The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-23
DINING AND SPEAKING.

THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY AROUND THE TEs-
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
The annual dinner of the New England Society
held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last even
ing was one Of the most successful In the
history OF the society. The main dining room
was filed almost to inconvenience ana among
those present were some Of the best known men In
tho United States The decorations were simple and
appropriate the flag Of the United States being the
chief among them. Among the guests Of the even
ing were General William T. Sherman Secretary John
Sherman. George w. Curtis. Chauncey NJ Dcpew. Gem
eral Hosnoe Porter. Mayor Cooper. Rev. DR.. Storrs
Rev. Dr.. Bellows. George Augustus sala, the presi
dents of st. Georgia., st. Patrick's and St. Andrews
societies. and Woodworker and Bright Eyes. the
Omaha Indians. The dinner began shortly after six
O'Clock and after the viands had been disposed Of and
the guests had chatted freely old times in New
England the president gave the toast of the evening
''The Day We Celebrate: The birthday Of liberty
under lsw for eontinent.-'Of all the days OF the
year upon that day.'-Romeo and Juliet" which
was responded to by George William Curtis.
'sxNToLERANT. BUT NOT HYPocRITICAL."
''But. = said the speaker. 'if Of Pu ritan
forefathers were to como among Us and this
gorgeous banquet by which we celebrate the tri-
umph OF religious liberty he would probsbly thun-
der. in the tones OF the old prophet. Your
appointed feasts my soul hateth.' aud he would
breakfast. But the children, the fathers,
and if our Puritan ancestors could have lived 259
precisely as we do now 1t is their energy and thrift
which have been transmitted down to us. and have
enabled US to build this great country and spread
they would eat the best dinners that this city
can produce as well "a, as we: Our descent 4
and intolerant. but he was not hypocrite.
Puritanism was not Hypocrisy and its
iibsrty ADA left us the glorious heritage We now Gu
JOY 1t decreed the responsibility Of tho King. 1t lev
eled the priestly power and laid the foundation Of
the magnificent structure Of American liberty. Il
an honest religion and it made the spirit which
wrote the Declaration Of independence. Puritanism
American Republic. Our civilization 10 Puritan, not
cavalier and IL the cavaliers had their light and airy
poets II must be remembered ss that the brighte.t
Allegro There are 4l.0o0.000 Of people
sprung from the Mayhower. will not
Pilgrims. but the civilization Of the country
and the principles which govern the administration
T Il has Ss the
us to absorb all the various races which
have come and settled among US. The
the freshman. the Italian-all welded together
into solid mass. leavened by the spirit Of the
Mayfower." Referring to the Revolutionary strug-
gle. Mr.. Curtis pointed out how the stern Puri-
tan spirit enabled the fathers to 60 through
the trying and how IN the the late civil w,
country and overcame the cavalier aristocracy Of
the South. Mr.. Curtis remarks were warmly APP
plauded.
SECRETARY SHERMAN EULoGIzEs GRANT.
The next toast was. 1.-THE President OF the United
Statcs-'As the President of our Kingdom
he'll appear there like o man'-'Antony
and Cleopatra" Responded to by Secretary
Sherman. Mr.. Sherman said the task imposed
upon him was . difficult one. He was expected to
say something. he supposed about the foremost
topic IN the country at present-resumption OF
specie payments. Every Yankee was supposed to
ride hobby, and he was doubtless expected
to ride his. Que OF the hrst duties OF
American citizen to vent his spleen and malice
on the devoted head of the President. But looking
back at the list of men who had filled
to be ashamed Of. The press OF their
day abused Washington. Adams and Jefferson a. tho
vilest Of humanity. To-day they are recog-
nized as real benefactors OF the country. "rhe
press Of to-dav, said the Secretary, "has improved
in this respect and both the man who filled the
Office and present worthy President let of
with comparatively slight abuse. The ilustri-
Gus soldier and citizen who conducted the
late war has won more great battles than Napoleon.
Having served eight years in the Presidential Office.
he made circuit of the world, and came
home with blessings showored upon him in
every language and from every quarter Of the GLOBE
The speaker paid glowing tribute to Cen
eral Grant. and then eulogized tho admintstra-
ton OF President Hayes.