The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-07

though somewhat nervous Mr.. Batchford was very
was held under ball the sum OF $4,000 to await
examination on Saturday next.
DINNER OF THE ST. NICHOLAS SOCIETY.
Tho Exclusive Kniclerbockcrs In Their
"Ayncienfc GiOryc.'
Asnow storm inaugurated the festival OF St. Nfcho-
las, or Santa Claus. last night. The sons Of that
Knickerbocker SAINT assembled In reindeer skins.
snow shoes and holiday nxins', at tho st. James
Hotel, at six O'Clock. Benjamin II. Field had been
elected President and duly inaugurated with tho
cooked hat OF Petrus Stuyvesant and the big badge
After short delay, marshaled by the gallant secre-
tary of the stewards, Colonel John Fowler, Jr-and
also on the stan or General Shaler-the President
headed the Santa Claus procession and pro-
ceeded to the cosey dining hall OF the hotel.
Tao invariable Knickerbocker attendants stood
at the door, In orange coats scarlet vests,
knee breeches and silver buckled Shoes But The sons
OF Erin did duty with the platters. Grace was
asked by the Rev. DR.. Francis vinton, when the
company fell to and attacked the vlands OF 1859 with
the spirit and hunger OF 1910, when Hendrix Hud-
son first "came to town. The tables were deco
rated with Knickerbocker ornaments. lnclu ding
the usual rooster ana weathercOck. The HERALD
reporter being obliged to r0Ost up the chimney,
Santa Claus style-because the sons OF old st. Nick
OBJECT to chiels takn' notes''-tt Is impossible to
give very particular descriptions. The dining hall
was uniquely and appropriately decorated and the
bill OF fare and toast list were printed on orange
paper. with vignette Of the old Knlckerbocker.
the cloth having been removed the President an
nounced the toasts as follows:-
s'Santa Claus. The Saint whose coming like that
OF Christmas, Is always hailed with Joy.n Music,
"Mynheer Van DoncK." Responded to by President
Field.
"rhe President Of the United States" Music ''rno
Presidents March,
..The Governor Of the State Of New York." Music,
ssThe Governors Mai ch." The President read o
letter from Governor Hoffman.
'.The CITY OF New York. Dutch In Infancy; Eng
elements OF her prosperity Music, "home, Sweet
Home" Responded to by Mayor Hall as 10 lows
that the Mor should be in suon
house as this and on such an occasion. The first
CITY Hall was changed from . tavern, and 1t is
Town Magistrates" That 'tbey enjoyed the title Of
my lord and an elevated place ON all ceremonious
place In church, their state cushions being carried
by the beringer from the CITY Han and placed IN
the pew" The title OF my 0rd Is happily obsolete
ever since the days when
Lord Howe he in,
And lordi how he went out
But the e.evated places on the ceremonious occa-
slons survive; | am however, sorry there is no
separate place provided on sundays for town magls
trates, and that the CITY Hall beringer does not
were the in old ST. Nicholas times accord.
ing to this history. the town magistrates would go to
the church Oltener than they do.
This is not only the ST. Nicholas night but para.
hrastng the santa Claus rhymel-
I The ave 81 sscon nv when hen all rongh the town.
am in that curious position tonight when don't
know whether am up as q candidate or whether
am to come down. Some politicians say am up as
CERTAIN l don't intend to come down, at least not
from this pleasant dinner perch. until sing you
ditty, according to custom, about the city OF New
n n.
days, about the good old times OF the CITY,. pro-
pose to 60 back for moment Only hun
clous city cnroniclers tell US, a severe con-
test for supremacy In the city government took
take place now. At that time the Mayor and
Recorder were IN the Common Council; and there
ance with the KnlckerDocker mot of SIX Of and
half dozen OF the other Parties were then divided
into Lesleran and anti Leiserian. Who does not
member good but unfortunate Martyr Jacob LeiSler,
whose grave is under Printing House squarea The
anti.LeisDrlans elected Mayor by the name OF
Noel (Which believe is French for Christmani. lie
was a Christmas present to has party. The Recorder
was anttLieslerian and held over. He was Mr..
Gouverneur. Since that era another Recorder
lHonmanh one OF our fellow members. mas
Ieen made governor me historians 20 on to say
OF the election for the ensuing year. every alderman
returned the candidate OF his own party as elected.
Those were the good old times of hundred and
sixty-elght years ago. remember. or course no such
things are done now Three Of the aldermen at that
Mr. De Peyster; one was a Mr. Provost; one was
Mr.. Roosevelt; one was Mr.. Onclebeg (who
others rejoced In the appropriate names OF Brazier
R00me and JeesOn. The Leisbrans who were
gong to contest got themselves sworn In before the
outgoing Mayor. The ant-Leisbrians waited for
their own Mayor to come In. on city Inauguration
day the new Mayor was sworn In, and the crowd OF
ms. outs and contestants went to Trinity church
where an appropriate sermon" was preached by
the Rev. Mr.. vesey. The adjective appropriately
is used by the chronicler. what kind OF an appro-
1t 10 hard to tell, unless It was from the text
ruers-aProve ali things: hold fast to that Which T.
good.n The Rev. Mr.. Nesey's fame survives to our
day. not only IN the records Of the church. but the
street by the side OF ST. Pauls, which was named
after him.
After the sermon they all went to the city Han,
and contest ensued between the two SIDES and even
from the church door to the CITY Hall there had been
great disorder. All In the good old times los years
by The Judges Of the SUPREME Court awang Sde se
Mayor. The judges were, OF course very heatedy
abused for doing what they conscientiousiy did. /
believe such things are not done now. The writa OF
mandamus TO the Mayor commanded him not TO
swear IN some Of the aldermen. am not going to
detan you with the merits and dement's OF the case.
It Is sufficient to say there great contest, ana
there was kind Of riot. The curonicler says that
The meeting Then the chronclers 90 GU to say that
as all t1e Lelsorlan party refused 10 be sw5fn IN
by the Mayor; so he refused TO SIT with them in
legal scrutiny OF The disputed elections, except by
order Oh the Common Council, 1t was apparent that
the city would be without government unless
some other measures were taken. SO pretty much
as now the fashion for the boards OF canvassers 10
be appointed, two nom eaUR side, four scrutinizers
were named. The Leisbran inspectors declined 10
act. Two anti Leisbrians did act, and 1t appears
from the scrutiny that they found In TWO
wards 0ne-eghth OF the votes TO be IL
legal; in another they found 0nenfth TO be
Illegal THIS was In the good old times one hundred
and sixty-elght years ago. Similar charges have
been made from Tint day TO this, and VIII continue
TO be made, suppose, till time aud elections shall
be no more. Then there was another row In she
uprl M
out declined TO be LETT out, and couple OF months
passed before the Supreme Court could the gor.