The New York herald., 1879-09-19
VETERANS AT DINNER.

THE GARRULITY OF AGE AND THE APPETITES
OF YOUTH AS DISPLAYED BY THE RELICS OF
THE WAR OF 1872.
Mr.. Buel T.. Hitchcock gave dinner yesterday
afternoon the Sea View Palace. Coney Island. to
the veterans of 1872. which proved. on account OF
the liberalty of the host and the care of Colonel
Abbott the proprietor of the hotel very enjoyable
affair The veterans and their friends numbered
eighteen persons. aud some other guests were pres
ent ut the dinner. General Abram Daily, aged
eighty-four, had charge Of his comrades in arms.
and among the other veterans We're Major
Crowley. aged ninety-two; o. Van Ostrun. aged
eighty-seven; Charles Coombs and Al. Blank.
aged eighty-fve; NJ. Van Name. aged eighty-four;
Mr.. Bernard. aged eighty-two; George Page.
F. Megron and George Crygier. aged eighty-one; J.
Stewart. aged eighty. and @. r.. Lillebridge and E.
p. Jenks aged sevcnty-eight. General Daily and
Major Crowley in full uniform the others being
plain clothes. They left pier No. at ten o'clock
yesterday morning. the Rev. Matthew Hale Smith
companying them chaplain. and were received on
the iron pier by Mr. Hitchcock. Of the Ocean Naviga
ton Pier Company, and few friends. Some hours
spent in viewing the wonders of Coney Island,
aud a delight. II have not been here for sixty
years." said of the old soldiers, ''but this
is not the Coney Island knew in my youth.
At three O'Clock the party sat down to dinner.
Scarcely had the turtle sorp aud the delicate salmon
disappeared before the wine began to circulate and
with the wine began the garrulity OF age They did
not wait for the removal OF the cloth before tho
spcechmaking was started There was much thank
funess to Mr.. Hitchcock for the days enjoyment
and Chaplain Smith said in their behalf that they
still have all the fire of the old time in then-f the
country needs them they ready. The greater part
of them poor he sad but still the State Of
New York owes them money to-day. General Daily
followed in speech the gist of which was.
"Let the young do the fighting hereafter;
we have done duty" Then Major Crow
ley rose but he could only be seen. not heard
His gestures were strong, but his voice weak.
In commenting on his oratorical difficulties Daily
aged eightyfour, said Of Crowley, aged ninety-two
Somebody gave him stone fence stronger than
he's accustomed TO-" The of laughter which
greeted this sally was long andloud. Mr.. Hitchcock
responded, saying that what he did for these men
only the duty Of every American citizen for the
few who still remain of the band that fought the
battles OF 1872 Mr.. Stewart was then called npon
but, without rising. he remarked that he was no
hand to make speech. but that his feelings
good toward all the veterans aud toward the giver of
the dinner. 1t was then announced that General
Daily would sing o song, and so he sang
When my old now,
A hundred years ago.
They dared we'll bc damned as fight
Whom my old hat was new,
elciting great applause After this Major Crowley
grew more garrulous than ever. He complained of
the miserable pittance OF 500 year which is paid
to tho old soldiers and "if have to stand at the
gates of heaven with my sabre Ill drive all my
mics away I'll ask them If they ever contributed
to the veterans of their country, aud il they say
No. TIL drive them down to hell" About this
time the venerable Stewart heard to call. "Have
you another cool glass of wine,'' ut the same time
commenting the Majors last speech. "He has
the Same old spell on him he had sixty years ago.