The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-28
Our New York Letter.

Our New York Letter.
The New England Dinner.-The Speeches
and the Speech-makers.-A Memorable
New YORK, Dec %, 1876
The New England Dinner-always an ex-
ceedingly interesting event of the holidays
was this year more attractive and impressive
than ever. The occasion derived its especial
importance from the presence, for the first
time, of the head of the nation. 1t is no small
mark of respect and consideration towards the
society, for the President to make journey
from the Capital expressly to join in its COM
memoration of the landing Of the pilgrims.
The General of the Army-ever most well
come guest at this yearly feast-manifested his
regard for New England, by coming all the
way from st. Louis to participate in the cele-
bration. The compliment paid to the Society
by both these eminent men was the more
marked because of the fact that no incidental
errand called them hither. They came for the
exclusive purpose of attending the dinner, and
returned to their respective homes on the fol-
lowing morning.
The scene in the reception rooms and subse-
quently in the banquet hall was brilliant and
imposing The President arrived shortly after
six o'clock, Gen. Sherman was there a little
earlier. The meeting between these two gal
liant comrades in arms was altogether too af-
fectionate to be formal. 1t was one Of the
pleasantest sights imaginable to witness their
cordial greeting of each other. It carried the
memory back to those eventful times, when
they held anxious counsel over the nations des-
TIMES amid the alarums of war. If only Sheri-
dan could have been one of the party the group
would have been complete, for that would have
brought together the three most illustrious he
roes of the century, as brave, generous, unself-
ish and reciprocally attached trio as ever
lived.
As might be taken for granted the rooms
were filled to their utmost capacity. During
the half hour preceding the march to the din
ing apartment as many were presented to, and
shook hands with, the President as the time ad-
| mitted of. AT given signal by the band, the
| members took their places at the tables, and
| then the guests walked in, arm in arm, the
| President of the Society escorting Gen. Grant,
| and the Vice President Gen. Sherman. The
| former was seated on the right and the latter
on the left of the ''chair," an arrangement
| which subjected the occupant of that place to
| slight disadvantage in consequence of the in
clination of the two Generals to talk across
him. during the pauses between the courses.
The applause which saluted the President as
| he entered had the true ring of spontaneity as
well as of heartiness The great General was
honored with similar expression of enthusi-
asm, and when the blessing had been asked
| and the assembage seated the tout ensemble
was simply perfect The tables were elegantly
decorated, not single chair was unoccupied
| and the persons who filled them represented
almost every phase of enterprise, culture and
achievement, which marks the progress of the
age. Besides the speakers, of whom 1 shall
presently make mention, there were ex-Gov.
Morgan, Andrew D. White. President of Cor
nell University, Rev. DR.. Bellows. Collector
| Arthur, Judges Hacke tt and Giidersleeve,
District Attorney Phelps, Levi P. Morton,
Stewart L. Woodford, Charles L. Tiffany, j.
Pierrepont Morgan, VIM. II. Webb, Cyrus w.
| Field, and a great many others scarcely less
distinguished in the respective vocations in
| life which they have adorned by thrift, sa-
gacity and we'll directed energy. The viands
having been discussed and the cloth-meta-
phorically-removed, the proceedings began in
earnest The presence of the Executive of the
nation was referred to in the opening remarks
| of the presiding officer, and on the instant the
two hundred and forty gentlemen on the floor
rose to their feet and amid the waving of hand
kerchefs and the music of jingling glasses,
| gave round of applause that made the rafters
| quiver. 1t was an act of hospitality all the
more graceful and becoming for the reason
that it was obviously impulsive and natural
From this point everything went on swim
mingly. The company were in such good hu-
NOR, that they seemed to illuminate the scene
| with their smiling faces.
The response to the great sentiment of the
| occasion, "The day we celebrate was assigned
| to that most incompatible of orators, Joseph
| III. Choate who performed the duty with his
usual grace and excellence. His speech not
| only abounded with telling hits and clear
| cut passages of rhetoric, but his elocution was
/ as perfect as it always is, and he kept his audi
ence in wrapt attention from beginning to end,
save when they interrupted him with bursts
of laughter or tumultaous cheers. People who
have never seen or heard the gifted advocate
| may infer from the name that there is a re-
semblance in his style and manner to that of
his distinguished namesake and kinsmsn,
Rufus Choate. Whatever likeness there may
be in the effects they produce there is very
| little in the methods they employ. The young
er Choate differs from his prototype in COM
plexion, temperament, and modes of express
sion. In lieu of that vehemence and impetu-
osity which made Rufus Choate irresistible in
forum and court room and bewidering to the
most expert reporter, our Joseph is a calm.
deliberate, sef-possessed speaker, and his sem
tences are delivered in tone that, though easy,
is measured, every word being enunciated with
the utmost distinctness and precision. His
bearing is frank and ingenious, and his fea.
| lures are remarkable for their classic regu-
larity and comeliness No one man has spoken
SO often as he at these annual gatherings, and
| yet he is always fresh, sparkling and original
| and always received with the warmest saluta-
| tions.
| The toast in honor of "the President of the
| United States was answered by the whole as
| semblage, who rose and repeated with una
bated ardor the cheers with which they greeted
the first mention of his name. He politely
bowed his Acknowledgements, having previously
declared his purpose to maintain that dignifed
silence which he has so seldom broken during
his eventful and ilustrious public career. His
hosts, with the good breeding which is char
aeteristic of the race whence they sprang,
| aeq1iesced in his decision without a murmur of
| dissent.
| The toasts to cur guests brought out Hon.
| Wan. 7. Davis of Plymouth, who represented
the society of the historic town whose name it
bears, and whose address was finished and
scholarly tribute to the Puritans. Then followed
that matchess wit and genius, Gen. Horace Por-
ter, whose capacity to set table in roar never
could have been surpassed in any age. If the