The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-30
Many of Whom Are Widely Known as Lead
erS in the Commercial and Political Life
of the Great Metropolis.
The Issues Of the Pending Campaign
Discussed in Masterly Speech,
Length His Views on Protection and
Other National Questions.
GUESTS AND DECORATIONS.


ent and How the Room Was Decorated.
New York, Oct. 29-While Mr. Blaine was
travelling in the West he received letter
from William NJ Evarts and two hundred other
gentlemen, in which he was invited to dine at
Delmonicos some night this week The letter
requested him to fix day when it would be
most convenient for him to be present and meet
his hosts In answer to the invitation, and
while Mr.. Blaine was on his way to Evansville,
Ind, he replied as follows:
EVANSVILLE, Ind Oct 25, 1884.
Hon William NJ. Evarts, John Jacob Astor and Others
New York:
accept with much pleasure your kind invitation to
dine with you next week and indicate Wednesday
evening as the agreeable to myself, but shall
gladly leave the assignment of time to yourselves.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Such the origin of the dinner given Mr.
Blaine this evening 1t was something of an
undertaking for the committee of arrangements
to prepare for that reception within the short
space of time at their disposal, but they sue
ceeded in completing every detail The hour
set for the dinner was o'clock. At that time
long lines of carriages had left their occupants at
the doors, and the two hundred gentlemen we're
engaged in hand-shaking and preparing for the
banquet
Itwas 7:2O when Mr. Blaine reached the rooms
and few minutes later when he entered the
ball room, where the covers were laid He was
greeted by the hand-clapping of others of the
company who had preceded, and stood at their
respective places at the tables Mr.. Blaine was
conducted to the post of honor by VIM. NJ.
Evarts and Mr. Cyrus w. Field, and as he took
his seat the rooms sounded with Three cheers
for James g. Blaine proposed by Mr. A. r.
Whitney.
The room was elaborately decorated The
tables were laden with rare plants, intermngled
with delicate and artistic examples of the con-
fectioners art Handsome chandeliers were
tastefully trimmed with smilax and the air was
filled with the perfume of roses. A monster bed
of flowers. bearing the initials ~ G B. in art
istic floral lettering, rested on the table where
Mr. Blaine was seated. a handsome banner
bearing the national shield, and representing the
American eagle holding a green garland, was
suspended behind the presiding officer, Mr.. VIM.
M. Evarts
The distinguished guest of the evening, Mr.
Blaine, sat Immediately on the right of the pres
ident Levi P. Norton United States minister
to France, sat the immediate left of Mr..
Evarts. The other guests at the principal table,
and in the order of sitting were:
On the Right-Judge Noah Davis Presiding
Justice of the Supreme Court of New York who
sat next to Mr. Blaine; eX Governor A. B. Cor
NELL of New York; Governor Peritt, of Pennsyl
vania; Cyrus W. Field and Charles e. Coon,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
On the Left-Rev Henry NJ Field, D. D., ex-
Senator Thomas G. Platt, ex-Judge John F. Dill
lon, William Dowd and Addison Brown
The more prominent of the other gentlemen
forming the company We're: Whitelaw Reid.
D. Vermilye, J: NJ Bundy, Sinclair Tou-
sey, D. A Hawkins, Jesse Seligman,
Brayton Ives, Aug Kountze, Thomas
G. Platt Clarence E. Seward, David Dows.
oha N DoI w
Field jr., Robert Sewell, jesse Hunt Joseph II.
Brown, D. o. Mills John J. knox, Lloyd AsDin-
wall, Horace Porter, Salem Wales. Thomas Nc
Winslow, Russell Sage Jay Gould.
The only guests present from outside New
York city and Brooklyn were D. O. Bradley, of
Tawytown, n. Y; S. H. Scribner, Yonkers, n.
Wells Pittsburg, Pa; Charles Emory
Smith. Philadelphia G. F. Hobart,
New York; Sir Richard Temple, England; E, A.
Merritt, consul general to London, Eng; Jo-
seph b. Carr, Troy n. Y; John Roach, Chester,
Pa; Samuel Fessenden, Stamford, Conn. b. F.
Jones, Pittsburg: j. H Manley Augusta, Ne;
Charles E. Coon, Washington; Emmons Blaine,
Chicago; Walker Blaine, Augusta, Me-, and Jno
A. Seicher Albany.
Cyrus W. Field from whose office the tickets
of admission had been sent out, received letters
expressing regret from John JAY, who is out of
the city in connection with the business of the
civil service commissions John Sherman who is
speaking at Springfield; John g. Whittier, who
hopes the coming election will 'call your hon
ored guest to the high place he is so well fitted
to fill" Eugene Hale was also away, owing to
campaign engagements.
The various tables were supplied with dainty
designs intended to illustrate the character of
the industries of the country and in which its
citizens We're for the most part engaged. One
table was devoted to sculpture. the arts letters
and science, and one to manufacturing interest
The menu was printed on heavy bristol board
On the front appears two national
with gtnf IipA-
ing the stats at the point where
they meet is crimson ribbon, the folds Of which
are tossed by the wind so that the streaming
ends are born upwards over crossed flags and
form the initials u G. B." Immediately below
this design appears the inscription. Dinner to
the Hon. James g. Blaine Wednesday, Oct %,
1884, at P. NJ Demonico's Fifth avenue and
Twenty sixth street.-the flags the ribbon
forming the initials of Mr.. Blaines name and
the initial letters of the inscription being below.
The most conspicuous designs were hand-painted
and were exqusitely done. When the. guests
were seated, grace was said by Rev DIR. Henry
NJ Field