The Southern herald., 1889-05-10
AGrnnd Rannnet.
A REMARKABLE GATHERING FOR A
REMARKABLE OCCASION.


New York, April -TheMetro-
pOlitan Opera House was tonight
the scene of.the second chief event
of the centennial celebration, and
the theatre of the greatest banquet,
possibly, ever held within the
recollection Of man.
The interior decoration of the
now historical building excelled
even the splendOr and display Of
the ball celebration of the previous
night. The stage and auditorium,
connected in one continuous floor,
was the foundation Of over quarter
of a hundred tables, arranged in
double horseshoe fashion, with q
seating capacity for 800.
Nearly 5000 wine glasses glittered
at intervals along the array Of
tables, and 200 walters, as well
drilled as SO many soldiers, stood
ready to respond to the slightest
wink of the diners. The tables
were elaborately decorated. The
chief steward stationed at the Presi-
dents chair controlled anelectrical
wire in communication with the
chief cook, and at a given signal
the huge congregation Of diners
started simultaneously with dinner
Each course as to the time o.
service was regulated by electricity,
thus avoiding the custom prevalent
at public dinners of serving g
portion of the diners with light
wines, while the remainder drink
champagne. TIE expense of the
dinner is said to have been $35, ,000
the wine alone causing an expendi,
ture Of nearly $16, 900.
The bill Of fare in print was eight
inches long and Of French con.
struction, being wound up with
twelve varieties Of wine and three
cordials.
Over the Presidents seat, sur.
rounded by flowing American flags
was suspended huge picture O
the face and bust of Washington
At Mayor Grants right hand Sal
the President, and Gov. Hill sal
on the left. Next to the President
sat Vice President Morton. Mex
were Chief Justice Fuller, Gen
Schofeld, Senator Evarts, ex-Presi
dent Hayes, Bishop Potter, an(
Secretary Proctor.
On Gov. Hill's side were Lieut.
Gov. Jones, arlesAndrews
Admiral Porter, Senator Hiscock
ex-P President Clevevand, Speaker
Cole, of the New York State As
sembly; Hon. S. S Cox, Clarence
W. Bowen, and Eldridge T. Gerry
Among the guests were ex-Secre
tary Bayard, Chauncey M. Depew
Hannibal Hamlin, Mayor Chaplin
of Brooklyn; Philip L. Livingston
Senator Higgins, A. Snow, J. J
Astor, Henry Clews, Austin Corbin
w. W. Astor, Stuyvesant ant
Hamilton Fish, S. B. Elkins, Secre
taries Tracy and Noble, Postmaste
General Wanamaker and Secretar,
Rusk.
It was little after s o'clocl
when the President, escorted b,
Mayor Grant, entered the grea
dining room. They were followe'
byVice President Morton andLieut
Gov. Jones, of New York, and tn
other distinguished guests of tn
mayors table His party walke'
down the main aisle of the audito
rum, all the assembled diners stoo,
up in honor of the Presidents az
rival, and the band played "Hai
to the Chief"
The Presidents party stood bacl
of their chairs with bowed head
while Bishop Rotter made tn
opening prayer of grace, and tn
dinner was begun at a signal fror
the banquet director. 1t was an
nounced that Secretary of State
Blaine, was unable to be present
and President Harrison's address
which was at the end of the list
was scheduled to replace Secretar
Blaine's, which was half way dow
the toast list.
The Legislature of Minnesot