The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-01-11
OLD CHRISTMAS EVE

of bringing together, on the above date,
the English residents ofthis city and coun-
ty, and have a pleasant reunion. The
idea was no sooner conceived than 1t was
THE TRIBUNE and Plot, calling the at
tention of ali Engiishmen to the intended
reunion A hearty response was met with
which eliminated on last Friday evening
at the Nindiatc House, where were assem-
bled no less than one hundred and forty
two guests, coming from all parts Of the
county and other places.
The gentlemen who had the matter Of
decorating the Windiate House dining hall
in hand, (Messrs William and George
Cox, spared no pains in their efforts to
please the eye, and they were successful in
an eminent degree. Ga Friday morning
the large dining hall of the Windiate
House was surrendered to these gentle
men. and, Il short space Of time, the
change was magical. The wall and the
center of the room were festooned with
the colors of the United States, and at the
head of the room, in the center, was
large and beautiful transparency of the
Arms Of Great Britain, tthe work Of the
pencil of Mr.. Wm. Cox, Of the firm of
Cox & Beasantl, which was surmounted
By a large spread eagle, upon the top Of
which was placed the single word lib
erty.' These transparencies were flank
ed by the Union, jacks Of the United
States and Great Britain. To that OF
the former was appended the motto,
''Our Adopted Country, God Preserved
Her. and to the latter, tOur Mother
Country, God Bless Her" Suspended
from the ceiling in the center of the room
was a full-rigged ship, handsomely de-
corated with evergreens and flags, to
which was attached The appropriate mot
to, The Sons and Daughters of Old and
New England, Hand in Hand. In the
center of the middle table We noticed a
small sprig of tho ''Niisletoe Bough"
At 6 p. m. the guests began to arrive,
aud in short time the spacious parlors
were filled with the fair daughters and
stalwart sons of Britain. The grand piano
was soon put into requisition, and Miss
Eta Barrie sang as only she can do, the
beautiful songs Of "Only" and Rouse,
Brothers, Rouse" Mrs Mendlick regal
ed the. company with some beautiful
home songs, which were encored and APP
plauded by the company.
The dining hall was thrown open at 9
p. m. land the tables literally groaned with
the good things there gathered, not the
least of which was an immense round of
beef, which was presided over by Thos.
ESQ. who was supported byHon /
VIM. Eatough, VIM. II. Croker, aud w.
Fl. Phipps, Esqs. The Chat man babe |
welcome 20 the assembled company, and
then called upon the Rev. Thomas Boil
lom to invoke the blessings of God.
Rev. Mr.. Bollom responded to the call
by stating that it was the custom in Eng
land to sing hymn for grace, and gave
put the following, which was sung by the
whole company
"Be present at our table, Lord,
In this and every place adored;
These creatures bless, and grant that
May feast in Paradise with thee"
This was followed by the clatter Of
Knives and forks, and the general inter
change of good feeling.
Among the invited guests present were
His Honor, Mayor Johnston. Hon. Carl
Schmidt, Hon. Jos. Rankin, Mr.. Fred
Borcherdt, ofthe TRIBUNE, Mr.. Edward
Conway, MIR. Henry Sibree, and number
Of other gentlemen.
When the cloth was removed the
Chairman announced as the first regular
toast:
The occasion Of our gathering"
which was drank standing, aud with
cheers.
Mr.. Thos. Robinson. the Chairman, in
explanation of the above toast, made the
following remark:
Ladies and Gentlemen The occa-
sion that brings us together had its foun-
dation in desire, prompted by the pres
ent festive season Of the year, this being
sod Christmas Eve in which myself
and several esteemed friends Of our ma
tionality desire to meet as many OF the
sons and daughters Of the Land of the
Roses" as could be assembled in our
county, for the purpose of forming
social acquaintance, and refreshing our
memories with the associations of our
early life, which, to me, become more
vivid the older | grow; and with these
objects in view [ now invite you to
make yourselves at home and hope that
each and every one of you will enjoy
yourselves in tho manner and style of
merry old England"
Our mother country
The above toast was responded to by
Mr.. John Smith, Jr., of Gibson, who ex-
pressed the wish that some one who had
lived longer in his native land had been
called upon to respond to a toast so
fraught with tender ties and memories.
He drew pretty pictures of his boyish
days, and concluded with an eloquent
apoStrophe to the land of his birth.
The land Of our adoption.
This toast was responded to by Rev.
Mr.. Bollom, who said that he had trav-
eled In the North, the South, the East
and the West-in fact, all over this coun.
try, and now it afforded him a great
Measure to greet so MANY of tba fair