St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-15
The Rlnnltef.

1t was $50 O'Clock when the spacious doors
leading to the grand dining of Hotel La
fayette swung open and The grand column of
guests which had been forming for nearly an
hour, marched forward in solid phalanx The
business of seating the guests, although
admirably conducted, occupied some
minutes, no Impotence being manifested
by the good humored crowd.
The grand column was headed by Gen. Sher-
man and Gov. Ramsey, followed by Gov Hub
bard, Mayor OBrien, of st. Paul, the Misses
Sherman and escorts and the general throng
The dining hall presented a brilliant and
captivating appearance; the soft sheen from a
dozen electric lights pendant from
the ceiling fell on the glittering ware
and polished se-yice of the snowy tables making
scene of rare beauty. There were four tables
extending the full length of the long dining hall !;
each table seated something over 100 guests and
it is estimated that 500 were present, that
being the number of covers laid
Added to the general beauty of the ables, which
sparkled with ware, were the conspicuous ma
tive and lavish display of floral offerings Bright
and fragrant flower, cunningly arranged, were
placed at intervals all along the festive board.
but the chief charm of the occasion consisted in
the presence of so many of the ladies.
The fair sex were present in large numbers and
they graced the occasion in more ways than one
The rich and elegant costumes of the ladies
made striking contrast to the scene and added
tcnfold to its beauty. The pillars and walls of
the hall were lavishly festooned with the ma
tional coors, great taste being shown in the ar
rangement of the decorations.
But the most lavish display was expended in
the decorations on the das, or raised platform
This was located at the north extremity of the
dining hall and extended lengthwise across the
room. 1t was intended for the ceebri-
les and distinguished guests and
they were present in fair numbers
although the personnel on the whole lacked
something in comparison with the superlatively
swell appearance Of the crowd that occupied the
same hotel on the occasion of the
Willard banquet. However, the decora-
tons were on grander scale, and
besides, there were heroes enough present
to shed military luster over the scene, an ele-
ment in which the occasion just alluded to was
wanting. The background of the table resern-
bled the armament, being bright blue spang-
gled with stars of silver: in the center the great
American eagle spread its majestic wings and over
head was the motto, s'Army of the Tennessee. v
Directly beneath on the stage were stacked
arms and piled grape and canister, drums and
other trappings of war. The whole was envel-
| oped in misty, bewildering and beautiful mesh
Of flags and bunting, full description of the
decorations having already appeared i'll the
| GLOBE.
| At the speakers table were Gen. Sherman in
the center and to his left Gov. Hubbard, Sen
ator Sabin, Vice Presidents ". II. Plunkett and
| John Ii. Hammond, while to the right were
seated Ex-Gov. Ramsey and Mayor c. D..
o'Brien. This other notable guests at this table
were Gen. Sanborn, Col. L. NJ. Dayton, John Nc
Nultv Gen. j. E. Smith and Gen. Schuyler Ham
| ilton, of New York, grandson OF Alexander Ham
| itou.
After the guests had all been seated Gen.
| Sherman arose and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, we are always accus-
toned to open our festival with an appeal to the
Heavenly throne. / now invite Bishop Ireland
| TO say grace before we commence cur dinner.
| Bishop Ireland then invoked the divine bless
ing. his prayer being exceedingly short but elo-
| quent.
The menu, it is scarcely necessary to say, was
bountful and lavish, comprising as it did every
procurable delicacy of the season.
The first toast was responded to by Gen. Dyer.
| Major Warner, who was down for the toast, not
| being present. Gov. j. NJ Rusk, Of Wisconsin,
was also absent, as were Prof. Tousley ard The
! the gentleman who was down for the twelfth
toast.
The service OF the dinner was superb: Manager
| Wilcox had made perfect arrangements for the
banquet. and the 10 table seryitOrs on the floor
went through the courses ike clock work. The
| contrast in this respect TO the scene which dis
graced the winding up of the Willard banquet,
was both notable and admirable.
| In view OF the great beauty and elaborate
I character Of the decorations the committee IN
charge have kindly decided to premit them Il
remain at the hall until next Monday for the
| benefit of those visiting the lake.
A SUPERB SOUVENIR.
| The banquet programme was unique in IT;
way remarkable for TASTE, finish and delicacy
1t consisted of a simple folded card Of heavl
| white pasteboard, the edges of which were bev
eIed and finished with gold The outside covers
were both study and historical compendium
/ OF the principal events Of the late
was participated in by the Army of the TeDnes
see, and to the political student the simple
names inscribed thereon were productive of il
lustrious events and great and glorious memories
| The top center OF the front cover bore the mans
| of the gallant and danntless soldier Mcpherson
/ surrounded By wreath: on eithe
side OF the chaplet were the names Of Gran
| and Sherman and at the lower end OF the cor
| ner. in each corner were the names of Logan
and Howard In tbs eantsr of ths card fr.lm al