The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-07
E sTIVITY. S
THE PRESS CLUB BANQUET.
A Feast of VictualS and n
Flow Of-SOul.
Who Was There and Who Wasn't
What Was Said, and
What Was Done.


That the Philadelphia Press Club has a knack for
doing things superby the press of the Uned states
has, by this time, become thoroughly convinced
Whatever doubts were still lingering in the mind
of any one, after the banquet at the cose Of the
Wigwam Convention, was dispe.le by the banquet
Of last evening. This time the affair transpired
the Continental Tavern as Mr.. Theodore Iiton has
dubbed it, and everything gotten no in the
''style" winch has rendered that establishment one
of the Edens OF the earth
The Invited CUES of the Club Assem- 5led in parlo
Cats O'Clock, pursuant to the terms OF the neatly
printed cards which they had received during the
course of the day. After hour spent in pleasan.
social converse interrupted now and then by pro-
cesslons TO table in the of the room, the
company filed into the dining hall and seated them
selves at a labyrinthrne table arranged after the
fashion OF a gridiron with three prongs The
Decorations of the Hall and Table
were prOfusely rich and exceedingly neat. The
entire walls of the dining-room were festooned
with the national colors.
The able itse grOaned with palatable delicaces
an0 was gorSeously arrayed in flowers.
Who Were There.
Among the persons of more or less distinction
whom we noticed about the festive board, were the
editors scssorers and reporters the Philadelphia
press. With the exception Of few tlred-out aud
unpublic- spirited individuals who had gone to bed
in the afternoon d'sgusted with the length of the
preat Convention. the Philadelphia press out in
force.
We also made note Of the presence OF General
Franz SIgel, of Baltimore, General Hiram Wa-
bridge, of New York, General John Eaton, Of Ten
nessee, General Joshua L. owen, of Philadelphia
General Brisbin, OF Kentucky, and General Muzzy,
late Private Secretary to his EXcellencY the Pres-
ri thpsn Sfot Dbpgo Xyer
all understood to have had military tendencies at
one time in their careers
Then there was the Hon. John Minor Bolts, of
Virginia, who was not understood ever to have had
any military Tenderness. u
Emerson Bennett, Esq, " no likewise pre-
sent have considerable difficulty in classifying
nasmuch as ne not supposed 10 have been a mill
tary man, and yet has fought an immensity OF
battles and slaughtered legion or two Ot--bears.
Other fighting men were prescnt--e. 9 q Colonel
Charles T.. Moss, of the ST. Loms Press, and Cap
rain J. +. Bryant, of the Augusta LOydt Georgian.
There were other than Mr.. Bolts present,
likewise wNo had never had passion slaughter
Among these mig 1t be named AIr. j. w. Hunnicutt
of the Richmond Near Nation, and Mr.. Albert Grit
lin, OF the Mobile National.
There were also present several merchants of good
repute among whom we noticed A. r. McHenry,
Stephen L. Souder William DevIne, Joseph A.
Miller, and the Ike.
The others that were present were altogether too
numerous to mention They numbered, in face, one
hundred and fifty, al told. BY a little engineering,
this number was subsequg nifty developed into three
hundred. Precisely how it was done will be told AZ
the proper time.
so much Ior those who we've there. AS ior those
who Were Not There,
we again stumble upon q long list OF military and
unmiltary names, which is also toe numerous TO
mention. But among those whose presence was
particularly missed we might note George Franc
Train, Esq, of Omaha, Nebraska, and his Honor
Morton McMichael May or of Philadelphia. George
Francs was especially missed by those gentlemen
pr, sent who imagined tina. they carried about on
their shoulders twenty. y.fVe.lnch heads, which n
vailed ANYTHING OF the KIND OF size to be found in
the British Parliament or the Nebraska Legislature.
II would have been pleasant TO have had George
Francis IN the neighborhood to them OF the
fact by mentioning It. AS nobody else could vOuch
for It, nobody else would take the responsibility OF
doing so
But while Train was missed by a few, his Honor
was missed by all. For these IeasoDs:-
Firstly. The idea prevalent in the community
that the Mayor has become funny in his old age and
a iunny man was just what was wanted on such al
occasion.
Secondly. The idea has also got abroad that tiert
II
in the city. 1T is positively certain that such wa
the case last week. 1t was, lnueed, rumored tha
his Honor had since returned but those who hat
not enjoyed the pleasure OF meeting him face +
lace had hoped to encounter him then ana there 81
that they might be satisfied that he was ana is
man of flesh and blood.
Thirdly land lastly) When, on former occasion
the Press Club had invited its friends from abroa
10 gathering similar to the present. tho Mayor ha
presided, and had set the minds OF every one
perfect rest and peace by Omlsng to lend his car
10 any individual who shOuld iall among thieves, G
other meddlesome persons on the way to his lOdl
ings Many individuals desired the presence of tl
absent Mayor on this occasion, IN order that the
might gracefully accept the tender OF his card
ease " orse came to worst. The fact that the car
was not to be had was saving to the Press Clu
Tor at the close OF the entertainment two cOrke
bottles were noticed standing at the head of ii
table and three at the other end,
The Feast Begins
1t was shortly after o'clock when the guests wei
seated and then Colonel j. IL. G. Whiting, Chan
man or the Committee of Arrangements, welcome
the compsny in briet, ana announced as tine Chal
man OF the evening Thompson Westcott, Esq, u
President OF the Club. Mr.. Westcott likewise mac
a few remarks by way of welcome, announcin
among other things, that nobody present was su
posed to have any politics on the occasion. He the
prepared tor business, example that was prett
generally followed.
Knives, and forks, and glasses ragged turious
after that, with but