The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-28
BANQUET TO TIE SURVIVORS OF
HOODS BRIGADE.

Complimentary Banquet Tendered---The
TOasts-- .Replies--Speeches OF Gov.
Roberts, Gen. Baylor and
Gen. Robertson.
Last night complimentary banquet was
rendered to the survivors of Hoods brigade.
Several tables were spread in shady part of
San Pedro Springs Park, and here the "bnga-
diers," their wives, relatives and guests, in
GLIDING most all the prominent people of our
city, took their seats and partook of the ample
repast laid for them, and of the liberal supply
of claret and champaign which was furnished
for the guests.
The banquet being concluded the president,
Gen. J. B. Robertson, rose and called upon
the secretary, Mr.. r. Burns, who read the
letters from Gen. c. C. Augur, Gen. Joe
Smith and Gen. Small, regretting their ina
bility to be present at the banquet.
The president gave the first toast: "The
health and prosperity of the getters-up of this
entertainment, including the ladies of San
Antonio" and called upon ex-Gov. Lubbock,
the present state treasurer, to respond.
Ex-Gov. Lubbock thanked the president
for the honor of the call, but thought it would
be well if an old man like him was expected
to jump up, they ought to give him notice, so
that he could come to time. He felt honored
to be called upon to address the ladies and
gentlemen assembled to do honor to the sur
vivors of Hoods Texas brigade, in the noble,
hospitable and social city of the Alamo. If
he was expected to return thanks for their
kindness, words were insufficient to express
on behalf of the soldiers and guests their ap-
probation of the hospitality extended to the
Texan soldiers. After the eloquent remarks
they had heard to-day he could not say any,
thing to add to the glory of the brigade, that
had been so honored that day. As far as he
was concerned he felt that if the people of
Texas extended the hospitality of these re-
unions-and he had only drank two glasses of
claret and half glass Of champagne (augh-
ter)-he felt under these inspirations that he
was only forty-fve, and that he could live to
be hundred. He thought these things re-
juvenated-they made an old man young.
With little good living and not too much
drinking a man could we'll live to be a hun
dred years old. There were at least twenty
five good speakers present, and it was re-
markable trait in the American character that
not only were they, as nation, good speakers,
but every man was anxious to be heard-and
his remarks should therefore be brief He
was glad those around him thought so much
of him as to give him the opportunity of say
ing something, if it was only "How do you
do" He did not care to sail under false colors !;
ladies have said to him if he would only dye his
hair, he would be young man-of course
he looked 100 years old now-and he did not
sion that he had the badge of the Hood bri-
gade; that he had fought at Wilderness, at
Gaines Farm and any of those places, but the
boys knew that he had assisted to put that
brigade in motion. The people honored him,
and he honored the badge. They thought
right, but he did not want to deceive them. A
man had told him that day, "Governor, when
| was sick, and wounded, you attended me in
Virginia" A voice: 81 am the man."
(Cheers.) These things drew him, and none
could say he had not helped the blue or the
gray in such cases. He had thought that the
blue and the grey, if competent, should be at
the head of the government held responsible,
and If he did not come up to time cut him
down. When asked, he had never refused to
help the honest soldier who fought for his
cause, yet he had tasted the penalties of rebel
lion, and he had been behind the prison doors
for it. His politics and religion was this, that
the man who drew his sustenance from crib
was bound to defend that crib. II he stopped
in the shanty of man, and it was attacked by
Indians or thieves he should feel bound to
defend it, and so he would, even if he asked
next morning what the row was about. He
always felt that it was an honor to come before
the people of Texas, and especially the people
of San Antonio. 1t was not the first time he
had this honor: for he had been here when
this place was simply village, when he came
in the days Of his youth. And he had been
glad to see the change in the then great state
Then there were fifty thousand, now there
were upwards of two million, and still it grew
daily. She was great state, glorious state
in every way and wherever her name was
spoken, she is entitled to rank high in the
states of the Union. thank you. Mr. Lub.
book resumed his seat amid much cheering.
The secretary explained that Judge Gustav
Cook intended to have been present but he
was detained by legal business. He moved
that he be named the orator of the day for the
next annual meeting. The motion was duly
seconded, and carried "nem con" amid cheers
and Texan yells.
General Robertson next gave the toast, "The
Texas Press" associating with it the name of
Mr.. Ryder-Taylor, of the LIGHT and Austin
Statesman, who he called upon for a response.
Mr.. Ryder-Taylor returned thanks for the
ply to note the proceedings, not to take any
him he would say that he was quite sure that
the press were glad to welcome the survivors of
Hoods Brigade to the city. Their record was
a noble one, their conduct heroic, and that
opinion he was certain his conferers would
endorse. Again he thanked them for the
honor and begged to resume his seat.