The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-01-08
After Dinner Speeches.
WIT AND WISDOM FROM THE SPEECHES Al
THE NEW ENGLAND DINNER.

WIT AND WISDOM FROM THE SPEECHES AT
THE NEW ENGLAND DINNER.
The New England Society of New York
meets annually to talk about the Pilgrims, and
ont of pity to a few good fellows not born in
New England they are invited to hear the
streams of e1Oquence, wit and common sense
with which the sons of New England deluge
New \ Ork on such occasions In the speeches
This year there Were many flashes of Wit which
were received with applause Hon. Chauncey
NJ. Depew said:
one of the most eminent of New England di-
vines. himself the son of a Puritan Clergyman
told me that when boy he heard the deacOns
at his fathers house discussing the merits of
their respective ministers. After many had
spoken one elder said .'Waal. our minister
gives much attention to his farm and
orchard that we get pretty poor sermons. but
he is mighty moviu in prayer in caterpiller and
canker-worm time" Laughter and applause.
Judge Pratt of Brooklyn remarked: When
the President informed me that ] must state
the reasons why was here with this badge on
my coal. | fe; that was precisely in the con-
dllon-l am going to tell you a true >tOry-of
ayoung gentleman in Brooklyn who was called
upon to mourn the loss of his wife. When the
undertaken at last told him that the arrange
ment> We're such that he would have to ride to
the grave IN carriage with his mother-ln-laW, j.,
and finding that there was no possible me thod
by which he could avoid il, he finally said
Cand the words applicable to me this eve
ning), Il suppose | must do it, but ii will rob
this oco aston OF all pleasure to me-" Laugh
ter.
General Horace Porter, aluding to General
w. L. Sherman. said: But, Mr.. President, |
feel oppressed. The citizen naturally feels OPP
pressed in the presence OF SO forcbe repre-
sentative of the military power of the republic.
The effect of being in the presence of one of
these distinguished Generals Is sometimes very
peculiar. | had the honor of being on the field
AT times with this honOred soldier, and when
lad occasion to ride along the lines in company
with him. it somehow or other invariably hap
pened that | elected much more cheering from
the troops than when L rode the lines alone
Laughter But am sure your guests congrat-
uiate this society most seriously in having
with it tonight a character that will always be
exalted in history and in whose veins flows
pure New England blood, "a man who for
Years was both the sword and the shield of the
western half of the great republic. lApplause
and cheers. No one can pluck the laurel from
his brow. No man can lessen the measure of
his fame. The gods themselves have stamped
their seal upon him, ''to give the world assur-
ance of Il man. Continued appause.l The
presence of this General reminds me of camp,
and recalls the colored contraband who had es-
capped from his master and struggled into our
lines one day. He belonged to that class of
men who in camp were classified artisticallv as
charcoal sketches from the old masters. Laugh
teri While he was philosophzing as only a
colored brother raised on a plantation can
philosophize, he said in remarking upon human
wearing apparel: "De shirt buttons helps de
looks oh iings, but it am de 'spender button
dat does de solid work" Loud applause.
And so we may philosophize regarding the in
habtants of this country. Some parts of the
land have been settled by people less sturdy.
perhaps less prosy, than the Puritans, by very
brilliant people, but in times of trial they have
been only ornamental. They have been only as
the buttons in our shirt fronts. But when great
issues are at stake, great principles are to be
fought out, when a land is threatened with dis
ruplion, we look to the stout old suspender
button of New England to do the solid work
and hold things together. lAppause and
cheers.