Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-21
DINING THE PRESIDENT.
His Fifty Eighth Birthday Celebrated At Mt.
McGregor.

Yesterday was the Presidenfs ffty-eighth
birthday. In honor OF the occasion Senator
W. ]. Arkell. his host at Mt. McGregor. gave a
dinner In the dining room at the Hotel
Balmoral It was served at ESQ. and about one
hundred and twenty guests participated. There
were two long tables and cross table at one
end set in the large dining room. Senator
Arkell presided. On his right were President
Harrison, b. Gillian and Gen. John Palmer,
commander Of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
At other tables were Russell Harrison and the
members Of the Presidents party, William
Barnes, jr., Spencer Trask, John A. Sleicher,
H. d. Hanson aud ]. q. B. Woolworth OF
Saratoga
The banquet room was handsomely decorated
with flowers and green shrubbery and flags.
shortly before5 O'Clock Senator Arkell arose
and said:
The President of the United States, who ID
our guest today, on account of his worn lungs
Is solicitous that this be Quaker meeting-ont
OF unspoken eloquence. Let me say, however,
that this being the fifty-eighth birthday Of the
PRESIDENT we can properly extend to him In
this informal gathering OF neighbors and
friends tile hearticst aud most sincere wishc,
on the COMMUNICATION of the anniversary. Jap
plansel We extend to him the best well wishe,
and birthday greetings. His administrator
will be known in the hereafter, not SO much
perhaps rs q republican administration al
American administration" lCheers.
President Harrison arose amid great cheering
and began:
1T was part Of the covenant of this feas,
that IT should be silent one-not exactly a
Quaker meeting, as Mr.. Arkell has said, he.
cause silence there is apt to be broken by the
moving OF the spirit. That is not safe rule a,
a banquet Laughter. / rise only to thank
your generous host and these gentlemen from
the different parts OF the state who honor this
occasion for their fricntiliness and esteem. We
are gathered here In spot which is historic.
lhls mountain has been fixed in the affec ton
ate and reverent memory of all our poo.
pie and has been gloriiied by the death
on Its summit OF Gen Ulysses y Grant.
lApp!ause.l 1t is fit that that great
spirit that had already lifted it's fame to heights
unknown in American history should take its
hight from this mountain top 1t has been
said that great life went out here; but great
lives, like that Of Gen. Grant, do not go out.
Ihey go on. Cries OF Good. Goodr and
great applause.
Il will ask you in a reverent and affcctionate
and patriotic remembrance of that man who
came to recover all failures in military achieve
ment and with his great generalship ana in
flexible purpose to carry the flag of the repub-
lie to ultimate triumph, recalling with reveren,
interest his memory. to drink toast in silence.
as pledge that WE will ever keep in mind his
great services. and in doing so will perpetuate
his great citizenship and the glory of the nation
he fought to save
On the conclusion Of the Prcsid ent' speech he
left the banquet hall and strolled along the
eastern outlook of the hotel to take look al
the scene below.
Last evening a literary and musical enter
tainment was given the President by guests OF
the Hotel Baimorai
Today the President will 60 upon fishing
excursion with Mr.. Arkell on a private Lake.
returning to the hotel to dinner, he will IN the
| afternoon leave Mt. McGregor Tor Saratoga
arriving there at O'clock and at the Grand
Union Hote! an address will be delivered by
the village president, to which the Presi,len.
will respond. after which public recep tion
will he held in the parlors.