Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-18
LAST EDITION
THE VETERANS FEASTED.
DUPONT POSTS RICH SPREAD
FOR The Path PENNSYLVANIA.

Governor Biggs's speech Touched the
Right Chord. After-Dinner Responses
by Captain Thompson of Chester, Hon.
G. H. Bates and Captain Magnin.
The surrender was complete Governor
Biggs's speech in the Opera House yes
-terdsy. where he adopted the 124th Penn
sylvania as Delawareans, struck the
right spot.
The reception given the veterans was
revelation to them. They expected good
treatment, but not such open hearted
hospitality. One Of them said: II am
astounded. / can hardly realize that we
have received such grand ovation
Why it seems everybody in town was
glad to see us. II is a great thing for the
124th, they shall never forget 1t.
The exercises in the Opera House
closed at 1 o'clock The audience re
NAMED seated as the veterans passed out
TO DUPONT Post room. The prominent
visitors went to the Offices of Judge Ball
and Senator Higgins. At o'clock the
invited guests went to Institute Hall and
took seats on the platform as the Ladies
Aid Of DUPONT Post was preparing six
large tables for the delectation of the
visitors It was a brilliant idea TO make
two dozen hungry prominent citizens
watch for half an hour an Arrangement
of edibles. Their mouths watered but
they had to remain, and many were
doubtless in an agony Of hunger when
time was called.
There were at the six tables 400 per
sons. The speakers were seated at
table parallel with the stage; the other
tables were at right angles to it.
The dinner occupied an hour Of pleas
ure and profit. and at its conclusion
cigars were passed. Chairman James
then raped for order and announced
Captain J. A. Thompson of the Chester
Times as the first after-dinner speaker.
Captain Thompson excited great enthu-
siasm from the beginning to the end of
his speech. He said 1T would be-
ingratitude if the heart Of any comrade
of the 124th is not as full as his
stomach. The 124th never received such
an ovation before, which shows that the
further IL is from home the more 1t is
honored. ] only hope The time may come
when we Pennsylvania Dutchmen may
return the hospitality we have received.
know we could not give you a better
time than this but we would do our best.
Why even the streets are decked off in
our honor; and yet we have been in otter
cities when there wasn't a shirt tail out
to greet US" [great laughter,
Hon. George Il. Bates was next an
nounced amid cheers. He gave an inter
esting talk in a comparison of the Ger
man standing army and our citizen sol
diery. Il have faith in our citizen sol.
diery, he exclaimed, land am willing to
leave the fate of my country to their de-
Tense" He was pleased with the Ma
tional Guard of the state and hoped for
its continuance and advocated the educa
ton of young men in useful arts so that
when war comes. if it ever comes, they
may easily be taught its principles.
Albert Msgnir, editor Of the Delaware
County, Pa, Republican, made thrill
ing speech in which he eulogized Peter
p Ayars, Department Commander Of
Delaware, for his great bravery during
the war, and especially at the battle il
which he lost his arm.
Three cheers for the ladies of viii
Enington, for DUPONT Post and for Gov.
-ernor Biggs were given.
Governor Biggs was the next speaker
His morning speech had given the visit
-ors a taste of his eloquence and they
were glad to have more. He gave his
bcnediction to the 124th and said, among
other things: Here we are Just as
said this morning, we have given you {
glass of water and something for the
inner man. 1t has been whole-sOuleC
banquet There have been no Pennsyl
vanians, no Delawaresns, but all one
Whom was in New York as l rode on my
charger, sixteen hands high, l thought
of the smallness of Delaware and the
largeness of Pennsylvania; but when
looked for the latter, / saw her lumber
ing on behind little Delaware Laughter
and cheers Gentlemen OF the 124th
Whenever you need assistance CONE
down to Delaware aud wel take care o
you" Some one remarked here that Gov
ernor Biggs bad forgotten the ladies. 'An'
now 124bh, those Of you who are single
OF are widowers, may put on suit o
sheet iron but the bright eyes of tn
bellies Of Wilmington will melt it off.
feel proud of my state and am sur
that should any one insult the tire
lower counties the 124th would be tn
first to avenge the crime.
When the applause had subsidized Dc
partment Commander Ayars propose
three cheers for Chairman s. 7. James
and they were given heartily. Cheer
were given for the Ladies' Aid Of DuPoI
Post and the meeting closed. The YETI
rams walked around Wilmington, niue
interested in what they saw, and wei
home on an early evening train.