The New York herald., 1876-02-23
ON WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.

Some four Ave years ago the prominent residents
of Washington Heights resolved upon celebrating the
birthday OF Washington in a patriotic manner, and
after various conferences between several gentlemen,
including N. A. Lespinasse, II. B. Perkins Carman
Combes. ex-Aderman William Van VOORHEES,,
A. L. Soulard, l.. Z. RAIDER and G.T S.
Lespinasse, tho proposition was carried out,
and regularly each year goodly company OF
patriotic admirers OF Washington Washington
Heights have gathered at schedler's Hotel At High
Bridge, to commemorate the day The dinner last
night was, II anything, successful than the pre-
vious ones. The menu was all that could be desired,
and the Committee of Arrangements left nothing want
ing TO make 1t really enjoyable affair. H. b. Perkins
occupied the chair and Carman Combes the vice chair.
These gentlemen ably supported by Messrs
Soulard d. w. Van Voorhies, Isaac ]. Stirling, d. s.
Baker, George Lcspinassc and f. E. Provost OF
the Committee OF Arrangements. About eighty gen.
temen participated in the festivities. including
Judge Friedman General Warren Nash, L. B.
Rader J. L. Anthony, Or. Pcet, of the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum; j. o. West and Ambrose
H. Purdv. When the cloth had been removed
The Chairman, Mr.. H. b. Perkins thanked the gentle
men having the dinner charge for the courtesy paid
him selecting him preside He referred to the period
nearly the whole OF Manhattan Island Will
derness whose echoes were awakened by the plashng
paddles of the red mans canoe, :he sharp crack ot
the hunters rifle and conrasted ii with the great en-
porium Of the New World, with its broad avenues It's
churches and its solid temples flcarning AMER dwell
Ing upon the great progress made IN the country in
the development of all that makes people prosper
and happy, Mr.. Perkins referred TO Washington
whose memory they had assembled 10 honor TO
night" said be- 1--WE think of him and his brave COM
patriots at Valley Forge, at Trenton at Monmouth and
at Yorktown. Tonight IN imagination we see him as
he stood century ago on that bleak November day on
the opposite banks Of the Hudson, weeping with the
tenderness of child when he saw the glorious ensign
under which he fought go down before the devastating
march OF the 'sordd OF rapne and plumber, and
think of him as the gallant leader of that heroic
little army which crossed the Delaware that dark
cold and stormy December night and for himself
that will ouive in history that OF the 800
Spartans who cll at the bloody pass OF Thermopyle.
The heroes OF our Revolution now sleep in the cold
silence of the grave Their swords hang use
less upon the wall, have been beaten into
ploughshares. Their battered panoply has been laid
aside but their memories still dear to and their
names deeply cngraven all our hearts Ton night
from the bleak hills of Canada the broad
of the south from the great Atlantic that rolls almost
feet and bears upon its storm tormented bos
son. the rich argoscs OF nations 10 the golden gates
OF the Pacific, will be heard the swelling anthem OF
praise of him who laid the foundations Of republic
that hope may be as lasting as the pillars oil eter
nifty. And while We guard with plous care and patrl-
otto zeal great heritage of liberty bcqueahed TO US
by Revolutionary fathers, we should not forget
what eloquent writer has said, that other
civilizations splendid and consummate than our
have frightened along the horizon OF the past and
then faded again utterly tho vivid gorcs of sun
set or the Illuminated mists that the hill tops in
the morning Let us, then, through the aid OF our
colleges and public schools, demonstrate to tho
people of other lands that which has never yet been
written on hstory's page or woven into the poets
verse-the enduring success OF republic" "
Mr. Perkins concluded by some pleasant references
TO the gusto with which the educated American can
turn from the daintly prepared vands to the of
oratory and contend for the golden that glitters
the brow OF eloquence
Among the sentiments honored were, "Washngton"
by Rev. II. II. Brkins; 1.-THE United States" by
Chauncey G. Burr ''Thc American Idea of Govern
ment" by Rev Father Brann "The State of New
York." by Thomas Ecccsine; ''0ur Centennial by
Mr. Purdy; ''Thc City OF New York, F." by Colonel g. T.
Hawes and "The Medical Profession" by DR.. W. +.
rockingham
The programme interspersed by recitation, song
and story, which Messrs. =. +. Sullivan 4. Stems
and William H. Adams led The festivities ended about
midnight and all left well pleased with the manner in
which upper New York had honorcd the natal day of
the "Hatchet Wielder'' of the olden time.