The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-28
Guard Of the 1ionmonuenIsl.J

THE 5.SENENTH AEStFERSA-
fesRY--TARG EI-P RACTI oBitsaTz CIAREESe
i LAST MIGHT AT aNT0S1ss
sit SALOON 0S4~sPEECH-MAKIHGsl 7stt 'fef!tltts
The Gunrd Of the Common nwealth Com
Epany sc, ~ OF the First FegimentI yestef-
day celebrated its seventh, anniy yersary. It
/ is afine organization, both as TO the per-
sonal character OF its members and military
standing. IT began with good material, and
the standard has never been lowered. Cap
tain M. L. Spotswcod is it's present COM
mander, and worthily does he fiji the: posi-
ton, and ably are his efforts seconded
by the subordinate officers. With forty
men, rank and file, the company. keeping
step to the inspiring strains OF Voelker's
/ band, yesterday marched from it's armory to
Clarke's Spring. The movements OF the
command were fine, and the appearance Of
the men handsome.
AT Clarke's Spring there was target
practice, during which there were an unu-
sual number of good shots. Three trials
were allowed each man. Captain NJ. L..
Spotswood and Corporal q. s. Crenshaw
were nearly equally matched in skill, but
upon close measurement the prize was
awarded the latter. Private Spence struck
the bulPs-eye ut one shot. There was also
firing by the company at hat fixed to q
tree. Then, also, there Was some good
craftsmanship. This martial exercise over
the company returned to the city.
BANQUET-LETTRRs.
at 8 O'Clock last night the Guard, with
many guests, sat down to an inviting BAN
tquet prepared by Antoni, and spread in his
elegant saloon en- Main street. q
The following letters, by request OF the
Committee Of Arrangements, were read by
Captain Bidgood: ~ s1s@:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. 4
| GovERNoR's OFFICE,
RICHMOND, May %, 1878.
| Lieutenant g.. Kennon Wren, William Il.
| Moore, Esq, and j. Archibatd Cary.
Esq, Conon,attee: ll-.> II. 't
Gentlemen,-Accept my thanks for your
kind invitation "to attend o banquet on the
occasion OF your seventh anniversary" h.s
/ am sorry that my engagements forbid
my accepting. 80 -
I.wish on happy time on this OCCASION,
and many more such in the future. With
each / hope you may manifest more enthu-
siasm and more strength. / am very sure
arise, to be what your name impartS-a
"Guard OF. the Commonwealth"
Very truly yours, Z
FRED. w. NJ. HOLIDAY.
Reception Committee, Guard of The Com
m,on,oeaLth:
Gentlemen invitation TO attend the
banquet on your seventh anniversary was
duly received, but postponed my reply
until now in the hope of making arrange
ments that would enable me to attend.
Much to my regret, however, am unable
to do so.
1t is a great disappointment to me; for
no American values the volunteer service
more highly than /, or is more deeply in
terested in the success Of your organization.
Most respectfully yours,
j. E. JOHNSTON.
Letters were also read from 81. G. White
head. Junior First Lieutenant Norfolk Light
Artillery Blues; X. Otey, Captain Lynch
burg Home Guard; Lieutenant Colonel
Walter Wilson, OF the First Division Ma
tional Guard OF Pennsylvania, Lieutenant
r. G. NJ. Wingfeld, OF the Norfolk Light
Artillery Blues; Captain A. II. Fultz, OF
the &aunton Artillery; and j. Herbet Stiff,
OF Staunton.
| .aI p SPEECHES.
The understanding was that there were
to te no speeches. But Mr.. Kelley being
present and his oratorical powers well
known to all, demand was made upon him
so Justify that he was compelled to respond.
With exquisite humor he told q story
(beeging the pardon Of DR.. Hoge, who had
a seat near him) with the scene laid at o
military banquet at Baltimore. Among the
guests there was one who ale little and
drank much. The tables were spread in
q long hall, and the band Of music was
at the end most remote from where the
sneakers stood. Sometimes when, the
speakers would lower their voices the
! band, thinking the orators done, would
commence to play, and with the noise OF
their brass pieces etfectually end the half
delivered speeches. This annoying feature
of the evenings entertainment attracted the
attention OF the tipsy guest, and drew from
him the only remark he made during the
cyening-(hic) "Mr. Kelley, id sensi
bic band" [Great laughter.] :;
Rev. Dr.. Hoge, the chaplain OF the First
regiment, was also called upon for speech
The company were congratulated by Cap
tain Spotswood that DR.. Hoge, who wa:
seldom present on such occasions, was here
DR.. Hoge said that it was his under
standing that there were to be no speeches.
speech-making was, he said, q leading char
acteristic OF the Virginia and American
people. II railroad is commenced, q brldg'
begun, cornerstone laid, or banquet held
whatever the OCCASION, there must be {
speech. Each country, however, has its char
acteristics. The. Spanish have their bull
1 fights, the English their dinners, the Frenci
their gala-days, and The was almost, AFRAID I,
say so in the presence Of Mr. Kelley the Irisl
l their sh,lIaehs. [Great laughter.l Then
why should we not have Our speaking 2 g
any rate, the unsuccessful, effort against i
4 tonight is but an illustration OF the diM
! Guilty OF changing q national custom. =;
AiIuding to the remark that he had sci
! dom been present ut excursions and ban
uuets, DR.. Hoge spoke very kindly OF ou
citizen soidiery. He said that the time ma.
come when the Guard OF the, Common
wealth may be called upon to guard tn
Commonwealth, and il such a time shoult
come, he promised to be with the regiment
TGreat applause.] He alluded eloquenti.
| TO the regiment's service at Hollywood o.
memcrial-day, and said that as long as yalo
and patriotism have place in our heart
: we cannot forget the noble men who gay
their lives so splendidlg, il so unsuccess
fully, for the cause Of liberty. He belleret
that such occasions as memorial-day beneh
cial to the cause OF liberty, and had n
doubt that the spirit OF liberty will surviy
here wherever else it may die. Applause.
Short speeches were also made by Capta'
John S. Wise, Adj utant 10. Lane Stert
7 Major Anderson, Lieutcnant-Co Colonel Pul
cell, Colonel John F. Lay lin response to
toast to &c The Governor ~, General Harr
i Hett lin response to "Tbe Memory OF On
!, Fallen Dead"), Pollce-Justice. White, Gen
raj r. Lindsay Walker, j. a. H st. Al
{ drew, and Colonel John 3. Cary. After Il
. banquet the company accepted an inYitatio
!, OF the ladies to visit the Carnival. ,,r.s,,,
..