Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-03-14
March II, 1850.
Letter from Ne,c York.
New YORK, Feb'y 2Sl, 1889

New YORK, Feb'y 23l, 1889.
Nm Dear W.. Gaiiaher:
wished for you last night, that you might
have seen the fine body OF men who sat down
TO the third annual dinner of the New York
Southern Society, at the Hotel Brunswick.
This society is vet in its infancy, but already
numbers nearly 600 members, and its desti
nics are presided over by John q Calhoun,
a grandson Ot him whose tomb bears the
simple inscription, calhoun" Each year
since its organization, the society has cele
brated Washington birthday by a dinner at
which many distinguished men, of North
and South, are guests, and at which all sec
tional feeling seems to be deeply buried.
Lust nights banquet was no exception men
sat there in social fraternity who were Op
posed to each other in many bitter struggles
twenty.tv wears ago, and who are opposed
to each other now in politics. But politics
has no place at these dinners good feeling
and jolly fellowship pervades everybody,
and toasts are responded to in the sp akers
happiest vein. \ long table extends the
whole length of the dining hall, and at right
angles to it are ten Others, smaller, each
headed by letter, forming the name OF
"WaShingtOn." At the long table sits the
President of the society, Aanked on either
,ide by the speakers and invited guests.
Among those last night, were Governor
"Fitz Lee, next to him sat the prospective
Secretary of the Treasury, vii lam Vim
dom; Mr. William p. st. John; Hon.
Hooper &. Van Voorst, Of the Holland So
ciety; MIR. Clarence Bowen, of the New
England Society; Mr.. j. II. v Arnold,
President of the Board of Aldermen; Fran
els r. Rives, ex.presideut of the society;
Col. John R.Fellows Frederick R.Condert;
alvin s. Brce; Gen John Newton John
II. Inman; Marion j. Nerdery, and many
other men whose names are well known
all over the country.
At each plate was a menu bearing the name
of the guest These menus were the pretti
est ever seen at such dinner They were
of alligator skin in album form, with the bill
of fare and lists of toasts; two songs, My
old Kentucky Home and Use gwine back
to Dixie" =" the la ter illustrated Icy photo
grayure of two cunning little 'nigs" IN
snow storm, with their shining countenances
turned Southwark A picture of the statue
of Washington on the Sub Treasury steps
on Wall Street, completed, or rather 6egd"
it Daring the dinner Mr. BROWSE, guest,
sang Use gwine back to Dixie, and every
man there, singer or no singer, joined III
that chorus with a vim that ratified the chan
delicrs Mr. Macgrave COX, the secretary
of the society sang My old Kentucky
Home" and was applauded so vigorously
that he gave us "Swanee Ribbcr' as an en-
core ] ben came the toasts. "The Father
of His Country" was drank standing and in
silence.
The Day VIC Celebrate" was responded
to by COl. Fellows in speech that sent tie
audience wild with enthusiasm, but IL wa,
nothing compared to the burst ut applause
that greeted Gov. Lee when he got up Ia
slv something about The South since the
Rrvo.uiion" Napkins, hands, voices and
glasses were raised simultaneously, and II
was some moments before the G. vernon
could begin. That speech WIS the frank
opinions of an honest man. and has been
applauded and Condemned in the New York
papers. No doubt you have seen it.
Then Mr. mold responded To The City
of our Adoption" IN Il vi ~ speech; Mr.
B wen rrplied for the New England Spci-
ETY. :" Mr. Condrrt, in an eloquent speech of
Il most finished character, gave some nc
count of The Southern Pilgrims" and his
happy hits and sciniilating wit were greet
ed with much applause. Mr. Marion j.
Verderv, oi Georgia. gave an insight int"
the work of The South in Wall street,
and. in point of fact, it WAS a mental -
well rs Il physical rrpa>t.
CLarle-town was represented by three
loval hearts, of which hope your humble
servant j. not the least loyal. and The Shcn
andoah Valley had several representatives.
the most prominent at whom WAS Walter
l., McCnrkle. of Lexington, the treasurer
nf the society Although Lexington, -irict-
lv speaking i not i'm the Shenandoah Val
lev. it is near enough f"r all practical pur-
nos, :. and Mr. McCorklc is most devoted
lover of "Ihe sacred soil -
Mr. A>hhv Iieall had rs bright and ra-
liant cnuntenance acrus. the table rom me,
and we heamrd upon each other with the
most patriotic enthusiasm. and "hurrahcd'
unnn the slightest prnvncaii"n The New
York Southern Society brings together men
- Southern birth or ance,irv in an inter
course both social and helpful. and earn
o-ilv hone il will be sncrc~-iul beyond H.
G,nde.i axperiaiinns or tho promises of iis
most eurrc~>ful past II dno~ not eugender
sectional feeling. hut n tn '"tr ~ it. OK.
norience has shown that both N"rth and
Snn'h can shake hands over the chasm
raadc wears ago. and be part end parcel Of
,Ie Unian. leaving all scriinnali.m to iho<e
politicians who feel the ran only be elected
% seats in the Federal Government hv
rlinqinp To the tail Of The B nndy Shirt"
ard fighting still over ih"sr questions upon
which the solder fighters have long since
smoked the pipe Of peace. 7.
Our line Of ladies' Muslin underwear is
I -. :, IL ,,ri,.ez ora lsss than eyer hefnre