New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-08
THE ST. NICHOLAS DINNER.
KN1cKERBoCKERs MAKING MERRY.
ELOQUENT AND WITTY SPEECHES BY PRECEDENT
=. J. DE PEYsTER, GEN. HORACE PORTER,
THE REV. DIR. BURRELL, CHAUNCEY
NJ. DEPEw AND OTHERS.

THE REV. DR. BURRELL. cHAUNCEY
NJ pEPEw AND OTHERS.
1t was almost 10 O'CLOCK when the Dutch pipes,
with their slender stems foot and a half long, were
distributed, and soon the fumes of tobacco hoated
through the hall. giving to the place the odor OF
genuine Dutch tavern
The stewards Of the society are William Jay, George
II. Mclean, T. Matlack Chesseman, Charles G..
Haight, John D. Pine and Philip schuy-
Ter. When the pipes lighted these
officials soemnly left the room. Half a dozen
coored men, dressed in Knickerbocker fashions with
sky blue coats, brass buttons white stockings and
buckle shoes waited in adjourning room. on the
arrival OF the Stewards they formed In procession
with bugle at their head and carried into the dining
room the venerable weathercock, which In the days
of its former performed its functions upon
barn of Washington Irving. Followed by the Stew
ards, the barers Of the fowl advanced
to the chairman, who, standing at his post
with the old cooked hat worn by
The members Of the saint Nicholas Society OF the
city Of New York. sat down to their anniversary dinner
last evening in the big dining-room Of Demonicos.
There a full attendance, about $50 members and
guests being present The table of honor extended
north and south along the west side Of the room.
Frederick ]. De Peyster occupying the central seat
Bishop Potter sat near him and asked the blessing
The Holland Society represented at the same table
by exJudge George NJ. Van Hoesen st. PatrcKs, oy
David Mcclure the NewEDgland, by George z. Rowe,
and James NJ varnum was there behalf Of The
Order OF the Cincinnati Judge A. Z. Law
renee Chauncey NJ. Depcw General Horace
seated at the table of honor also the re-
Gently appointed Minister Of the Netherlands to wash
ington. Among those at the other tables were John
H. starin Frederick c. Wagner, Recorder smyth,
George W. Van syck, E. u. Oakley, Edward King
J. Seaver Page, George De Witt, Percy r. Pyne' Ell
ward schell, J. w. Van Arsiale, Nicholas Fish, Nor
timer C. Addoms, Michael Coleman, Henry K. sloat
John T. Lochman ana S. Franklin stanton
Peter Stuyvesant, upon his head, DOTTED his covering
and sauted the treasured relic There smile Oh
tho faco OF the fowl it took ITS place on the pref
dents table, and there was also broader smile on the
OF Chauncey NJ Depew when, as II BY Instinct the
beak Of the bird pointed directly toward him. The
remark quietly dropped that birds OF that breed
always pointed In the direction whence the wind came
and soon there smile on the face OF everybody
else when Mr.. Depew swung the bird on his pivot so
that he looked more directly at Horace Porter, who sat
a little further to the north.
President De Peyster's address exceedingly
witty and he created much merrment by his humorous
illusions He retained the antique hat upon his head
throughout his address.
1t was expected that the ex Minister to England
Edward ]. Phelps CT Vermont, would respond for
tho toast to st. Nicholas, but he failed to
appear The next toast was "The President of the
United States" which drunk standing SO also
were the toasts "The Governor OF the State of New
York; and "The City OF NewYork," there being no one
present to respond. To the toast Holland the Minis
ter from the Netherlands spoke. Then came "Ths
Army and Navy" and General Horace Porter arose and
made what the guests said was the wttest speech OF
his life He paid special attention to the unlucky
fowl whose beak pointed so significantly to-
ward him. He said 1t was not the first JIG
had seen the fowl advancing pursued
by the colored troops. This aluson to the negro's
fondness for chicken was enjoyed greatly bv all. in
GLIDING the bearers who were ranged along the
wall General Porter added that it was very proper
that the fowl should preside on this OCCASION as he
was embamatc of the fashion Of the day. when women
were decorating themselves outside with cocks
feathers and the men were decorating themselves
on the inside with cocktails.
After many more wittcisms the same innocent
subject he said that he had become much In
terested In the bird that he determined to 20 TO o
land his native land. Then he described his sea-
Sickness Some Of his Army friends assured him. he
said that it would all pass over and 1t dd. Tic
did not go Holland direct he went around by way OF
switzerland and Germany so that he could take 1t on
the bias The first thing that struck him IN
Holland was the sight of the canals Then ne under
sood-they had so much rain in that country that they
had 10 find place to keep 1t.
After numerous Jokes and anecdotes, General Porter
turned to his toast. "The Army and Navy" ana re-
errng to those who had died since the last dinner OF
the society," he closed by paying beautiful ana eloquent
tribute to General sherman.
He was followed by the Rev. DR.. David J. Burrell
as representative of the Dutch Church in New-forh'
Then Chauncey NJ. Depew spoke OF the early Dutch
settlers aud his remarks after few witty references
TO the OCCASION turned to the more serious consderar
ton of the subject and the impression which the Dutch
colons had left upon the institutions of this country
as compared with the people from other nations VINO
were among the pioneers Of civilization here
la raorctted that those who established New
Amsterdam had not found historian who could
write OF their merits in a serious vein, the opp0Slte
OF that adopted by Irving who had caricatred them
SO humoroisy in his history OF the knlckerDQckers
and left To other pens the task Of setting them before
the country and the world in their true light as po-
neers OF liberty American SOIL , A.,
Mr. Depew's speech was loudly cheercd as the
orator took his seat. Then after music the Sister
Societies spoken to By the several rcpreehses
present II was after midnight when the festivities
came to an end