The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-04

leader of our country and our countrymen-
should bear that truth in mind.''
He then spoke of the great work assigned
to the journalistic profession, and concluded
By saying, Gentlemen, most heartily,
in the name of the journalists of Washing
ton, welcome you 10 the capital Of our coun-
try"
Mr.. Gilman, of the Richmond Enquirer,
in response to the cordial welcome of Colo
mel Forney, expressed the hope that the
greeting thus extended might be typical of
the reception (Which dear Old Virginia is
soon to receive at the hands of her sister
States.'
Some time was then spent in social COM
verse after which Nailor's coach Yves again
brought into requisition, and the whole
party were driven to the Executive man
sion for the purpose of-availing themselves
of the privilege granted by the President
OF being present ut the reception of the
diplomatic corps and officers Of the army
and navy. This is an event, By the way,
which occurs but once year, and is then
witnessed only by favored few.
The foreign ambassadors having gone
through the ceremony, the reception Of the
officers of the army and navy, with Gene
raj Sherman and other notables, was next
in order, but the President signifying his
wish to have the visitors from Richmond
first presented, it was accordingly so
DONE" The whole party was then ushercd
into the Blue Parlor, where stood the Prcsi-
dent, Mrs. Grant, General and Mrs. Dent,
and other ladies and gentlemen of. the
White House family. The members Of the
press were introduced individually by
General Michler to General Grant, and,
each receiving hearty grasp of the hand,
passed to Vice-President Colfax, who, being
IN ex-pressman, visited the White House
for the purpose of greeting Ills brethren in
the profession Of journalism. The man
ner of these dignitaries wa5 very aFable
and unassuming.
The reception over, the guests were
taken, by invitation of the proprietor, to
Gardeners Photographic gallery, where the
group was photographed in the highest style
known to the art.
| The residence of Mr.. Clarence B. Bcker,
Esq, a prince of good fellows and one of
the proprietors of the Star, was then visit
ed. Here most bountiful collation. was
spread, and after being presented to the
ladies of the family, the visitors did it am
pie justice. Zetelle pronounced this the
finest lunch he had ever seen in private
house, and Zete!le is q Judge.
| The next place visited was Kelly & Leon s
opera house, where the 'only Leon ap-
peared in his presentations of female charac-
ter, and specially delighted the Richmond
gentlemen BY his rendition If the popular
air "Shoo Fly" in style which brought
down the house.
THE BANQUET AT THE ARLINGTON.
Returning to the Arlington, the guests
had hardly time to visit the barber shoy
before dinner WAS announccd-and such
dinner! The like of it was never seen (s
said the old diners out) in Washington be
fore. We will not attempt to describe it
We acknowledge our Incompetence to tn
task, having only q confused recollection 0
IN elegantly decorated table, a succcssio,
of twenty courses, ultiplicity o
wiues-and our watch told us that f0l
hours and a half were spent oSer the mu
hogany.
WELCOME AND THAMES.
Tie address of welcome was dclivere,
Ivy Colonel Thomas d. Florence. He con
cludcQ as toIloWs:
"Iou, my brethren Of the Richmonc
newspaper press, especially bear the re
sponsibility Of thoroughly welding THU
great power. See to it, friends, that it il
done judiciously, efficiently, and pract;
cally. It should be entered upon quick y
and earnestly. In such cause ] trus
there will he no hating or hesitancy. The
end to be attained is contamination de.
voutly to be Wished In oil the earnest
ncss of my impulsive nature, and in the
emphatic language Of an eminent soldier
and now President Of the United States,
repeat. LET Us HAVE PEACE
"And now, gentlemen, again bid you
welcome to Washington, welcome to our les
tivities, welcome to our confidence, and wei
come to our affections. We trust your OK
perience to-day of the inequalities of OH,
citizens will be ever green in your memo
ries, and being garnered up in your hearts
will bear ripe and luscious fruit, and whcl
in after time, perhaps in tie fullness of the
years of your life, when you revert to these
scenes and the incidents of your visit, i
may be to awaken pleasant and blissful re
membranes"
Mr.. Arthur Shepherd then announced tho
first reg ular toast:
"Our guests "Gentemen, your are welcome
may Your journalistic picmage never muult :
| feather"
II. C. Tinslcy, Esq, of tho Richmond
press, responded as follows:
"Mr. President and gentlemen of the
press,-The assignment to me Of the duty
of replying to this sentiment was made
under the most depressing circumstances
l understand that the committee of our
own people had great doubt about my ap-
pointment. One of them was afraid
would talk politics, another that would
talk TOO much, anu third that would not
be able to talk at all. [Laughter.l I can
not pretend to reply to the eloquent adj
dress of Colonel Florence; but I dc
want to astonish our committee, and
I do want to talk little politics.
| wish to say that we bring from Virginia
representatives of all shades of political
differences. If you want to talk straight
out Democracy, my friend Mr.. Gilman, OF
the Enqoirer, will be glad to hear you; and
if you want to talk Republicanism, pure
and undefled, my other friend, MIR. ellis,
of the State Journal, will accommodate
you; and if, as men not unfrequently do
YOU want to talk both sides, the Agent OF
the Associated Press is at your service
And now, having done with politics, l pro-
pose to say something to you that our com,
mittee don't want me to say. wish totell
YOU that when it was announced in Rich
1nond, just before Thanksgiving day, that
the press of Washington was about to visit
us, the announcement fell among US like
bombshcll. Inc idea of the press of the
national metropolis, who, we think, know
and have seen everything worth knowing
and seeing, coming to country town where
there we're no places of interest, no great pub
lie buildings, and not even place Of amuse'