Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-12-24
Pa, December "a. 1889.
Our John,s Dinner Oratory.

They had q New England dinner In
Philadelphia, last evening, at the Con-
tinental hotel, which was attended by
Yankees and Southerners, Dutch ard
Irish, with immense disregard for the
peculiar idea of the gathering; and at
which New Englagd baked beans,
pumpkin pies, Goldfish balls, and ike
Yankee institutions, remained all even
ing az the only reminders that 1t was
q New England dinner that was being
given tho speakers did not note 1t and
no ono seemed to know it tho truth
being that 1t Is quito impossible In
this latitude to get up any enthusiasm
for New England rocks. Hero, where
nature is 90 much more bountiful, the
emigrants from New England can only
meet together at dinner to congratulate
themselves upon their escape from Its
cold and barren land into one OF milk
and honey, and feel that the less they
say Of the Joys they left behind them,
the better.
At this particular dinner the chief
speakers were Mr.. breckenridge, Of
Kentucky, and Mr.. Wanamakcr, of
Philadelphia and the general postoflice;
more remotely from Germany. And
we are bound to say that this time our
John took the cake. 1t gives us pleas
ure to do credit TO merit whenever dis
closed ; and we are pleased to appland
Mr.. Wanamaker for his speech,
which was bright and witty. 1t
IL evident that John Wanamaker has
not been addressing Sunday schools all
his life for nothing. In talking TO little
children he has fallen into an entertain
ing way of discourse which proves well
adapted to after dinner oratory, where
there il no call to cay anything in par
ticular, but great occasion TO say every
thing in crisp and pleasant way.
Mr.. Wanamaker got along swimmingly.
He did not have occasion to talk cant
and he did not even venture on the
borders Of a fb until he reached the con-
clusion Of his remarks, when we fear he
did trespass; and bear somewhat hardly
upon his conscience in declaring "Shoot
the man who spends cent or gives q
cent for corrupt elections" but "plant
men through the state as thick rs grass
hoppers to see that there arc fair eiec-
tions and fair count"
That Is John Wanamaker's ex preston
at the New England dinner this being
the same Wapamaker who at the last
election filled the money bags OF Quay
mainly from the Golfers Of the rich men
Of the city OF Philadelphia. He would
havo Us think that he thought that this
money was to be uscd by Quay to secure
fair elections and not to corrupt them.
What q sweet innocent chcrub Of O child
1t il to be suro And what q precious
Sunday school teacher !. And what a
hand for Quay
Our John draws stoutly on our credu-
lity when he puts himself and Quay
down as engaged in purifying the elec-
ton Of 1888 with that Philadelphia
manufacturers cash; but be said it SO
sweetly to those assembled Philadel-
phians and their guests that perchance
some Of them took 1t down. If they
can keep 1t down, their digestions
may be marked good a stomach that
can take comfortably Boston baked
beans and Wanamaker's tale of inno-
cence, IL as good as that Of any ostrich
that ever took in stones to digest.
But we will not think too hard Of
John. A man on his legs at dinner
table is' allowed lots Of latitude /; and as
We have said, when he comes to the
table from long experience of Sunday
school oratory, he cannot be expected 10
speak as accurately rs fr!skily, or any
truer than preaching.