Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-12-23

i uc ObAtU sauISuOob y Co&SVO " tssS &~SW
England Socisty came OF at LIE Claire Hal
last evening. Tho attendance was mucl
larger than On any previous festival. ant
We hare never seen the similar occasion
when there was happier Or mors interest
ing gathering.
This year the Society determined upoI
giving . genuine New England Festival
and New England supper, in earnest
The experiment proved very successfa
one.
The Yankces-oId and young, matros
and maiden, father and son, to say nothing
Of uncles, aunts. cousins, and other relativei
Of Yankee Doodle, congregated in the ives
hall at m early hour. At o'clock ovel
two hundred persons we're present and en-
gagged in friendly intercourse, which was
carried on heartily, and to the music o.
Cameron's Band. Alter social and inter
es,ing hour spent as only New Enslanders
can spend an hour at such . gathering
meeting from the pine forests Of Maine to
the southwest corners Of Connecticut, and
from The head Of Champlain to the bays d
Rhode Island; relating "reminiscences al
early life among the hills and through the
wild scenery Of New England, telling laugh.
able anecdotes Of old homesteads and home
joys, coupled with some Of the more tender
recollections which hallow our native cline.
amid the sparkling gayety they were sud-
denly interrupted with the announcement
" that - young folks dance, they could do
50 before supper" All the lovers Of The
gay art were quickly formed in sets.
While waiting for the music, the call for
supper came and the procession, headed by
the President-Gen Baker-moved into
the dining room-the east hall. Here .
sight greeted the eyes, and fragrant odors
tsnta'izcd the appetites in style and man.
ncr never before experienced in this city,
certainly not at = New Eng,and Festival.
The tables were arranged in that exquisite
style SO natural to the Yankee girls. Hot
chicken pie, cold turkey, ham, chicken, bis
cults. cake in elegant psofusioi,, cider and .
cart-load Of pumpkin pies, together with
eatab!es Of every sort and kind cooked and
served in the genuine style Of Yankee moth
ers ard sisters. Everything was excellent
and arranged in grand good order.
Gen. Baker seated in the centre of the
south table presided over the festivities, do
ing ample justice to the BAKED beans.
Desperate attempts were made to clear the
loaded tables Of their tempting viands; but
all efforts proved useless and futile and there
still remained ample sufiicicncy to feed .
regiment. When they found that it was
among the impossibilitics to store away all
the eatables provided By the generous boun-
ty Of our New England women. and when it
became apparent that the wants Of the inner
man were amply provided for, by the cessa-
ton Of certain movements. indicative Of
passing food to the mouth, the President
calling the attention Of the audience, pro-
ceeded to introduce the programme Of the
evening. with a few eloquent remarks on the
character Of the sons and daughters Of New
England, narrating many interesting anec-
dotcs, giving glowing instances Of the hero.
ism Of Iowa soldiers and instancing many
prominent names, in whose veins flowed
New England blood.
Then came the toasts and responses as
follows: Dan. L. Sllorcy, Toast-master pre-
sided over his department with dignity and
effect.
The descendants IF the Pilgrims. They
work in the spirit ii their noble ancestry,
who huilt their institutions upon the i'm
pcrishable foundation Of csiuca ton. religion
and liberty regulated by law.
Responded l,y Rev. Henry Baylies.
MUslc-''Ilail Columbia
Nsse England corssn-Thcv were in the
May Flower. With cheerful frrtituie. they
} idured the privations Of the carly set ttlers,
and in every generation thev have contrib
ated tho equal part in the formation of all !
that j. distinctivcly excellent in NV En-
gland character.
Responded, BY Rev. John Chamberlain.
Muslc-Auld Lang Svnc.
Connecficut-the Birth. Place Of Brothcr
Jonathan the land Of schools. colleges.
wooden nutsnegs and bass-wood horns--her |
moral and intellectual light radiafes over !
continent ard illuminates the world.
Responded bv Ceorpe f. Hui,l,eli. Esn.