The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-01-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
eFnox orr SPECIAL coRREsroSDEsr.l
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10. 1851.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1881.
Hon. Daniel J. Morrell, Of Johns
town, Pa, paid the capital city a
short visit last week, and during his
stay here was the recipient of unus-
ual attention by Government Off
cials, Senators and Representatives.
His coming was in connection with
the presentation on the part of the
members of the Philadelphia Cen
tennial Commission of Il testimonial
to Gen. Joseph K. Hawley of Con
necticut, their president in that
grand enterprise which has done so
much to impress the country and
the world at large of the greatness
of the United States of America.
This duty which brought Mr.. Nor
rell here was one of his greatest
pleasures, and the occasion was en-
hanced by the distinguished gather
ing that assembled at the handsome
parlors of Gen. and Mrs. Hawley on
"Cn street on Wednesday evening to
witness the interesting ceremony IN
which he was the moving spirit.
Cards Of invitation were issued to
gentlemen only, but Mrs. Hawley
was assisted in receiving her hus-
bands guests by a limited number
of ladies, among whom were Mrs.
Myra Clark Gaines, of New Orleans
fame. Seven members of the Cen
tennial Commission were present,
viz Gen. Hawley, Hon. d. J. Nor
reIl. of Pa, Mr.. Thomas Donaldson,
of Montana, Representative Loring,
Of Massachusetts,, Mr. Alex. r. Bote-
Ter, of Virginia, and Mr.. l.. A. Cob
right and DR.. Dexter of the District
of Columbia. Among those present
to meet these gentlemen and witness
the presentation ceremony were Pres
ident Hayes, Gen. Sherman, Secre-
taries Sherman, Schurz and Ramsey,
Postmaster General Maynard Sen
ators Platt and Morrill,, Representa-
tives Chahin, Tyler, Russell, Ballou,
Chittenden, McCook, Townsend,
Monroe. Neal Burrows and several
others of prominence in Congress !;
Mr.. Yung Wing, Commodore Shock,
Major Ben. Perley Poor, Mr.. Charles
Nordhoff and Webb Hayes.
The memento was a beautiful sill
yer vase. 1t was concealed from
view under the folds of a silken flag
till after a brief and pithy resume Of
the work of the Centennial Commis-
sion had been given by Mr. d. J.
Morrell, when Mr.. Thomas Donald,
son removed the flag, and in des-
criptive speech presented the offer
ling to Gen. Hawley. The power of
this impromptu orator took every
one by surprise. The President, in
subsequently congratulating General
Hawley, said: you were not only
eloquent yourself, but you were the
cause of eloquence in others Gen.
Hawlev's acceptance of the testimo-
NAL was full of good sense, modesty,
and good feeling. 1t was fraternal
in the tributes it paid all his CO.
workers in that arduous enterprise,
and was valuable as a contribution
to public knowledge Of the inner
workings of the Commission. Tbs
three speeches of the evening should
be collected and preserved for per
manent reference.
A social hour of much interest
followed, and a delicate collation.
was served in the rear parlor.
The vase and the stand on which
it rests deserve special mention, not
only for their elegance, but for the
representative character of their COM
ponent parts. The vase is about II
inches in height, OF unalloyed silver,
and Of unique shape, and bears the
inscription:
To