The New York herald., 1870-04-22
COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.
Grand Testimonial to Samuel s. Randall at the
Metropolitan Hotel-Speechss by Messra
Gerard, Randall, Perkins aud Others.

complimentary banquet was last evening given
10 Mr.. Slmue S. Randall at the Metropolitan Hotel.
For sixteen years the worthy recipient OF the
Testimonial occupied the position OF CiLy Super,n
Iendent OF the common schools OF New York with
much credit 10 himself aud advantage to the rising
community. Not long since Mr.. Randall announced
has attention OF deciining TO he candidate for the
osirc, and ms many friends including some OF the
most prominent cltlZcns and earnest advocates IN
tue cause OF education took this opportunity OF
testtyng neir sincere appreciation Of his long ana
mertorious services. The banquet last night was
grand success in every respect About 1855 gentle
men sat down TO an elegant dinner gotten Up IN
Leand's best style. The veteran chief IN the cause
OF education, Mr.. J. w. Gerard, presided. In his
vicinity were the Rev. Dr. Fellows, A. IL Green,
Hosea d. Perkins Robert McGuiness, Andrew Mills
CT llurl0urd Fred. &. Wagner, Henry L. Slote COM
missioner 4. smith, lIenrs Kddle the newiV elected
Guy superintendent; Jackson y schultz, lhoihd'
Boc5e Edward schell, Aainanci sarvis, Jr.: Jonn
Davenport Joun ~, tanning, J. Miner, ana maIy
others. Tue Goth having been removed
lne CHAIRMAN rose 10 propose the first toast amid
loud applause lie saia tley had assenpea 10 do
hoaor IL man who ior sixteen years, had been at
the ncao ol the great system Of education IN New
York. had glven 10 II all the ehereieS Oh ms
great mind. Ihe ADVANCEMENT oi our SCHOOLS rad
been his dream oy pi-ht aud his work by day. In
tUis clty they had erected one hundred ana SIX
splendid TEMPLES OF education INTO which tue poor
em,grants. come ron hat part vi ihe YloDe Lney
might, could walk III and take MS seat ana demand
as rignt an education which the ota.e nad provided
Tor hIm. In those temples Christians OF AL
denominations could st SIDE Dy side ana
ootam tnat education winch was the surest
foundation OF republican government. NOT long
snce nad MI. Randall ordered out TIE teachers and
scholars under his control they would nave formed
procession extending mole tnan ifly mllcs-a grand
army the rcnupllc. tAppausc.) Mr. Gerard deple-
caed IN, idea OF naNing any uecreac III ihe
amount or Ia Naon for school purposes; on the con-
trary would Gather see IL increased. (Appause.)
He hoped soon 10 see the Female Normal College.
lie concluded ~ referring III euoSsiic terms To tnc
t.tgt af A M
10 the setting sun AL his splcndor, and Mr. kid-
die his SUCCESSOR to tue RISING sun, just seen upon
the horizon and soon 70 shed lortn lis beams. Mr.
Gerard then proposed the health oil Mr. Randall,
wncn was drank VITA ali The non0rs.
Mr. RANDALL was received win welcome tokens
OF appreciation. lie expressed his Indebtedness IN
the discharge Of MS duties to the iDemDers OF the
Boalu OF Education, VINO llad elected uiui 10 the p0-
son ne had recently resigned eight successive times
10y a UNANIMOUS vote. lie was also indebted To the
trustees, inspectors and the great body OF scnooi
lie nad seen them day after day IN the discharge or
their autes, ana from hs experience he would
say tnat u nop'ef Det!er or more eHicient
body OF men did not eXisf. Mr. Randall
then proceedei TO say tbaL the Tree school sssLem
bad become ine scitied polcy Oh the government oi
every state IRON Name TO California. Tney HAD
proceeded tne principle that every individual was
born with certain 1acuteS wnicu II was the duty VI
tue government to see developed On Intelligence
aione great fabric Oi liberty DC SUCCESS
fuliy and permanently reared. 1t was tile Interest
OF the community that education shoad he UNI
versal anu that not single Individual should be
lett 10 piey ulon It's peace and security.
Massachusetts forty years ago, was the only
SluIc tnat had Tree schools. Thirty years ago
there were ABOUT SIX or eisat thousand school DIS
tricts averagiu1 not more tnal nfty scholars each.
iaey Wltlout school otcerS, aud The system
comparatively IN state o. chaos. General DIX
beg an by doubling the amount VI aDpTOpriatlOn9 ana
establishing libraries. lie hoped the ctzens vi New
York would never waver IN tbeir devoL.on 60 com.
mon schools. Tncir loss would result IN puoiic de-
mor<lliLaIion and Darparisn, While their perpeLua-
ton would prove the glory and great pnlWark OF
tins stare and of tue great Continent ol America.
NJ JAMES W. BEEKMAS responded TO the toast of
"Ihe City o New YORK" and gave some interesting
"reminiscences ol the early sys1em ol educaIoh la
this cIty. -,
Common schools oI New York CITY," spoke In
euoelsLIc terms OF the system, whcn ne Character
the greatest II the world and hoped tuat lt
would ever We sustained
Mr. HOSEA B. PERKINS made an eoquent speech
In response TO the TOAST Of the ''Iuspeclors. iie
alluded III complimentary terls 10 The guest OF the
evening" ana Lhen proceeoed to refer 70 the lnspec-
tors, he sad csLiiuaOl. lnieliiseAt anu
useful BODY oi men. lie adyertel 10 Nr Andrew
Mis- Mr. James Kelly Mr. Moore, the cOury JARVIS
Dr.. Bode, McGlDnis, Mr. WOOD and Anthony ).
Oliver. There was ye another, ar. .. W. Gerard.
(applause) Mr.. Perkins reviewed the eXiendeo
b, tnat gentleman 10 the classic shores oil
and Italy, and the beautiful description gwen
by him his return OF tnJ PAGES. es. eciay HIS
description OF his visit TO ihe kIallo oi Venice where
ne spent entire dav trying u search out the
Imaginary homes OF Slylock and Otlelio tLaugh-
ter ana applause.) Mr.. Perkins also referred
enloglstlcdliy to DIR. Gerards address not only upon
the yoicanues AID earthquakes. but upon the mum
mics OF Sorti America. tLauahter.l A!ew months
ago O convention OF StfOng-IDlnocd W0nen
was held III Boston; wutie Lney resolved
to become doctors, lawyers ana dlvines, and Mr.
Gerard, seeing that the rights Of his own sex were
invaded accepted the challenge OF those Misguided
women and threw hand gre ade IN the ranks oi
Ceneral(n Anthony brigade and they scattered LIE
peJlicoat like pigeons oelore Tie shot OF
the 1ow Ter. Great laughter ana applauseI M:
Perkins concluded amusing and enter
taIuing speeca in language nghly eulogistIc
OF Mr. Gerard, VINO ne said mad all Tie merits
AMI virtues OF public benciactor.
The other toasts ncluaed 'lhe Stale Normal
School" 6. T. nubburd; The School Irusiees.' j.
w. Farr; ''rhc superintendent Department. Henry
Kldale; 'Ihe Male Teachers, Is. y. sutherland;
..lne Female Teachers" t. T. Harrison. ! he en-
tertaiuinent which reflected great credit on the
committee OF arrangement. Terminated shortly al
er tweiye O'Clock.