Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-16
THE HAPPY FIVE HUNDRED.
The Agnus Lawn Party.
A MOST ENJOYABLE ENTERTAINMENT.

American, and the Journalists club of Balti-
more issued invitations to fully 500 people to
go to Nacirema yesterday and there do honor
| 10 Mr.. Frank Thompson, vice-president of the
Pennsylvania railroad, they never supposed
that Uncle Jerry Rusk, the Secretary of
Agriculture, would be the great feature Of the
occasion But he was. For the time, at least,
he outranked and overshadowed his fellow cab
| met officers Not that they we're less great
than they usually are, but they failed to grasp
the opportunity by the aid of which the old
granger from Wisconsin rode into the popular
| affection. The opening of the incident took
| place at Stevenson's station, the nearest rail-
| road point to Gen. Agnus' residence, where a
long string of cars had conveyed the guests
from New York, Philadelphia. Baltimore and
Washington. As soon as the train stopped
there was an immediate rush for the humer-
Gus omnibuses, transfer wagons, and other We
hicles which had been provided to
make complete the journey.
THE WASHINGTON CONTINGENT
were in two buffet cars in the rear of
the train, and was consequently at the tail
end of the crowd. But it didn't miss anything.
Right alongside of the place of debarkation,
which was principally mud was huge hay
wagon, to which were hitched four magnificent
grey horses, decorated in honor of the occasion
with bells and ribbons but not at the station
for the purpose of hauling passengers They
were after freight. Before the driver knew
what was going on his wide-spreading hay-rack
was hidden by a crowd of newspaper men. All
the newspaper men could not get on so thew
had to content themselves with riding in other
conveyances with the journalists. Just at the
moment OF capture the members of the cabi-
net came out of their and with one accord
ba ud no
hay-rack yelled ''Ruskr' .'Ruskr' The Aeri-
cultural department Immediately forsook his
more sedate colleagues, ambled over to the big
wagon and, after being introduced to the hest
tatlng driver by hundred full-grown pairs of
lungs, sprang into the drivers saddle and
was astride of Gen. Agnus' pet draft mare
Daisy.
SECRETARY RUsK AS DRIVER.
OF course everybody cheered, and when
they got through cheering, so to speak,
they cheered again and again. 1t was heavy
load (the hayscales said there were 5, 700 pounds
of correspondent on it) and the Secretary must
have realized the responsibility of his task But
he didn't show it. He cracked his whip, spat
In the palm of his left hand-which had an iron
grip on the jerk-line-and the team started off
In less than minute the regular teamster was
satisfied that his temporary substitute was a
success, and before they had travelled 500 Yards
he ceased whispering directions into the Secre-
tary's near ear and retired to the rear end of
the wagon. where he superintended the opera
ton OF the brake. No more noisy crowd ever
travelled that road before. Every passer by re-
ceived salute. The mettesome team
pranced and paved, but they behaved admira-
bly,; they realized that master hand held
the whip and at least one of them felt sure that
the headquarters of the Agricultural depart
ment was lin the saddle" In the most adroit
manner, obstacles were avoided. and when the
Secretary SO cieverly manipulated the jerk line
as to bring both team and wagon safely through
the rather narrow gateway at the entrance to
the grounds, cheers of thankfulness were freely
shed by those who had for a minute or SO been
debating with themselves as to whether they
ought or ought not to jump off and walk A
few moments later and the three tons of Yelling
humanity were off the wagon in front of Ma
clrema, engaged i'll thanking their ilustrious
driver. Secretary Rusk's skill as a horseman
reached the equestrian high-water mark for
he succeeded IN jogging along without having
the legs OF his trousers crawl up to his waist
This evidence of bilility was commented upon
quite extensively, and several members of the
Gridiron club asked him for the recipe
DISTINGUISHED GATHERING.
The gathering together of 50 many dis
tinguished men as were at Nacirema yesterday
is possible to but few private citizens and the
occasion could not have been otherwise than
highly gratifying to Gen. Agnus and his prin-
cipal guests. Four cabinet members-Secre-
taries Blaine, Noble, Tracy and Rusk-were
there, and so was Gen. Bussey, the assistant
secretary of the Treasury. Civil-Service Com
missioner Roosevelt and Representative Henry
Cabot Lodge held close communion on the
lawn. while Representative Cannon hob-nobbed
principally with the newspaper men, Scattered
i'll and around the beautiful mansion were
Gov. Jackson, of Maryland Congressman Nc
Comas, L. Victor Baughman, X. Stockett Mat
thews ex-senator Henry g. Davis of West
II Th0maa
Gen. w. J. Sewell, ex-Gov. Oden Bowie, Gen
kelton, U. s. A; Gen. Horatio King. Gen. John
c. kelton, Charles Emory Smith, Joe Howard
jr., Postmaster Frank Brown. OF Baltimore:
Secretary of State (NIaryland) E. W. Lecompte,
James Elverson, W. VI. Singerly. Capt Hoxie
John L. Ford and 500 others all intent on en-
joyment. AS the guests arrived they were in
troduced to Gen. Agnus and to Mr.. Thompson
by President A Il. Howard, jr., of the Journal
lists club. of Baltimore
In front OF the mansion and under one of the
prettily decorated tents which dotted the
grounds Was ItZePs Fifth Regiment band and
for four hours that band did nothing but play
the prettiest selections and perspire.
THE oPES-AIR DINNER A GREAT SUCCESS
The dinner was great affair. success
throughout. Tables had been so placed on the
sward that the huge trees would shut out the
heat and brilliancy of the suns rays, and at 3
O'Clock the numerous walters commenced to
ecINc inc Hiedi- Inc ullucultleS winch lie
the way OF serving hot repast to 500 hungry
people In the open air can only be understood
and appreciated by caterer who has tried to
do 1t. 1t was a success yesterday, but those
walters would not care to repeat the perform
ance to-day.
Before the dinner was half over there were
songs in abundance and stories galore EVERY
where there was wit and the utmost good hu-
NOR. The most popular table was that which
was presided over by Secretary Rusk At his
right and left, respectively, sat such we'll
known people as Hallet Kilbourn, John Cham
berlin and Joe Howard jr.. and fifty others
equally popular. and nearly all engaged in
newspaper work IN this city. Parallel with it
was another festive board at which Ed Hay
John Philip Sousa, Hub" Smith, Paul Wolff
Fred Mussey and number of kindred spirits
made exceeding merry. They attracted con-
siderable attention, and lots of people left their
tables near the house that they
MIoHT ENJOY THE FUN
at short range. The "Gridiron'' boys.
however, lost their grip upon their
audience when number of fine
horses were led past the tables so that the
guests might see what manner of animals the
Spring Valley fanciers own and produce. Ed
Hay was completely thrown in the shade by
huge black Percheron stallion, whose weight
is figured up by the ton, and even r. NJ. Lar
ners finest vocalizing was not applauded as
heartily was the neighing of one magnificent
gray horse-to all appearances perfect ami
NAL.
When the dinner was over there was an en-
tertaInment. The crowd congregated on the
east front Of the house and listened to speech