The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-20
and Messrs. Peple, Hassel, and others, of

people glowed with eloauence.
The speech was delivered in German.
We give only the substance of his fine effort:
Like ship which had been tossed about by
heavy gales ultimately entering the safe
harbor and delivering its precious freight to
the proper owners, to the great delight OF
captain and crew, he compared the ups and
downs Of this Society for the last seventeen
years, since the first inauguration Of it by a
few German citizens for the purpose of
fostering the German song and German So
cial customs. Whilst few of these pri-
mary pillars of the Society were left
amongst rs, some had left to find homes
elsewhere, and others taken from amongst
us by the hand of death. But those few re-
naming had lived to see growing up to
beautiful and stately maiden this child of
sonG-Virginia. Born under depressed cir
cumstances, it was Of truly German off
spring. Drawing its breath from the Ger
man mind, nursed in it's cradle by the mo-
ther Of truly German song, and carried
through its tender years of infancy by the
powerful arms of Germany, the Virginia
Gesangverein now looks forward, in all
her maiden beauty, grace, and majesty, to
a brighter and more glorious future.
The mighty influence which the German
singing societies have had all over the world
could not fail to show itself hereto lay, as
it had everywhere else, the foundation to
true social enjoyment and elevated musical
ccomplishments. Even the calamities of
our late war, which wrapt in mourning so
many of our families, could not destroy our
old associations. We have lived to see the
return of peace, and we welcome now most
ioyfully this first visit of our northern
singers, which we hail as harbinger Of n
closer union of our mighty nation in Ame-
RIGA and We trust that in the future the
oft-repcated visits of our German singers
from the North to Virginia will bind us
evermorc together in one hope for our one
common welfare.
Like in the Fatherland, where the Ger
man song, with its mitigating, elevating,
and inspiring influences, has aided so much
to bring about the present unity of that be-
loved country from it's torn and subdued
condition, so will it break through the bar
ricades of culpable prejudces and plant in
our midst its mighty banner of social liberty,
intellectual independence, and pure, social
enjoyment-the spring of life of all indus
trious developments. Through you these
blessings have spread their mighty infu-
erces through The northern States, and
through you and us we trust we shall soon
here feel their life-giving power. If this
has been realized in your section of coun-
try, my northern fellow-singers, why should
it not be the same with us q? The most go-
rious natural charac cteristics Of our beloved
Old Dominion, with its mild southern cline,
offer in abundance the means at hand TO
create n new home for our fellow-country-
men, and the greatest field for intelligent
and free ]nb1r; with lis natural conse-
quences Of industry, prosperity, social en-
joyment and generous hospitality.
If, in the course Of time, the hills along
our beautiful James and Shenandoah, and
other similar favorably located rivers, shall
be shaded by the cultivated vineyards for
which nature seems to have so well adapted
them; If our fields shall rc&cho with the
bright and joyous refrain Of our old, he
loved harvest songs; and our forests
and workshops rcverbcrate with the
sound of the axe and hammer swung
by o mighty German arm directed by its
skilful Knowledge i'll industrial pursuits,
then, my dear brethren, may we expect
periodically to revive the beautiful festi-
walls and cnioyments Of the old Fatherland
in this our new and adopted country.
Such, my fellow-singcrs, are the tidings
which we desire you to spread amongst
your people when you return home, and
take with you the assurance that this is not
only the desire of your German countrymcn,
but of most of our American fellow-ctizens.
And those few which may still be ignorant
enough to endeavor to stay the mighty
wave of this last social revolution must
ultimately yield to necessity or die the po-
litical death of the incurable.
Charging the members of the Virginia
Gesangyereing with the duties imposed
upon them, with word of friendly remem-
brance to the old honorary members, and
particularly of the former highly esteemed
with poctical toast to Virginia.
The evening was passed in sport and
merriment, and at about g. O'Clock supper
was announced.
THE BANQUET.
The guests were then escorted to the ban
duet, which was spread under large shed.
Having seated them, the large company pre-
sent we're admitted. Mine host Hattort
certainly did himself credit in the prepara-
ton Of the feast for SO large II number OF
persons. There was all that the appetite
whetted with the gaiety and excitement OF
the occasion, could wish for, and that the
partakers enjoyed it was abundantly at
tested.
The scenes along the tables we're gay and
animating. ''Der bruders" " cracked many
a joke and clincked many u glass, while nu-
merous were the greetings exchanged with
the stately .frans and the blooming young
frauIniaS who graced the tables with THEN
presence. This is one Of the most pleasing
features of German enjoyment. 4 German
scarcely ever participates in any pleasure
in which his wife and daughters may not
join him.
Many toasts were offered during the
evening among them
One by G.. \. Peple, Esq.,-"To the
German Ladies of Richmond ~; one by
Mr.. Heyde, Of New York" To the Gesang-
verein Virginia." which was responded tc
by Mr.. Miller, president of the Society, who
offered one-"To the Social Mannerchor Of
New York" Atoast omplimentary to the
orators, Messrs. Peple and Heinrich, was
appropriately responded to by Mr.. Peple
Our humorous friend Hasse helped
greatly to enliyen the supper-table, and
dictated to young Virginian, who followed
him faithfully, one of the most eloquent
speeches in German ever heard.
At about II o'clock the supper was con.
cluded and the festivities generally brought
to close. In short while the garden was
deserted, and but little remained to mark
the innocent festiyity that had made last
Sunday one of the most remarkable days il
the history of Richmond.
SINGING.
During the day there was great dea