Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-01
WARRINGTON CORRESPONDENTS
CLUB
,ird Annual DinneF,

Correspondents Club came off on Saturday
night At Welcker's, No. 424 18th street The
gue sts and members Of the club were seated at
the table in the following order
The President, MAJOR Ben Perley Poore, of
the Boston JournGi, occupied the head OF the
table, and was supported ON his right by
Speaker Colfax, and on the left by senator
Anthony. Mr.. H. ]. Ramsdell, of the Cincin- l.
nat cOmmereiai, first Vice President presided
on the right by Hon. James Brooks, ana on the
left Oy James Parton, Esq, of New York. To
the right Of the President. and in the order
named, were seated Hon. John d. Defrees,
Congressional Printer; l.. A. Gobright, OF the
New York Associated Press: w. ID. Wallach,
Esq; l. q. SquIer, of LeSIie's Illustrated Ne,cs;
J. j. McElhone, of the official reporters of the
House OF Representatives.; NJ. W. Bari, of the
Southern Associated Press; q. X. Harris of the
Baltimore Sus; w T.. Seville, of the New York
HerGtd: j. q. Holland, Of the New York Asso-
ciated Press; John r. Foley, of the New York
Times; W. H. Shaw, of the Boston TraHscr ipt;
George W. Adams, of the New York World;
Young, OF the New York Tribune; DON
Piau, OF the Cincinnati Commercial, and Hon.
James q. Blaine, eff Maine.
To the left of the president and in the order
named Were seated: Henry ID. Cooke, Esq,
Hon. VIM. FaxOn, of the Navy Department; a..
II. Painter, of the Philadelphia Inquirer; J. IA.
Taggart. OF the Cincinnati Times; l.. T. Peters,
of the Washington Chronicle, II. q. Hayes, OF
the New York Associased Press; X. X Elliott,
Esq, Joseph Mcfarland, of the PhiladeI phia
Telegraph; 7. Is. Connery, Of the New York
Herald; &. :. Eoyes, of the Washington Star; L.
n. BuTritt, of the Euening Press Association:
w. W. Worden, of the Phiia delphia Ledger. X.
+. Noah, Of the New York Democrat; r.. r.
Brooks, of the Philadelphia Press; H.. V. N.
Boynton, OF the Cincinnati Gazette; J. Il.
MeCullaugh, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and
Hon w. Il. Robinson, of New York.
While the dinner was being discussed, the
president raped the club TO order, and an
nounced that he had just received the follow
ing telegram from New York:
ho slrnh or Naxry M k fonA tha,r
greetings TO the Correspondents Club of Wash
iDgton, and wish them as good time as we are
having. I'D. q. Croley, Aug. Maverick, A. ID.
Richardson. +. w. Knox, J. w. Simonton,
Thomas Mast. John Slmonton
When ample justice had been done TO the
edible and Potable good cheer, Major Poore,
who we hardly need say is unrivalied as a
presiding officer on festive occasions, an.
nounced that the ''feast of reason" would COM
nence. After some humorous remarks, replete
with professional allusions, (well understood
to the company present, although they would
not be Inelligible to "outside Barbarians,' y he
claimed that metropolitan correspondents are
the Oldest class in the guild now known as the
press He would not assert that the bricks
found among the ruins of Nineveh, covered
with cuncifOrm characters, were tablets which
had dropped from the hats Of ''Assyrian spe-
cials;'' neither would he insist that st. Paul
all uded TO the news correspondents at Athens
when he spoke of those Greeks there who
spent their time in nothing else but either to
tell or 10 hear some new thing
ths re were types or printing presses, teegraphs
or ocean steamers, night-editors TO mangle DIS
patches or business managers to dispute ac-
counts, there were metropolitan corresp pond
ents. Wherever the victorious legiOns adj
Ted, the Roman officers, both military and
civil, were supplied with the g laiiJria uentes''
and the "dctd populf' by special correspond
ents, who sent away from the imperial city,
inscribed on papyrus, almost exactly the same
matters about which we telegraph. We read
in some of these chronicles which have es-
capped the ravages OF time about the debates in
the Capitol, the receptions Of the Executive,
the 2ladIatorial shows. the new public build
ings erected, chats for idlers and on dts for
scandal-mongers. The profession Of "metro-
liian CORES spOndence," thus established, has
ever since been followed at the capitals of CIV
ilIzed countries; and now that they have the
telegraph and the printIDg-press tor the diffu-
sion OF their gatherings and gleanings, they are
recognized institution. The brains Of my as
sociaies around me are the cameras through
which the nations history is daily daguer.
reotyped on the minds Of at least i've million
readers.
