Evening journal., 1889-05-01
At THE BANQUET
Eloquent Remarks by America
Foremost Men.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
Governor Hill Delivers the Addres
of Welcome.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH

Ex-President Cleveland, Gen. Tccumsel
Sherman, Chief Justice Fuller, Governo
Fltz Hugh Lee, senator Eyarts, senate
Daniels, and Hon. James Russell Lowell
the Orators-The Great Opera House
Scene of Unprec cd ented Briliiancy an,
VITA Most Extraordinary Gathering
but All was Peace and Harmony-Beaut.
and Diamonds Glowing in the Boxes.
NEW York, May 1.-The last of the bal
guests had hardly left the Metropolitan Oper
house when small army Of workmen bega,
Transforming the ball room into a monst,
banquet hall. All the relics Of the great bal
were cleared away, and the tables were pu
in place and the many details arranged fo
the great feast.
The tables were arranged in the shape
two immense horseshoes with the open side
together, almost forming the figure ''S. - T'w
additional rows Of tables formed smalle
horseshoes within the large ones, and in tn
center Of each horseshoe ard between thu
two were two oval tables seating twenty
guests each.
Eight Hundred Guests Provided For.
Eight hundred guests were provided for
The tables occupied the entire auditorium
and extended to the rear of the stage. Eacl
table was dressed with utmost care and skill
under the supervision Of Chef Eugene Laper
ruque and Steward Rudolph Busse, of thu
Hoffman house.
The Presidents Table.
The presidents table was nearly in tn,
center Of the room, where it could be plainly
seen from every part of the floor, as we'll a
the boxes and galleries Seats for twenty
people were provided at this table, A largi
oval plate glass mirror was placed in the cen.
ter of the table. The mirror was framed il
smilax and trailing arbutus, from which ros,
scarlet and white tulips azaleas and blue
hyacinths A magnificent pyramid Of rose.
rose from its center Two enormous cande.
abra, used by Louis Philippe Of France, were
placed on the table. Four fancy pieces-tri
umphs OF the confectioner's art-graced tn,
table, and the finest china, silver and Gu
glass were used The other tables We're hand
somely decorated with flowers fruits an,
fancy pieces The flowers We're in hundred
Of baskets, and each contained only singl
variety, so that each line greeted the eye o
the guest distinctly. There were wild scarle
geraniums, pink geraniums. white geraniunls
mignonette helioTope, daisies and roses II
great profusion.
The handsome drapery Of the sides of tn
room remained the same as at the ball, bu
the floral ornaments have been replaced b.
fresh flowers. Large numbers Of ferns, ever
greens, shrubs and vines, frightened here anC
there by huge hydrangeas, azaleas and othe
brilliant plants adorned the walls. Klunder
the florist, has used upward Of 80, 900 roses fo
the two evenings Besides these the decora
tions have required 6 900 azaleas, 5000 pan
sizes, 10000 tulips and hyacinths, G,OOO ferns
1900 palms ana 700 miscellaneous plants
History in Confectionery.
On each of the twenty-eight tables wer,
placed fancy pieces illustrating historica
events, hunting scenes and floral devices dom
in confectionery Busts Of Washington wer
numerous, and small American flags huttereC
from the top of the pyramids. There wer
no tall pieces as these were ruled out for tn
reason that they would obstluct the view
The fish were presented on great oval socle
four feet long and eab rately decorated will
carved wreaths and flowers in imitation 0
old Faenza earthenware.
Two hundred walters, drilled like so man,
soldiers, and under the direction Of sixteel
assistant stewards. with Chief Steward Buss
in command, served the banquet. In tn
kitchen, which was established in the Thirty
ninth street annex, Chef Laperruque super
intended fifteen cooks, thirty-two omnibus
walters, whose duty was to carry the 1900
warm plates and dishes to be used, and thirt
kitchen girls, who did nothing but wash th
chinaware used at the banquet. At the cary
ing tables thirty-six cooks, each with an as
sistant, carved the meat
Carving by Electric Signals.
Every detail Of the great feast had bee
arranged so perfectly that confusion or della
did not exist. The chief steward bad his pos
in the middle of the hall, and by means O
electric signals he directed the carving Q
every meat simui itaneously, and the servin
of every course at the same time Thi
avoided the awkward predicament Of som
of the guests reaching the roasts while other
were still enjoying their fish.
Each section of the six horseshoes and eac
central table were provided with a hug
silver coffee urn, from which delicious coffe
was drawn and placed nearly at the sam
moment before each diner. Choics wines wer
served with the courses and fine champagne
kimmel or chartreuse, and a special brand O
Havana cigars imported for the occasion
went hand in hand with the speech max ing
Lander's orchestra furnished the music
The effect Of the handsomely decorated an
brilliantly lighted banquet hall, with its al
mosphere perfumed with flowers, its rows q
tables arranged in fine linen, dazzling silver
j. ware. sparkling crystal glasses aud elegan
specimens Of culinary architecture, will /
long remembered by the people who weT
|, present.
= The boxes were filed with the handsome:
a and most distinguished ladies OF the nation
|, the balcony and galleries were packed wit
interested spectators in the proceedings o
the floor. The seats had been placed on sa
at 81 and IS each, and the opportunity TO 81
the most distinguished men Of America, an
: to hear the most celebrated orators, was in
proved by as many as the opera house cou
accommodate.
/ Programme OF the Feast.
The banquet was begun at O'Clock. II
president arrived few minutes before an
was escorted into the building by Manag
Edmund c. Stanton and received by May,
L Grant in the same manner as at the ba
: The party then took seats at the centr
y oval table Mayor Grant presided. vi
n President Morton, Governor Hill. Speak
d Carlisle, Chief Justice Fuller. Admiral Pc
4 ter, Maj. Gen. Schofield, Gen. Sherma
/ Hamilton Fish and Elbridge I. Gerry al
e sat at this table.
l. At 8 o'clock the speeches began. Short
before this the ladies took their places in I
boxes at a given signal, which was the a
pearance Of Mrs HsFTis99 in heT box. May