The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-23
TIE NEW ENGLAND DINNER
THE PILGRTN FfTHFRs' MEMORY
HONORbD ~ VIEW YORK.
Mark Twain in his Most Whimsical Post-
PrnndinI Uunor The IDcorrieibiIiy OF
New England Weather Old Prob. Astrny.

Mark Twain in hi. Most Whimsical Post-
Prnudial Humor The Incorrieibiiity OF
New England Weather -Old Prob. Astrny.
The New England Society and their
guests, making a company Of 2l3. sat down to
their annual dinner In Dclmonico's restaurant
last evening. Grace was said at tho table 10y tho
Rev. John Cotton Smith, and MIR. William Bor-
den, President OF the society, presided, and
with MIN, consIicuously seated at raised
table, were cx-Gov. Edwin ID. Morgan. MIR. Geo
william Gu lis, the Rev. Edward Everett Hale,
Mark Twain, Mayor wickham. Mr.. Joseph II.
Choatc, the Rev. DR.. William Taylor, Mr.. Elliot
G. Cow din, Commodore J. w. A. Nicholson, Mr
ID. 4. MacMahon, Bartholdi, the sculptor, and
Mr.. Isaac II. Bailey
The hall was bright with its fresh frescoing,
the tables we're handsomely but not lavishy
decorated with flowers, the music was excellent,
and almost continuous throughout the time Of
eating. and there was crescendo Of hilafity
covering the evening. There was, however, a
scanter number OF guests Of national reputa-
tOn th9n in some former years. Perhaps the
most interesting speech Of the evening was that
OF Mark Twain In response to the toast:
"The oldest lnhabitant- fhc weather
WHO hath lost and doth forgctu7
Who hath It sul and doth regret ltp
lnterpose betNHtus i,rnn." ~.
Mr. Clemens said; "Ireyefently believe that
the Maker who made It's all makes every hing IN
New England nut the weather. dont know
prentices tn the weather clerks factory who OK
pertinent and learn how In New England for
board and clothes. and then arc promoted ~
make weather Tor countries that require good
art Gle, and VIII take their custom elsewhere II
they don't get IT, Laughterl
" II was thtt made the fame and fortune u
that man that had that marvellous collection of
weather on oxhibiti II AZ the Centennial. that 81
travel all over the world. and get specimens
from all thu climcS. | said don't you DO 1t;
you come to New Ensl nj on favorable spring
day. ! told him what we could do ln the way
uf style, variety, and quantity. Laughter
Well. he came ana he made his collection N
that lie got hundreds OF KINDS oi weather that
he had never heard Of before. And as to guam
tity well. after he had picked out ana discarded
all that was blemished IN any way, he not only
had weather enough tut weather 10 snare;
weather to hire out weather to sell; 10 de-
po-it weather to invest; weather to give to tho
IoOr. Laughter and applause
"Old Probabties b = mighty reputation
for accurate trophccy and thoroughly well de-
serves u. You Ike up the paper aud observe
to-day's weather going TO o9 ON the Pacinc,
down south, in the Middle States, IN
tho Wisconsin region-see him sail along
tHs sSs Sew SS knsnd d. ans Snd '%gr Ssn sto .
his tai drop. lie doesn't know what the wealth
er J.. gong TO bo IN New England. lie can't any
more tell than he can tell how many Psesi-
| dents OF tho United states there's going to
be next year. Applause. Well. he mulis over
| It, and by aud by he gets out something about
| like this: Probable noreast to souwest winds,
BASTARD, and points between, hien and low
| barometer.sW WnpItng around itOn place to place
| probable areas ot rain. snow, hall and drouth,
| succeeded or preceded hy earthquakes, With
| thunder and lightning. Loud laughter aud ap-
pisuse.l Then he juts down this postscript from
| his wandering mlnd, to cover accidents; Is Il
II IL possible that the programme III ~ 10 wholly
changed IN the mean time lloud lAusht,rJ
" Yes. one of the brightest gems In the New
England weather u the dazzling uncertaibtl Of
| il. There Is only one thing certain about II -
| wosthel-lisughterl "A perfect grand review
| but you never can tell which eud uf the process
sion is going to move first. You Tx up for tn,
drought; you leave your umbrella in the house
and sally out with Jour sprinkling pot, and ten
to one you get drowned. lAppause.l You
mako up vour mind tnat the earthquake Il
due, and YOU stand from under and take hold
of something to steady yourself, ana the ufst
| thing you know You get struck by Lightning.
| lLlughter.l These are great diSappointmonts.
| Hut they cant be helped. lLaughtcr.l The
nghi ming there il peculiar; IT Is so convincing !;
! when II strikes thing It doesn't leave enough
OF that tnlng behind for YOU to tell whetl err
we'll you'd think II was somsthingv lulbe and
aConeressman mad teen there" Loud laughter
| aud applause.
MIR. George William Curtis responded TO the
toast " Forefathers' bay" Paraphaslng Walton,
| be said "Douutless God might make better
place than New Eosiaud 70 be born IN, but
| doubtless He never did when he spoke OF
| Lincoln as an improved type OF the early Pun
tans he was vigorously applauded. lie said of
| Republicans, we are not Democrats, we are
| Americans. Nor Is the Republican Senate TO IN
sist on its partisan way, nor tue Democratic
House to insist on Its partisan way, but together
they must provide way for an honestly-elected
President, 10 he Democrat or be he republican,
| to be inaugurated." An uproar of applause. and
Il waving OF napkins, followed these words Of an
| honest man.
| 1he toast, "The President Of the United
States" dld not bring out a speaker.
Mayor VICE ms hit, IN response to THE
| City Of New York" was In saying that those at
tnat table who criticised the conduct Of the
| city government ought to remember that nearly
| all OF the important city officials New Eng
| landers. He gave the names in proof Of his as
| sertiOn.
| The Rev. Edward Everett Hale responded TO
| "New England Culture"
| Gen. sherman's name was down for the toast,
| "1he Army aud Navy" but he sent letter IN
| stead of attending, aud Commodore Nicholson
| made the speech, laudIng New Englanders who
| have won distinction in tue military or the val
| service. Gen. Sherman's letter described part
| Of the army as "keepinR the peace between
contending parties in the South, and liable 10
| get the kicks aud cuffs Of both"
| The Rev. Dr. William Taylor responded 10
/ L.. -i..-I IA - N.nr Nm.