New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-21

Itisnot bad way we have derived from our
Scandinavian ancestors, through the Intermediary
Of our English forefather, OF eating and drinking
to tie glory of the great men we delight to honor.
1t is a thing we all understand and can do, as Sir
Robert Walpoe said in excuse of his peculiar style
of after. dinner talk. We have, happily, improved
very much on cur Scandinavian progenitOrs in
the taste and method Of our commemorative
solemrites Commend US TO dishes charmed by
the magic spit or enchanted saucepan of Del
mopico, served with porcelain and silver; and let
who will sigh for the half raw collops Of bullocks
flesh which our Runic afes deyoured with their
fingers to the great name of Ojin And we should
choose for our beyersse-were it possible for us TO
drink anythDg stronger than the running stream
the foaming wine of Eastern France or the ruddy
drops of Southern Spain in flashing crystal or
glowing Bohemian cups rather than to quaff tae
beat mead ever brewed out VI the skull Of the very
worst enemy we ever had. As the funeral baked
meats ale now furnished forth their effect on the
heart and memory is most unQuestionaoly favorable
to the contemplation Of departed greatness. As
the soup and Fl 81 are first laid on the a;ar, ten
deIly moisteIed with amber drops of Madeira or
golden tear. of sherry soft twilight Of memory
steals over the melting .oul as the piece d. resist
anee isiencountered, aud the entremas dispatched
with spirits cheerei BY the fresh, fragrant vintage
of tie Rhii 9 and the ebulent efefvescence OF
Champagne, the solid virtues of the dead rise
distinct and glorious before the kindling eyes Of
the devotees; and when the banquet is done, how
4 a.t oh 70 Of
the great mans character as seen through the
sunset glow Of Burgundy or the ruby radiance OF
Bordeaux
Washington has had plenty Of these feasts piled
ia his honOr-ill-exchsI sed for the persistent bore
of the Mount Vernon contribution boxes. Our
New-EpglaDd ancestry, these Of US that had any,
and our Revolutionary ditto, which We all have,
have made many an ample board to ero,n under
the weight Of fial offerings. Franklin has Just
had his annual turn, and Burns is son 70 haze his
centenary celebrated with viands such as he sol
dom saw, and pledged in cups very different FROM
those which be drowned his sorrogs in. The Bos-
ton journals Of Wednesday last contain accounts,
from which We Yesterday made liberal quotations,
Of festival held at the Revere House in that city
in memory Of the late MT. Webster. But We in
fer, from incidental intimstions peepiDg ont from
amid the ford pufery of The Post Of that liz, that
this high fes:yity, however successful 10 its mate
rial elements its COOKERY, its wines aud its flow
er., was but hating tribute to the decreased gen.
tleman's merits. 1t was no spontaneous oDtburst
ike the Burns assemblies; no universally recog.
u,red duty, Ike the annual tributes to Franklin;
but forced attempt to galvsnize into temporary
potoriety memory which his State and City in
general SEEM very willing 10 let die. That Two
hundred substantial gentlemen, "most OF them
prominent and influential business men OF Bos-
"top," could be induced 70 wssh down 9 capital
dinner with the choicest Of wines to show their re-
sard for Mr.. Webster, is nothing strange, and
proves o,hiDg. But il is mos. significant fact
that the whole demonstration WA got up and It's
details arranged BY one gentleman. VITO is known
10 the public only as the personal friend OF Mr..
Webster. II is not thus that honors are obtained
for the memory of men who really live in tho