Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-08
JOHNSON BANQUET.
A Grand Gathering at the Stacey
House, Nashville.
From the Naehville Union and American,
of Saturday

which makes the heart glad. 1t WA;
one of those occasions that remind
one of the good Olden time, when pa.
triOts and statesmen ruled, and when
great men and good men met together
as citizens in genial and social inter
change OF feeling with each other,
when individual patriotism and pub.
lie virtue occupied positions in the
minds of men elevated almost a sight.
less distance above personal iealousies
and party faction. The gathering
last night had nothing of the partisan.
nothing of the demagOgue, and moth
ing Of the politician about it. 1t was
a convocation OF citizens, Legislators,
( judges, jurists, governors, and an ex-
president, in obedience to impulse and
feelings higher, nObler, better and
/ purer than these. No man present at
4 that social banquet Of cultivated gen
men tOhught OF what party he or any
body else belonged to, and we ques-
/ ton if for the time being he cared.
| Every eye. beamed with animation
/ every face glOwed with a smile, and
! every palm was open for a cordial
/ grasp of that OF his neighbOr,. his
( friend and tellow-citizen.
The entire evening was replete with
/ incidents of a pleasing nature, upon
/ which we could dwell to an indefinite
( length. But we must content our
. selves with mention of the main fea-
lures of the evening.
I The occasion was the acceptance of
both houses Of the State Legislature to
partake of a banquet given by ex-
( President Andrew johnson, at the
Stacey House. His lofty character.
intrepid dignity, and unquestioned
patriotism, forbade the idea, even in
the minds of his political enemies. of
attaching any political complexion or
significance to such a reunion, and
the Legislature responded to the inv
tatIOn with unanimity and good viii.
pleased with the opportunity of show
ing in private life their high apprecia-
ton OF one who had done them such
signal and faithful services, in the
State and national councils. Invita-
tiOns had been extended to a large
number Uf our most prominent and in
I1uential citizens, who came in large
numbers, and lent additional interest
to the evening.
At an early hour in the evening
members of the Legislature in groupes
and in couples, walking side by side,
increased by large numbers Of our cit
izens, continued 10 arrive at the
Stacey House until after : O'Clock.
when the large halls, sitting rooms.
ETC., of the hotel were crowded with
gentlemen in pleasant converse upon
the general and miscellaneous topics
of the day.
All arrangements at the hotel had
been made in exceeding good taste,
and not a thing was left undOne that
could have been done to complete the
enjOyments of the occasion. The
guests were Gshered up the front stair
way, at the head Of which, walters
were in readiness 70 receive hats, etc,
which were taken charge Of and placed
in an adjoining room. Along the hall
leading 10 the west end of the build
ing, the guests were conducted to the
large and elegant ladies' parior where
the reception took place. The reccp-
ton was most pleasant affair. In
the center Of the room, the very type
in mould, and form, and feature, OF
true manhood, stood MIR. JOl n ,on, his
extended hand open TO the grasp of
ms AAAh'n " lA'f Ahu FtGAA EltOAAt
him with the familiar expression of .
'AIT. President" His compact fOrm,
his courageous contour, his leOniue
head, his frank and beEignant smile, .
all spoke welcome cordial as il was .
felt to those who were present. No 4
one could have looked upon that scene
presented TO the eye, with his immOr- .
tai history for the background, with
out feeling that Mr.. johnson reigned .
almost supreme in the affections 0l
the people of Tennessoe
Alter the reception the guests were /.
conducted tU the dining-rOom, where
display luxurious enough for Metelius,
with his golden gOblets and costly
wines, burst upon the sight. We can
not do justice to the supper arrange /
ment. The vast diuing-r0om spsfkletl
and glitteTed, like the traditional dis.
plays OF costly courts. A hundred Of
gas jests illuminated the room with
dazzling brjlliancy, intensified by the
Te;ractiOn from the fine wares and
costly decorations upon the tables.
The columns of the room and the
windows were tWiued and feStOoned
with cvergreens and various species
Of adOrnmentS. Twenty ele-
CANT tables were spread with costly
wares and grOaned under everything
luxurious, delicious aud substantial
that the epicure could suggest or the
palate desire. Every variety Of game,
prepared Ia the most elegant style,
was there. Dressed pigs, as though
they had been fashioned with the
skill of a sculptor and decorated with
ali the taste of fancy, We're there. Tur-
keys, hams, ,vgnisOn and every.variety
Of meat, either fish or fowl, were in
abundance, and most tistefully pre-
pared. Pyramids Of cake rose proud
Iy from the may labyrinths of deli
rauies about them. They were wrought
into endless varieties OF beautiful
shapes and dressed with the cunning
est skill. Nuts, and grapes, and jal-
lies, and fruits ofthe most luscious va
rietics were scattered and arranged in
lavish prOiusi0n. Teas, cOffaeS, ices,
creams and every luxury was spread
lll round. Oysters, srewed, fried i'm
soups and prepared in every style,
were abundant. Candies, figs, juices
and bOnbOnS were in endless variety.
4ne handsome large cake, beautifully
dressed, in the center OF one of the
front tables, had in large letters the
mi ialS "a. J d" upon the top. Oppo-
ute this Mr.. Johnson partOOk of the
-epast. Every variety Of wine was
supplied in gnSparing quantities. The
'parkllng champagne, the rich Nal
lga, the pure Catiwba and every
quality was there. The guests par
.ook ofthe eXhilarating beverage with '
OVAL pirits that prompted Oae TO say,
with the poet,
Fin high the bowl with Samian wine"
There was but one opinion as re-
sarded the supper, that it was superb
v magnificent. We have certainly
never seen il surpassed in all its fea-
ures, in elegance and arrangements,
anywhere. The hOspitalities of Mr..
". Matt. Brown, proprietor OF the
stacey House, were cOnspicuOusly eX-
Iibited on the occasion, as well as that
)f his clerks and attaches. All OF Mr..
BIS friends, end they are legion, con-
graduated him OF the success Of the
occasion and the surprising richness
md elegance Of the entertainment.
After heartily partaking of the sump-
uOus repast so Bogntifully spread be-
DFt AiCLii, lilt Eut1l>-G near Il- III uulu-
)er, VOL pleased, departed to their
ZONES, universally delighted with an
,ecasion that will long be remembered
Is a brilliant aud happy social event
II our city. No remarks were made,
md no tOasts were indulged. 1t be-
ny strictly social occasion, and the
equest OF Mr.. johnson himself that.
whatever might be the feelings Of his
riends, he desired nothing OF the sort
hat could be tortured into the sem
,lance Of a political complexion
'hgs closed the johnson banquet last
light, without the occurrence of an
Incident to mar the interests and en-
pyments of the occasion.
Gsd Fellowship.
From the statistics OF the Grand ;
Lodge of the United States, whose re-
'ent session was held in san Francisco,
gflnQn tho ff,l1T..v-s..--