The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-03
RECOLLECTIONS OF A LIFE.
Faces About the Table That
Brought Back the Occur
enees Of Half a Century.
Thomas Dunn English, Mayor Haines,
President Edelstcin, W. D. Ed
wards and others Pay Tributes to
0restes Cleyeland's Public Ser
vices.


The complimentary dinner rendered
Mayor Orestes Cleveland at Taylor's
Hotel last night in honor OF his sixty
second birthday drew together almost the
entire official population of the city.
The recent announcement made by Mr..
Cleveland that he intended to retire from
Official life. of course had much to dc
with such gathering. and as much eclat
as was consistent with "a purely social
affair" was given to the occasion. Never
tneiess it was purely political gather
ing. As u banquet IL was magnificent
success. The committee in charge were
John Edelstein, Joan 4. Voorhees,, A. Is.
Poland, Thomas Potter, II. A. Smith,
Dennis Mclaughlin. James b. Vreden-
berlh, r. G. Washburn, Jacob Ringle,
Robert Davis. P. H. O'NeilI and L. Z.
Datz.
Tue floral decorations of the banquet
hall and tables were elaborate aud beau
tiful. Evergreens. interspersed with
roses. predominated In the decoration OF
ceiling and walls. but down the centre
of the tables were rows of flowers with
variegated hues, which under the lights
that riyalled them In tints, gave cheer
fnl and pleasing aspect to the room.
Behind Mayor Cleveland large floral
design of lilies and roses represented an
open book. An excellent orchestra was
in attendance. Each guest found at his
plate large Hat box containing an
elegantly bound book of speeches, ad-
dresses and papers delivered or read by
Mr.. Cleveland on various occasions during
his boynood as well as during his polite al
career. These were compiled by Daniel
McAghon. the Mayors private secretary.
As soon as this fact was discovered, Mr..
McAghon was lionized as an author, but
accepted the homage paid him with char
acteristic modesty.
AROUND THE TABLES.
Mr.. Cleveland occupied tine position of
honor TO his left sat Congressman-elec
Thomas Dunn English, VINO presided.
On his right was President Edelstein of
the Finance Board, who was chairman
OF the committee which arranged the
dinner. On both sides of the trio sat the
Rev. William +. HoagIaud, of Newark,
who said grace; Mayor Haines of New
ark, Major Pangborp, the Rev. J. w.
Hathaway, Cornelius Blauvelt of Bergen
coupty,,J. Trambuii Smith of the Anieri-
can Institute, and ex-Alderman Thomas
b. Decker. Around the tables sat Presi-
dent Allen OF the Board of Aldermen,
Alderman Hoos. President O'Donuell OF
the Tax Board. Tax Commissioner Prigge,
President Somers of the Street and
Water Board and Commissioners Dugan
aud Van Keuren, Finance Commission
Hitler aud Kenney, Fire Commissioner
John Brown, County Clerks Dennis Nc
Laughlin, Fred. Mersheimer, John E.
Dunne, President Voorhees, and Directors
Kelly and Garrison of the Board of Edu-
cation, Mayor Grassman of Hoboken, Al
exander Schlessinger, Clerks William
German and Thomas McKeon of the FL
nance Board, Clerk James Norton of the
First District Police Court, Daniel Nc
Aghon, The Mayors private secretary,
Clerk James Connolly of the Tax Board,
}. Roche, Stephen b. Yoe, Jacob Rlngle,
Superintendent Poland of the Public
Schools, Clerk James Wiseman of the
Board of Education, Corporation Counsel
Edwards, eX-Finance Commissioner Emil
DATE, Principal William Sweeney OF the
High School, Principal Kelly of No.
School. Assistant Prosecutor Joseph
spector James Clark, Theodore smith.
Michael b. Holmes, Lebbeus B. Ward,
Clerk George Bouton of the Street and
Water Board, Corporation Attorney
Hudspeth. Patrick Condor, Philip Martin,
Chief Engineer Ruggles, John Bonneli, ex-
Alderman Jewkes. Water Register Con
Haley, Police Captain John +. Kelly,
School Director Philip Muldoou,
Chief of Police Benjamin Murphy, Sur
rogate James II. O'Neil, Albert DaTz, A..
A. Bedeil, James Haskins, City Treas
ursr Jere Cleveland, Warden Osborne of
the City Hospital, Street superintendent
Philip Tamulty. City Collector p. Ii.
Cartin, Richard G. Washburn, Daniel
Cleary, William Kern, Police Surgeon
NeVin and many others equally well
known in Jersey City politics.
FLOWERS OF SPEECH.
After one of the finest menus ever
the speaking began. Mr.. Edlestein, chair
man of the committee, began it. He
said
GENTLEMEN-The committee whose
pleasant duty it was 10 arrange for your
pleasure this evening have delegated me
to bid you welcome and do so most cor
daily. have known for q long time
that the Mayor wanted to go out OF Office.
He has been before the public more than
u quarter of a century and wants to re-
tire But before he aid so | was deter
mined to get on the right side; for every
body knows we have not been very good
friends for number of years. Laugh
teri My own term of Office being about
TO expire, wanted to be reappointed. l
thought over all the things could do,
and for once was puzzled. AT length
happened to think about his Sixty
second birthday, and promptly
started the project for a din
would not even be thought of. Everyone
/ spoke TO liked the idea. Then the ques-
tion was, how to get him to accept. l
had TO so about it just as you would try
to hook wary old trout. / got up short
letter inviting him to private dinner,
and told him that it would be only a pri-
yate affair-an sociability and positively
no politics. Gentlemen, you ought TO
have seen the old man look me square in
the eye. But / never tiinched. Did /.
Mr. Mayor? He wavered aud kicked
awhile; but at last / hooked MIN. OF
course, all his friends could not gather
here, but the few os us who are present
intend to have a jolly, non-politicsii time,
all by ourselves. But | may as well tell
you the whole story. / thought might
induce him TO pledge himself before you
all to re-appoint me; but he looked so
plagued sour loud burst of laughterl
ever siuce he arrived here this evening
that guess I've made huge mistake
A voice-"Not a bit OF it.
'.But, seriously, gentlemen" continu ed
Mr.. Edelstein, Il believe We could gather
around this social board and enjoy our
selves, provided politics were not men
toned. l have been out of politics so
long myself and know how pleasant it is
10 have no cares of the kind that l am
sure you will appreciate the relief you
viii find tonight Take cur worl Thy