New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-04
THE BIRTHDAY FEAST.
rHs AUTocRAT' ENTERTAINED AT No1E-
WORTHY BREAKFAsT- BY HIMSELF WHIT

WORTHY RREAKFAsT-POEMs BY HIMSELF WHIT
TIER AND WINTER.
(BT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuSE-l
BosTOx. Dec 3.-Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes
the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. was appro-
priately honored at the Hotel Brunswick to-day bya
breakfast given N his honor by Messrs. Houghton
Osgood a. Coz publishers of The atlantic Monthly. Of
which the genial physician. poet and wit was the
first editor. This entertainment was the second
which the publishers Of the magazine have made IN
honor Of It's most valued contributors; the first hay
ing taken place two years ago. when John Green
leaf Whittier. e. the Quaker Poet of Freedom was
the guest Of the day. As the former OCCASION. the
guests of to-day were mainly contributors OF Inc
atlantic; and the hosts having taken warning by the
storm that was raised about their devoted heads by
their neglect 10 bid the women writers for the maga-
zine to the Whittier banquet were very careful TO
send these contributors special invitations
Breakfast was preceded by a reception in the II
dies parlor and il was nearly l O'Clock when the
company entered the spacious dining ball. which
was Beautifully adorned with flowers that enclosed
portraits Of Dr. Holmes, Longfeiiow, Whittier and
other literary celebrities The breakfast took place
in what ia termed the banquctlng hall
of the hotel. which is at the opposite. side of the
house from the dining hall and regular breakfast
and tea ROOM though on the same floor SIX tables,
of about Give feet in length EACH occupied the
ranged lengthwi-e while the other two were placed
at right angles to them. one at each end Of the
room The space between the tables and the WIN
dows looking ont upon the street filed with
pine trees Of huge size. placed in tubs Of earth,
which III turn placed upon boxes OF pedestas.
The decorations were exclusively floral and very
elaborate. The four large on the side walls
of the hall were tastefuliy hung with iestoons of
smlax interminged with flowers of various Kinds.
The mantels were also profusely filed with rare
flowers and plants, while the tables themselves
were 50 covered with roses carnations. camellias
and other fowers that It seemed doubtful at irst
how the courses could be served. The mcra was
printed on plain paper IN simple lettering
When breakfast was announced. Mr.. Honghton.
senior partner of the publishing house which owns
The AnaaEc Monfbly. led out Mrs. stowe and was
followed by Or Holmes with Mrs. Houghion. Mr..
Whittier coming third with Mrs. Helen Hunt jack
SON" II. H." more notable gathering of liter
airy people was probably never seen IN che country.
| Beside, those above ne toned. there were at the
/ tables Henry ". Longfelow. Charles Dudley War
ner, Ralph Waldo Emerson. William D. Howehs.
Thomas Barley Aldrich. James I. Fields, ex-'iov-
ernor Rice Colonel Warng. John BuTouch- John
/ I. Trowbrdre Colonel Thomas entworth Higgin-
son, " illiam Winter. of THE IRIBUNF the Rev.
Dr. Bellows, james Parton George I. Lathrop,
Edmund Clarence Stedman and Mark Twain The
ladies' Were represented by Mrs. Rose Terry Cooke,
Mrs. Whitney. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Harriet
Beecher Stove. Mrs. Diaz Lucy Larcom. Mrs.
Moulton. Ms. Dorr and others.
THE COMPANY WELCOMED.
Mr. Honghton presided, ana DR.. Holmes sat at his
right both being supported by Mr.. Loreteliow and
Mr. Howells After the breakfast had been discussed
much as all breakfasts even when itefarr Hons
are af taole Mr.. Houghton welcomed the company
,I,usa IN Dr Holu1e- In which. he
said
We cave had before this occasion ~ celebrating
f Are Iud-tcrh Anniversary of ore n o. lend
lrg winter. These remind Us both NJ the age
o.. me 8L0nfic .nd of tine uthnc-s of It, various
contributors. Que 81 the pleasant renln-eehccsot s
RON - art IN lS57 -l among ais LEADING con-
ubufors. Besides our h"nor"d guest LcnsIeio~ EieI
white, Lowell AMI Mr,. rtoNc arr SUI
Who smo the original contributors In res1id o.
inyiuug laGi@s to these festivals We always M
tenael Co invite the adifs But t"s iaet IL rust 's
r-rOrfers VII not hear ~ ~, iOr ii l. -l'hch IT'D
were afraid to ask. for fear Ne should oe re
fused. Those u H. who were once t"unk
hr0bord and courage aed when we were h"'ul in
pop nlonicnious question: The answer 90 zen Na-
.one ard The wnier Of or discomfort had bhcn
,,a Il, sinr ms Suu.uar bv an acceptance and
epccian iust u the answer had been ready for us
ages before iet that popping the question vas D"
gIeaf ffair after all aud should orlI like to 90 81
off.n a. We should nave opportunity has been our
experience toiay, witness the gathering around TINS
hon.d.
Mr.. Houghton then alluded to the strong currents
winch uuderlie DR.. Holiness hebiSome ver-'. and
closed by proposing the sentiment " The Autocrat
of the Breakfast Table. King. I've forever
DIR. HOLMES POEM
After Mr.. Houghtons address, Dr. Holmes, il re-
Spouse to a warm welcome read poem.
Where is Ini- patriarch you are kiudly greeting
Not unfamiliar 60 my ear his name
Nor Yet unAuown % many JOYOUS meeting
In days long vanIshod-is lie still the sainrf
Or changed BY years. forgotten and foreet,'ns
: M o'er III sad, degenerat. present iretting.
WEerr all goes wrong aud nothing a. IL Ought
Old sge The grayoeaId-we indeed know him,
shEunk. lettering. beni. 81 aches and Ills The prey
In sermon. story. fable. picture poem,
or have met him from any earliest day.
In my old 4 -oo toiling tn his bundle
HIS load 0l sucks politely asking death
wao comes when called foi-woul. he iug or trundle
His iagO, Tor niIn Z He war scant Of breath
And sad " E,cesiastes or the Preacher"
Has he not stamped he image on my soul
In that last cnapter where The SorI,-ont teacher
siEhs DER The .oosened cord. the broken how'll
Yes. long indeed I've known him. 40 "A distance
And now nv lifted door-atrh shows HIM here
take his snriveiied mana without reslstahce,
Ana hnd BIN smiling a. his step "ra"s near
What though OF glded bauhlrs ne bereaves us,
Dear to tine heart OF youth. 10 manhoods prime
Think OF the calm he brings the wealth be leaves Us,
TIE boarded spells. tue legacies oi time
Affairs fam ng still with incense fragrant,
PASSIONS uneasy nurslngs rocked asleep.
Life's flow less noisy but the streanl-no~ deep!
stu. as the silver cord ges worn and slender.
llH n-uttnri tArh-WbTh Jugs Win lrsrFuluS
| Hands heel Dful. voices more tendt -
othe with their softened the sumoerous brain
Youth lougs ana Manhood strives, Age remembers-
sits oy the rakeiun ashes OF the past
spread iis tan hands above the whitening emoers
That warm Is creeping Likelihood TIL the last.
Dear L. ifs heart Is every loving token
| That comes unbiadeu its pulse grows colds
Ere TIE Last lingering ties OF lie broken,
It's laDOrs ended ana its story told.
| Al when around Us rosy youth reoices.
| Pr ~ the sOrrO H- alden bre-Zr- ~igh
! Aud through tn choru. OF rs jocuud voices
| TArob- the sharp note o. Misery's helpless cry.
/ Az on thr gauEy Wings OF fancy. flying