Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-20
AN ovERFLow-MEETISG

acted as q reception committee, and the |
punch-bowl, the contents of which the |
gentlemen were invited TO sample as
they arrived, was presided over by one |
who thoroughly understood how to
properly dispense the beverage.
The ladies upon their arrival were in |
vited to the private parlors above. where |
they remained until about 7:40, when |
they were invited to supper.
The attendance was much larger than |
was expected, and as a consequence
about twenty Of the guests had little |
supper all to themselves at Zetelle's, |
! (the corner above,) over Antonis. This |
gathering was composed principally OF
the local press, reinforced by Colonel |
Boswell, OF the Lebanon News Captain
Cussins, of Glen Allen, the head of one |
Of the largest printing-houses in the
South Colonel 4. S. Buford, few Wis
iting editors, and Captain L. W. Gun
ningham. Speech-making and singing |
| enlivened the feast, which Mr.. Xetelle |
prepared on very short notice. Colonel |
| Boswell bore off the honors of the eve
ming, quoting from the Tazewell News,
when called upon for a speech the |
phrase used just after elections " am of |
few words and full of trouble"
BRILLIANT SCENE.
The banquet-tables at Zimmermann's |
were beautiful, laden with all the delica-
cies Of the season, Rarnished with fruits |
and flowers and interpreted with |
shining silver and glassware.
There we're present here about one |
hundred. nearly one third of whom were |
ladies. Mayor ElysOn, who was ac-
companied by his wife, presided, with
Governor Mckinney IN his right and |
President Pugb, OF the association, on
the left.
Rev. A. p. Funkhouser, Of the Harri |
sonburg Gazette. asked the blessing and |
everybody begun the agreeable task be-
fore them.
The eatables were served in courses, |
md were not sparingly partaken of.
When this part Of the programme bad |
been disposed OF speaking began.
BY this time the overflow" banquet
ers had returned, having spent an hour
or two in a most delightful manner.
FATHER OF BooMs.
Mayor Ellyson introduced rs the first |
speaker of the evening Major Jed |
Hotchkiss, his father-in-law. The mem
bers of the association, most of whom are |
extremely enthusiastic on the subject of
land booms recognize in Major Hotchkiss |
one who has done more to call attention |
TO Virginia's resources than any other |
nsrson, and have in a spirit of gratitude
named him the Father of Booms.'
Major Hotchkiss expressed his thanks
for the compliment paid him by the COM
mittee in asking him to respond to the |
toast of the Virginia Press Association, |
and said he felt highly complimented. |
Richmond was deeply interested in all the |
cities and towns OF the Commonwealth, |
which in turn felt great pride in the cap
ital city.
POWER OF THE PRESS.
Governor Mckinney responded to the |
"Power of the Press" He alluded to |
its great influence from the several stand |
points, and cited instances of its practi- |
cal workings where people had been |
elected to Office by relying upon news |
paper support rather than on their indi-
vidual efforts. His words were heartily !
cheered.
PRESS OF BOOM TOWNS.
The third toast of the evening, "The |
Press of Booming Towns and Cities,
was replied to by Major. A. II. Barclay,
OF Lexington. This gentleman, who has
only one arm, paid beautiful tribute to |
the services rendered the state by the |
old-line journalists. He referred to the |
services rendered Virginia 10y her war
rior sons, effectively alluding to his |
own misfortune. In concluding he paid |
a splendid tribute to Governor Letcher,
who gave so many celebrated soldiers and
newspaper men TO Virginia.
RELATION OF LITERATURE.
DR.. Thomas Nelson Page responded to |
the toast "The Relation Of Literature
TO the Newspaper Press.
The Doctor said his old tutor had told |
him that all that was necessary to carry
man successfully through life was three
speeches-one for Sunday school, one
for tournament, and one on 1.-The
Ladies'" He had committed all three |
TO memory and would give either they
wanted. The press ruled the State and
the ladies ruled the press.
Coming down to his subject the |
speaker declared that if his work pos
sessed any merit it was because it por-
trayed truthfully Virginia life.
lie would conclude, the Doctor said.
hy giving in negro dialect the first OF his
productions that had ever been pub
lished. "Uncle Gabe's White Folks"
He delivered this in his inimitable style,
and fairly captiva.ed his hearers.
WOMEN OF VIRGINIA.
"Tho Women OF Virginia was Colo
mel r. b. BerKeley's theme, and it was
handled in mastery manner.
1t had, he said, been twenty-five years
since he had addressed himself to an
audience of women, and then it was COM
posed of only one, and his speech was
delivered in the open air by moonlight.
He had six months in which to prepare
his remarks. and even then he could not
deliver il without stammering.
The Colonel declared there were
more pretty girls in Farmville than any
other place in the county. and they were
all young. He advised the unmarried
men present to come there, buy lot,
pick out girl, settle down, drink hthia
water, and live and die happy. Laugh
ter and applause
WAS BNcoRED.
As "the Sweet Singer OF Richmond"
Captain Frank Cunningham render ed
effectively "Our Mothers Way, and IN
response to o persistent encore gave
1.-The Blue and the Gray.
DR.. w. w. Landrum expiaiheu the
obligations OF Society to the fress,
The newspaper was, in bis opinion, the
Bible of the people, and was greater
power than the pulpit, being more far
reaching. He told an amusing anecoote
OF Frenchman who insisted that tne
actors and ministers were closely alhed'
each having for their object the amuse-
ment OF the people.
SHOT AN IRON FROG.
Tho Humors OF the Press (tne ast
toast OF the eyening) we're illussra'ea oy
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