When the seat OF Government was removed
TO this city, then in its infancy with one small
ui-weekly newspaper, metropolitan cores
pondents were especially needed Weknow
something of those who were our predecessors
sixty-eight years ago, when Jefferson, discard.
ing the pomp which had marked the inaugu-
ratIoDs OF his predecessors, rode unattended on
a pacing lag from the Georgetown hotel
where he had put up, to the Capitol, alIg tied ,
hitched bis horse, went in and took the oath
HIS favorite correspondent was William
Duane. OF the PhiIodelphid aurora, who had the
run Of the White House, and was sneeringly
called by the Federalists, "the Presidential
bag. piper" Then, there was J. J. Callen der,
whose letters 10 paper in Richmond, Vir-
ginia. showed that having been fined for sedI-
uous writing had not blunted his pen; there
was James Cheetham, BritOn by birth, who
As The correspondent Of the Nec York Amerl.
can Cifi<eRj there was +. Bronson, hose "Let.
ters from Washington" may be- found in the
files of the Gazette Of the United States: there
was Mr.. English, who wrote for the Museum:
and there was Thomas Carpenter, the short
hand reporter for Congress, w no was an occa-
sional contributor 10 a Boston journal.
Among the successors Of these pioneers Of
our profession who deserve remembrance here,
Were Nathaniel Carter, who commence corre-
spending with the Albany Statesman about IslS
and who was here for several successive win
t.rs; Joseph T. Buckingham, who correspond
ed with the boston GALAXY about 1921; and Sam'i
l.. knapp, who passed several winters here
soon after that date, writing 10 the Boston Ga
td6V, the Charleston Courier, and the New York
AdceTttSer, besides framing Congressional re-
ports, concocting speeches for members who
had more money than brains, and delivering
an occasional lecture upon his favOrite subject
OF Ereemasonry. These and other historical
allusions were made, Major POOre said, from
recollection, but ample materials exist for Il
history OF washington correspondents.
In conclusion, Major PoOre congratulated
the Correspondents Club on its prosperity
during the past Jear. Death has not invaded
Its ranks and although its mem bers have not As
yet seen the Russian roubles with which some
of their "enterprsing' colleagues Of the press
has enriched them, they have abundant gea-
son for believing that their profession has never
stood higher with the public. Animated by a
legitimate esprit de corps, and by an honest ri
valry and ambition " excel, Washington cor
respondents can exercise a beneficial influence
upon thu country, and can contribute largely
TO the pages Of its history.
MAJOR Peore's speech was loudly applauded
The Chair then announced the regular toasts
In order, as follows
Schuyler Colfax, elected by the people as
Vice President Of the United States, we have
no doubt he will be rs deservedly popular in
that position as he now is as Speaker of the
House OF Representatives"
This was received with great enthusiasm,
and was eloquently responded to by the Vice
President elect He alluded 70 his long
connection with the press and said he should
ever cherish with the keenest delight the
recollection of his editorial labors. He
ever had the most kindly feelings for gen.
tlemen connected with the press, and felt
highly honored in having been elected an hon.
orary member Of the club, and in being an
He alluded in his remarks to the great respon.
sbility resting upon correspondents to be
truthful and faithful in their dispatches, for
they made and unmade public sentiment, and
exalted or pulled down the regulations Of pub.
lie men.
Ms ior Poore then read the second toast, a
follows:
"The Press and the Senate: We are proud to
welcome tonight Senator who has consented
serve Rhode Island in the Senate Of the United
States"
I This was responded to most happily by Sen
afOr Anthony, Of Rhode Island.