lot
tefs, tbs enterprise Of her sons aud the beaut,
| aF hae' A4uohtetb thA Wnfl6 orAt We hrI