The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-12
GENERAL GRANT.
The Banquet Last Night
Ex-Army and Navy and Minis
ters' Reception.
THE BANQUET.

the most complete success, socially, estheti-
cally and gastronomically considered. that
Cincinnati has ever enjoyed. The General
arrived early and received such gentlemen
- chose to pay their. respects in the parlors
of the hotel with his accustomed quiet
manner A little before 8 o'clock the band
In the corridor struck up the march, which
was the signal for the supper to begin, and
the General, leaning on the arm of Gov
ernor Bishop, led the way to the banquet
room.
The principal table was occupied by the
following distinguished gentlemen: Gen.
Grant, and at the right of him Gov. Bishop,
Hon. w. 8. Groesbeck, Hon. Samhel F.
Hunt, Hon. A. F. Perry, j.. Edwin Spear,
Rev. Mr.. Jaggar, Murat Halstead, ESQ.,; to
his left Judge Taft, Mayor Jacob, Gen. Ty-
ner, Richard Smith, Esq, Judge Force,
Hon. Ben. Eggleston.
TIE superb dining-room of the Grand was
ablaze with light, the tables decorated with
the devices of the cook disposed at suitable
intervals amid exquisite floral designs in
the most delicate flowers. In front OF Gen.
Gmnt's seat was placed a floral flag, the
bonny red and white, formed of carnations,
and the field of violets and heliotrope.
The flowers furnished for the occasion
were supplied by the Cincinnati Foral
Company. r..t te'
The influence of the taste born of the
Exposition was seen on the floral table
decorations, all of which were in fiat bask-
cts that permitted an uninterrupted view
of all parts of the tables and room. The
company was select and elegant, being
composed in the main of representative
men of the city, and would have been
greatly larger had the seating capacity of
the room permitted The seats provided
numbered some 275, all of which were
filled. So complete were the arrangements
of the hotel that each guest was served
without haste, and as completely as at the
most thoroughly ordered private table.
The chef de cuisine was an artist and the
menu was beyond criticism. The bill of
fare. which consisted of ten courses, was
carried through with precision and with
the most perfect promrtness. Every dish
of the whole course elected the most UNI
qualified satisfaction from the guests. We
append the bill as presented:
Rhine wine Raw oysters on half shall
Sherry. Chicken consomme, 4 In Sevigne
Rhine winc Kennebeck salmon, sauce Nor
mAnde. Potato crOquettes. ..
Bweetbreads. French green peas
Champagnc--Mumm En-. Dry; Pommery, Sec
Filet de bnuf with mushrooms.
supreme of chicken. Asparagus.
Punch, a la ROlnaine. >.s -s.
Cha et Diamond back terrapin, la Mary
land. '.t
Quail, braise aux Cressons.
sa.ad, a la Mayonase uecoree.
De sert. Coffee
The Hon. Alphonso Taft, who presented
the toasts OF the evening and designated the
speakers, did so in most felictous manner
and the speeches themselves we're received
with applause. The matter of post pran-
dial oratory is so apart from the ordinary
public speaking that he is happy, indeed,
who possesses the rare accomplishment,
coupled with the tact, to stop 1t off at the
, joPportppe moment. Dinner oratory, like
wine, should be light and sparkling and not
too profuse. Men dine and are happy.
They do not desire that this happiness
shall be dissipated by turgid platitudes,
that the brain shall be set at work with
solid heaviness and abstruse reasoning,
nor do they care 10 listen to a voice, how
ever silvery, forever Comparisons are
in saying that the graces of the Hon.
Samuel F. Hunt are OF kind that make
his name heard in call for speech with
invariable approval.
Mr.. Halstead was not down among
the persons who were to respond to the
regular toastS, but was called and respond
ed with a terse speech of hearty and appa-
rently sincere welcome OF the distinguished
guest. Mr.. Halstead's remarks were list
ened to with unt1snal interest and were,
moreover, characterized by bit of solid
sense that when he had said, he sat down.
We do not undertake to follow the various
orators of tie evening further than to say
that they were generally such as to com
mand the attention Of the two hundred
and seventy-tiye guests closely. General
Grant himself was SO enthusiastically called
FOR at the close OF Mr.. Hunts speech that
he rose reluctantly and with great modesty
to sa,:
GENTLEMEN OF CINcINNATI-Like all of
you, have listened to every word-all the
eloquent words-which have Just been ut
tered; and have not heard one, except so
far as they apply to myself individually,
that do not subscribe to and indorse in
.Ehe fullest sense. IA voice. Good bcy.']
II the eloquent speaker and myself have
ever differed in politics. don't know why
It has been, except that Ne have voted op-
posite tickets. I.aughter.] Our views GER
tainly have coincided exactly. [Cheers
0entleneN, i tnaHK you IOT listening W Cne
words you have heard so eloquently spoken
by the last gentleman, and for the greeting
which you give me here. [Cheers.
The simple brevity and sincerity of the
Generals remarks ELECTED thunders Of
cheers from everybody in the room. and
one enthusiastic gentleman rose and said,
II want to remember that speech, and will
listen to nothing further tonight" So
saying, he rose, and Immediately left the
hall. Major Bickliam, Of the Dayton Jour
nal, was called for towards the close of the
entertainment, but with his habitual mod
esty, refused to hear the demand The en-
tertainment closed at about half past
Ia. m. -'sl 81,
The toasts of the evening and the ora
.ors who responded. were as follows Judge
Taft presenting the toasts, and introducing
the speaker first: ga5l
''The United States OF America" Re-
sponded to by the Hon. VIM. H. Groes
beck. %t.' z" 'rt' ttiff
Second, "Our Guest" Responded to by
Hon. 8. F. Hunt. ,.l. ...-.,. .,.ssr
Third, "The City of Cincinnati" Re-
sponded to by Mayor Jacob. ,iIS
Fourth, ''The State Of Ohio" Responded
to BY Governor Bishop.
Fifth, ''The Civil Authority Re.