The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-25
The Dining Room of the Palmer House Con-
verted Into Rose Garden and Crowded
by an Assemblage of Distinguished Men.
A Feast at Which FelicitOus Speeches
and Good Feeling We're the Order.
The New ChiefJustice Gracefully Returns
Thanks to His sFriendS-Speeches BY Judge
Gresham and Ex-senator Trumbull.

SHlCAGO, Sept @f-lne lrienQs OF MelNlllo
W. Fuller, the now chief of the Nations highest
civil tribunal, gathered by the hundred tonight
to take him by the hand and listen once more to
his voice before his departure for Washington
to sssume,the Office that is greater in some re-
spects than the presidency Of the United States.
The occasion was banquet rendered MIR.
Fuller at the Palmer House by the members Of
he Chicago bar, among whom he has so long
been q worker. The attendance was not limited
TO the legal fraternity, but included scores OF
citizens most distinguished in other pursuits.
Undoubtedly the thought most common to all
present was that majority Of Mr.. Full
preme Court chief -iusticeship, even
with all their fsr-reschinR vision into
the future. lived and died without sn nkling
that the high place which they filed with so
much dignity might now be occupied By one
whose legal reputation should be made in what
was to them at best . spsrsely-settled prairie.
It was In the main dining room of the Palmer
House that the half thousand more guests
sat down TO the banquet The great apartment
was maenifcently decorated and Illuminated
brilliantly. At the main table, in the northern
end Of the room, were twenty-five seats, includ-
ing one for the little man with the leouiue head,
whom the sereat assemblaee had gathered 10
honor. In front of this table. and occupying the
whole of the remainder of 1.-The floor, were tables
set for eight persons each. Immediately in
front of Chief justice Fuller. who sat at the
right OF tie chairman of TIE occasion, Judge
scales with which Justice measures the claims
~cs - IL. -
roees enriched with their crimson hue the ap-
pointments of the center Of the main table.
Half way to the rieht-hand end Of the table an
other bank of roses reposed in perfumec white
ness, and at equal distance 20 the left the
pink fragrance of still another bank OF roses
claimed the attention of the participants. Zach
one OF these ANAL mountains contained three
hundred and fifty roses and their varieeatsd
color harmonized well with the vivid green of
the festoonsd smilsx and inlsid ferns which
otherwise decorated the table. Behind the
chairman floral arch carried its graceful pro-
portions, bearing the inscription Melville ".
Fuller" Each OF the tables was made beautiful
with basket Of dahlias or roses, the floral
figure upon each Of the tables being diff {eeut
from ali the others. The chandeliers were dec
GRATED with testoons OF elitteriDg smilax, the
side brackets were beautlied in the same
fashion, and the delicious perfume OF more than
ten thousand roses filed the chamber. At the
rear of the raised platform upon which stood the
main table, above the heads of the guests hung
the stars aud stripes. ftly filling out the picture
OF a scene which has seldom been eQualed In the
history OF Chicago.
An hour before the time Fixed for the begin
ing of the banquet, the hosts OF the occasion TO
the number OF several hundred assembled in
the hotel parlors aud welcomed Mr. Fuller.
After much pleasant informal social conversa-
ton. the com panY. from the gray haired veter-
ans OF the bar to the fedglings Of the law who
graduated but yesterday, formed in column
with the other guests who had been arriving
meanwhile, and took up the march down the
long ball to the banquet chamber. Arrived st
the entrance OF the diniug room, the doors were
thrown open and the glitter of silver and glass.
and the delicious perfume of the wealth of
flowers within greeted the sense of the assemb-
lage. Without delay the seats were occupied,
and as the Chief-justice appeared, he sa-
luted with q round Of hearty applause. The ap-
plause subsidiue, the participants took their
seats and addressed themselves TO the business
of she hour. while music from concealed band
added TO the aspiration.
On the right band Of the new Chief-justics
sat Judge Walter Q. Gresham, and beyond, in
the order named, were Gen. George ". Crook,
Judge Bradwell, Judge Cation ex- Senator Lyman
Trumbuli. Hon. Joseph Medili aud Hon. W. G.
Goudey. At the left of the chairman the follow
ing gentlemen were seated: The Hon Mr.. Fleet
wood, Judge Blodeett, Justice Mseruder, of the
Illinois Supreme Court, Judge Allen. General
Williams, Judge Woods, Mayor Roche. In the
body Of the ball, at various tables. were seated
unfortunately legal lumiusries, merchant
princes aud other gentlemen whose names are
widely known in the most various capacities.
Among them were ex- x-Secretary OF War Robert
L. Lincoln, ex-Miuister ITO Persia Fredk. :.
Winston, George W. Smith, Marshall Field,
Alexander Sullivan, n. K. Farbsnk, S. Corn
ing Judd, Leonard Swett George NJ. Pullman,
Z. e. Bonpey, Gen. Charles FitZsimmons X. G..
Clowry, T. b. Blackstone, G. T. Hutchinson. III.
d. Porter. j. II. McVicker n. b. Resm, Clin-
ton A. Snowden, Wm. Henry Smith, Gen.
John McNulta, john R Walsh. Jesse Spauldipg
and others.
After all the good things on the bill Of fare
had been disposed OF, JudRe Drummond rapped
for order, and 10 q speech which evoked great
applause, took MP the charge that Mr.. Fuller
was not generally known In the country. The
speaker thought that Mr.. Fuller was very well
kuown. he was certainly we'll known in the
State of Illinois. He was certainly we'll known
in the city of Chicago. which now contains
double the population of that Of the whole State
OF Vermont lGreat applause and shouts OF
laughter, renewed again and again Judge
Drummond warmly recommended the cew
Chief-justice fully worthy in every
way of the chief-justicesffp. All present
arose to their feet at the suggestion of Judge
Drummond and drank to the health of Chief
justice Fuller, while three cheers were proposed
and given with a will. The response by Chief
justice Fuller was punctuated by frequent APP
when reference was made 10 Judge Drummond.
When the Chief-Justce spoke his name, he
looked down upon the venerable chairman at
his side, and the company to their feet.
and with bandkerchiefs hying and tumultuous
voices testified tr-ir respect for the old judge
who for many yesrs presided In the United
States Court II this city. Judge Drummond
was affected 70 sesrs ~ the demonstration.
Mr.. Fuller said:
profoundly sppreeh.te he saifestation of kindly
feeling towards me, personally, which accompanies
this tribute 10 the ssloa oics TO which have been
called I ccncaive os reward of human
deavor, qualification IL the attainment OF the OBJ
iects of human ambition. wniSh can be compared TO
the afectonate ommendation OF the friends the
sociates and the fellowaoorers of years. Centuries
ago friendship declared to be the only thing in
regard to the benefits CT which al men agreed
Many despised riches; many shunnei great ofcce
many disregsrded what most thought worthy Of ad-
mraton but all found friendship essential to endur
able existence rendering adversity supportable
and prosperity brilliant So. az the close OF
more than thrtytwo years of professional exertion
and daily companionship. this assurance of the
gard of my brethren and my people is inexpressibly
grateful 1t illumines the remembrance of the past
and brightens the anticipations of the future.
In that thrty-two years the circles eniarging as
they passed, have known many Ioosened hand. many
age remained in effect unbroken holding the past,
the present and the future in ndissoluble bond.
When leaving the whispering pines and hundred har-
bored shores of my native state, cast my lot with
the busy denizens Of the rising city of the imperial
tba soft Ia Sun Gor~ %