New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-13
GREETING BY DIR. BARKER.

TWAS about 10 o'clock when the smoke from
the lighted cigars of the banqueters
began to wreathe around the expectant faces of MIS-
John Jacob Astor and few other ladies' who had
been admitted to seats in the musicians gal
lery. Dr. Barker raped for silence. There
was evidently an eagerness on all hands for the in
tellectual part of the feast to begin and the action
of the chairman were greeted with cheers mat died
quickly into silence Dr.. Barker then spoke as fol-
lows:
BROTHERS: 1 regret that I must rise to COM
mence evenings festivities with an expression Of
egret ana COMPLIANT Ieget e5S@en and fsc
hating speech winch intending TO have made, on
ACCOUNT OF the malice Of the Dining Committee and Of
mir. DemOnic0. who has prepared such Dou1liu Iih
her for We have been kept TO sucn late hcur tha
time TO the people who shall follow.
and consequently have no speech TO make. MY ionc-
snd 70 r1dee those speakers who are to follow and
to supply you with the mental repast wnich nope VIII
equal the II ateTal which our Dinner Commntee mas
10 finely laid out OF pure malice to me, and Mr. pei
tnoDico has beautifully aud bounliluuy supplied
But must begin by addressing guest; And now
br Aelmes-it is no u5ei 1 give 1t upi never
jLauChierl and it would be the height OF
ioy for attempt to make such one III the pres
ence OF gathering ike this when every one present
knows exactly what ought say and where every one
the Englishreadng world VIII UNDERSTAND why
the dinner was gye9 and MN thank Us Ior IT, Every
iii young men present viii feel 1t to be stimulus here,
er ior future work ana future exeruon as gh0"iag
s Ssys S genus appreciated by The american
people IApplauscl Furthermore, will DO followed
ty one IN the profession no viii make IN some respects
fac speech which have failed to make; so as nave
utterly failed in lay efforts make it as would wish
snail call upon ORA H. Smith, who, quotea avPt t
tap" lAppause.l
Dr. Barker then called upon DR.. A. II. Smith to
complete the guests greeting. Dr. Smith re-
ponded in verse follows:
You've heard OF the deacon's one.hoss shay
Which, finished in Boston the self-sane day
That the city OF Lisbon went to pot,
Dd centuTy's service; and then was not .
the record = at fault which says that II bust
Into simply heap OF d, a ,IIs dust;
Out OF the ruins they saved hub:
And the hub nas since Stood for Boston town.
Hub OF the UnlyeIse-nOte that down.
But an orderly hub, all will own,
Must have something central to turn upon,
Aud. ruDber-eushI0ned, and true, and bright
We have tue axle bere tonight
Thrice welcome, theD To our fcstal board
e dSetSr pUs w 80 p Ss WIN Saye witt
Toesa naScit,ir, you know, non Jh
Skilled 10 dssecJ with knife pen,
His subjects dead or living men;
with thoughts sublime on every page
To swell the veins with yirtuOus rage.
With subilnaLe disnfect them;
To show with demonstrators art
The complex chambers OF tne heart,
Or armed with a dlsiner skill
TO make IL pulsate at mis- will;
WAN generous verse 10 celebrate
The and nsnes OF some giyer,
Aud then proceed TO demonstrate
Tie lObes and assures Of the liver;
To sootho the pulses oil Tie brain
With poetry's enchanting strain
Or 10 describe 20 class uproirious
Pea hfppoc00lpt docess0TtOns;
To nerve witn fcryor Of appeal
The slugg1sn muscles Ito steel,
Or pulling their attachments show
Whence they arise and where they 20;
10 ire tue eye by wit consuIEinate,
In times Of peril give the tone
NJ .alslie feeling called backbone