The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-30
A SOLDIERS FEAST.
Third Annual banquet OF the Union
Soldiers AIliancc-Thc Toasts and

| bOiVteFS' AhhtVncc-Inc IOuSts anu
Quests.
Last night, at Aman's restaurant, oc.
CURED the third annual banquet Of the
Union Soldiers Alliance of Washington.
The affair was one of the most pleasant
imaginable. soldier hospitality, conviviality
and cheer being tremendously blended with
the excellent labors of experienced caterers.
At nine o'clock the assembled veterans
and their guests sailed forth to meet their
prey--not that particular kind of prey, by
any means, they went out to meet in
1915, but one moro readily met and easily
conquered-the dining-room and its spread.
The arrangements for the banquet had
been intrustcd to com mittee composed of
Mcssrs. Will A. Short, s. L. Thomson
and w. A. Mills, and right gal
lantly did they perform their function.
A spread was laid for thirty.six persons,
and wasa fitting emblem of soldiery hos.
pitality and the benefcent society which
gave 1t. The tables were brilliant, and the
dining-hall elegantly decorated with
national and regimental flags. Elaborate
menu cards graced each cover, and the feast
was all that imagination brought to q
reality could supply.
When the menu had been thoroughly dis
cussed, old-time field scenes rehearsed,
jokes cracked, many bumpers Of the extra
dry, sherry, etc, drank to the health of
comrades, the secretary read the letters of
respect from absent members. and the pres-
dent, Mr.. Harrison Dingman, announced
the first toast, "The President of the
United States" The party arose and
quaffed in silence to our Chief Magistrate.
Then followed the other toasts, the next
being, 1.-THE Old Flag Our glory, the
ideal of every soldier, the protection of
every citizen" which was eloquently re.
sponded to by Comrade A. +. Mcmillan.
To the next toast, 1.-THE Union Soldiers AL
lance A band of comrades among whom
gentility and good feeling PREVAILS" Com
rade A. Hart responded. Then followed the
toast, "Thc Grand Army of the Republic:
Its motto, Fraternity, Charity, and 10y
atty; its membership is composed Of those
on whom no stain of treason rests" re-
sponded to by Comrade w. Z. Brooks. Then
came the toast to ''The Citizen Soldiery:
In time of peace prepare for war;" re-
sponded to by Comrade s. T.. Thomson.
The ladies were not forgotten, for the next
toast was 1.-THE Heroic Women of America:
God Bless Them for Their Noble Deeds"
humorously responded to by Comrade w. p.
Seville. The next toast was to "The Rank
and File: High Privates in the Front
Rank" to which Comrade Il. G. Cunning
ham made most eloquent reply. The next
regular toast was to "Our Absent Comrades
Thought Lost to Sight to Memory Dear" to
which it was expected Comrade II. J. Gift
ford would reply, but, in his absence, the
toast was drunk in silence, and the follow
ing additional one inserted "The Loyal
Men of the Country" and Gen. George II.
Roberts, the attorney general of Nebraska,
was called to his feet, and held the COM
pany spell-bound by his eloquence. His al
fusion to the mission of the Republican
party excited the widest enthusiasm, and
when he spoke of Gen. Grant
rs the savior of the Nation the
applause was deafening, the entire party
rising to their feet and giving three cheers
for him who is so dear to the heart Of every
Union soldier. The next regular toast was
to ''The daily press A quartet that fur.
nishes most pleasing music, twinkling like
Star. standing firmly as Post, an able
and accomplished CRITIC, and for our Re
puJlic-can be always found q Stalwart de-
responded to this toast, and was followed
by Mr.. James Croggan, of the Star. The
next toast was to "The Hospital Service
to which DR.. d. w. Bliss responded. Then
followed volunteer toasts, among them
being one to the "Union Veteran Corps
which brought forth another very eloquent
speech from Gen. Roberts. The officers of
the Alliance are as follows: President,
Harrison Dingman; first vice president, Z.
W. Oyster; second yice.president
S. L. Thomason; third vice.
president, J. s. Croker; secretary
j. s. Hempel; assistant secretary, George
Simmons treasurer, S. G. Lovejoy proc.
tor, G. Hartcl. The following members
were present: p. Bartlett, II. b. Bennett
E. B. Bedding, N NJ. Brooks, NJ. V. Casey,
]. Coleman, j. S. Crocker, r. G. Cunning
ham, Harrison Dingman, G. @. Ellis,
Gilmore, T. L. Grant A. Hart, G. Hartel
]. l.. Hempel S. A. johnson, E. II. KLEIN
roth, s. G. Lovejoy, r. s. Lytle, w. p
Marsh, A. +. Macmillan, w. b. Morgan, II
B. Miller, w. H. Mills c. C. Royce, W. p
Seville, w. A. Short, Geo. Simmons, u. L
Thomas, and S. Il. Thomson. AS guest:
there were Gen. George ii. Roberts, DIR. ID
w. Bliss, j. S. Croggan, of the Epening Star
j. Y. Potts, of the Post; DIR. +. Il. Howe, o.
the National Republican an EVENING
CRITIC ambassador, and Gen. George II
Roberts, encouragement of Nebraska
DR.. Bliss came in ut u late hour. He wa.
loudly applauded, and the old vets. arose
and drank to his health. The memories OF
last nights banquet will be as fresh and
pleasant in the minds OF those present as u
May mornings dew when the board
Is prepared in 1882. The CRITIC hopes al
its members may be spared to be there.
National Hotel Arrivals.
Samuel Walton, Va; o. w. Waite ant