The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-02-01
thoughtful generosity which distinguish

IN their pockets to get rid OF him. Their
generosity conceived the "GIand Hayes Tes-
timonlal Benefit Literary and Musical En-
tertainment" of last night. Pecksniff Gram
MAJ School No.. 2. presented a brilliant ap-
pearance, being illuminated by fifteen tallow
candles, and decorated with notices, such as
1.-THE Thing Done Availeth-R. B. H."
Economy is Wealth-R. B. H." and Fire
mont Grieves when Hayes Leaves" The
Fremont Band, formerly the Hayes and
Wheeler Drum Corps, struck up the
''Rogue's March" as Hayes entered the hall,
leaning on the arms Of Schuyler Colfax,
who had been imported from Indiana at
great expense. Mr.. Celfax smiled fxedly on
taking the chair. 1t was remarked that he
looked less like a seraph and more like a
gargoyle than formerly. He said it Was not
his intention to occupy much Of their time.
Long continued applause. He had come
from South Bend at great personal incon-
venience, and had sacrificed an engagement
as referee at a baby show fer the purpose Of
being present to do honor to the beneficiary
of the evening, the pious, the prosecuted
be was sorry to add, the penniless Hayes.
For what was a baby, or a bevy of babies,
compared with Ohio's favorite son ? He
sympathiz4d in an especial manner with Mr..
Hayes. 1t had been his own fortune to oc-
cupy positions of public trust, to be accused
of corruption, to be called a fraud and thief
a voice, ''That's So" sensational and to live
for years in ohloguy and obscurity. So had
the honored beneficiary of this patriotic and
eleemosynarY entertainment. Both for Mr..
Hayes and himself he appealed from a licen-
| tious press to the righteous judgment of pos
terity, Meanwhile, both Mr.. Hayes and him
self were happy.
Mr.. Hayes then came forward, and was
received with an outburst of applause which
drowned the malignant demonstrations of
few disaffected persons, evidently Democrats
who had entered the hall, it is feared, with
out paying The admission fee, and who
shouted ''Iilden' in a most disgraceful man
ner, Mr., Hayes spoke as follows;
Mr.. President and fellow citizens, I am
about to leave you. Tremendous applause
/ am gratfied At this token OF your conf
uence. | am q poor man. | was a poor
that | saved q portion Taught Or my salary
when l was Pres-[pl otrac1eu Missing when
| was al Washington. But | have been
Obliged to make 1t over to trustees to protect
myself from the grasping avarice OF that
penurlous, cold-blooded. selfish scnemer,
| Samuel j. Tilden Cheers and Kisses. 1t is
said that | have inherited property. That
belongs to my children. | have already spent
too much of it in indiscriminate charity.
Laughter] | am enabled by your kindness
10 pass my declining years at the Old Mems
| Home. / am not old in years; why, then do
I.enter the Oid Mems Home? la voice:
Because you're an oil fraud" Because,
my friends, | am good and pious beyond my
| years. Some men are both beautiful and
good, like my playmate, Deacon Richard
Smith. Some are beautiful and no good,
like Conkling. [Hisses. For myself, | am
merely good. Remember that when I'm
gone. Remember what | have written in
many Of your albums. Economy is wealth.
The Thing lone avails. Be v%irtuous and you
will be happy. Let it be written on my
tombstone. He was the friend of Stanley
Matthews and the foe Of rum" | have
done.
Mr.. W. K. Rogers then recited "Over the
Hill to the Poorhouse," and in response to
an encore repeated the beautiful poem be-
ginning thus:
Oh, water for me-bright water for me;
But wine for the tremulous debauchee.
The Chairman of the Committee of Ar
rangements said that the musical part of the
entertainment would be given up, on account
of the refusal of Carl Schurz, who had been
billed to render a musical olio, to accept less
than $500 for his services. Misses and
groans.l Mr.. Evalts had sent a long con-
gratulatory despatch, but had forgotten to
prepay it.
Mr.. Colfax then introduced Mr.. K. w.
Thompson as This distinguished fellow citi-
zen, the Nelson of Indiana, whose name was
Immortality associated with that element
which had been tor years his only drink.
Mr.. Thompson read q paper on 1.-The In
provement of our Merchant Marine by the
Elimination of Grog and Profanity from the
Forecastle."
The introduction Of Private Dalzell, who
attempted to read a sketch of the military
Services of ex-CoDgressman Hayes emptied
the hall in three minutes. Photographs of
HAYES and the Electoral Commission were
for sale at the door.
The entertainment netted $35. The COM
mittee hope to raise the entire sum ($100).