Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-27
GR0CERS AT SUPPER.
ANNUAL REUNION LAST NIGHT OF
THE WHOLESALE ASSOCIATION.
An Elegant Banquet Given st the Masonic
Temple-speeches by the Governor,
Major Daniel, and Others.

One hundred and forty jolly wholesale
grocers, all in evening dress. sat down to
magnificent supper at the Masonic
| Temple last night and entertained a num-
Der of distinguished guests at one OF the
most elegant banquets ever served in this
city.
| The occasion was the annual reunion OF
their association. and the affair was all
| that taste. hospitality. and culinary art
could make it. From early i'll the eve
| ming when first the cordial hosts assembled.
until far into the night the merriment
continued, and in all the genial assembly
| there was not one who failed 10 enter into
the spirit and enjoyment of the night.
| In preparing for the banquet the grocers
with careful forethought made every ar
rangement TO give the supper an air OF
elegance which rarely has been equslled in
| Richmond. Not only were the tables set
| and arranged with all conceivable taste,
| but the entire hall was made redolent with
! the fragrance of flowers of every de-
| scrIption.
By o'clock the Reception Committee
were on hand In tho grand lodge-room TO
receive the guests Of the evening. Here
| the banqueters. under the brilliant glare OF
scores of electric lights. were made vel
|
| Reception Committee was composed OF
| Messrs. Charles l.. Brown, Frank A. Daven-
port, Herman j. Myers, John Il. Cary, De-
| catur O. Davis. Edmund A. Saunders, Dr.,
and Frank n. Whittle. Jr.
HoSoREp GUESTS ARRIVE.
| few minutes after 8 O'Clock Governor
| Mckinney, Senator John w. Daniel. Major
| James ID. Patton, and Mr.. l.. g. Younger
entered the long corridor leading to the
Grand-Lodge room. No sooner had they
been recognized than a greeting OF en-
| thusiastic applause met their ears.
| The crowd assembled in the hall after
inspecting the beautifully furnished build
| ing and here for an hour or more the
| pleasures of conversation and cigars were
| INDUCED in. All of the guests-bachelors
and married men-enjoyed themselves ex-
| tragagantly. Iheywere entirely tree from
restraint and while approaching the ele-
| gance of their surroundings. could never
| theless puff their weeds take their little
sips of stimulants. and tell Jokes without
| fear Of being disturbed or embarrassed by
| the presence of the fair sex. Yes, IT was
| decidedly stag party, and for once u
must be confessed with all due Difference
that the gentlemen got along admirably
| without the ladies.
| The following were the firms represented
| in the gathering and In the throng were
| included not only the staid and sober
| financiers whose guiding hands direct this
| mighty branch of business, but also their
clerks and bookkeepers: +. y. Patrick ~
| Co., Watkins Il Davenport, w. W. Lefew,
| Il. +. Williams x Co.. Preston Craig Co.,
J. ID. and X. s. Christian, J.. 9. Younger,
| Union Brokerage and Crenshaw Warehouse
| Company, Taylor d Boiling Company, John
| Il. Cary, G. W. Antrim & Sons, j. 5. Moore,
| W. j. johnson & Co., Gates * Brown,
| Brown. Davis & Atkins, w. Is. west ~ Ben
| iamin 4. Crump Company, Harvey. Blair
| Co., William Nj. Parrish, kingan q Co., w.
| 5. Forbes, Joseph NJ. Blanton, Davenport
& Morris, A. Blair g. Sons. Slater, Myers d
Co.. j. II. Capers x Co., i. A. Saunders rs q
! Sons. Whittle, Sydnor X Co., Writ T.. lay
| lor & Co.. Southern Manufacturing Com
] pany. SPOTS d Harrison, j. W. Harrison
& Co., Samuel REGISTER d Co.. Robert NJ.
! Smith and Smith, Angus Co.
TO THE BANQUET HALL.
! AT $3.50 o'clock the assembly, headed by
| MIR. Fgbert q. Leigh, the president of the
| organization, and Governor Mckinney.
marched to the third floor of the splendid
| building, where the banquet was spread IN
one of the main halls. Here beautiful
scene met the eye. The walls on every side
| of the room were heaped with ferns,
palms. and lilies, which greeted the fro,
| lickers with fragrance ike the sweet
| ADntn WHICH DItdlutS uDDh ~ bhhn W
| yiolets." The seven tables were arranged
! In the form of q parallelogram, the seventh
| forming centre-piece III the form OF
| a lar running transversely to the others.
| They were exquisitely set. The delicate
| fringe Of spotless napkins-vcritable frost
| work-cOntrasted beautifully with the gar
| lands that lined the festal board, while
| from end to end o graceful line OF smllax
| Wreathed itself around the fruit and
| A a
| Hiere of choice flowers greeted the guests.
| They were all, of course, quickly pinned
upon the coats of the banqueters. Twenty
| walters in every dress served the delicious
| ylands. while throughout the meal
| strlnr band dispensed the most inspiring
| music. When the sweet strains OF
"Diyie" floated through the perfumed
air the whole assembly, OF one accord,
burst into applause.
point, was without doubt the most perfect
| ever served here 1t was under the skilful
| direction of Mr.. Andrew krouse and cost
! Mr. Leigh called the meeting TO order
and briefly gave the word OF welcome TO
| the merry throng.
| On his right Governor Mckinney was
| seated, while on the left the distinguished
face of Senator Daniel appeared
PINE SPEECHES AFTER SUPPER.
II was after midnight before the supper
was finished, and during this time the
room was fairly alive with the hum of con-
versation and merry laughter. AS the
| meal was served IN courses ample time
was afforded for an exchange of Jokes over
| the sparkling wines and champagnes.
After the banquet was finished Mr.
| LEIGH again called tho meeting to order,
and, having secured silence, stated that
| tho first toast was Virginia" to be re-
| sponded to by Governor Mckinney. HIS
| Excellency as he arose was greeted with
| enthusiastic applause, and his reception
| was most cordial.
He made a short but exceedingly grace
full address, which elected considerable
The next toast" Richmond was re-
sponded to by Mayor Ellyson, who made
a very appropriate speech, IN which he
| alluded In complimentary terms TO the
wholesale grocers.
GREAT APPLAUSE FOR DANIEL.
The president announced the third toast
as follows:
tion for cooperation commercial neces-
sity Of the South growing out OF existing
cond tons"
| Daniel to respond, anu tuo ldnle ol tHe
distinguished Virginian had hardly fallen
from his lips when deafening applause
followed. Senator Daniel arose, and after
| gracefully acknowledging the honor con-
| ferred upon him, delivered short but ex-
ceedinely graceful address.
| Colonel A. S. Buford, in his character
istjc style. responded most happily to the
sentiment, Newport News. the port of
| Richmond, the shortest, quickest. and
cheapest route of the outside world to the
| Western South"
lieutenant Governor J. Hoge Tyler de-
| liyered an exceedingly witty and bright
address in response TO the sentiment
| Southwest Virginia, her magnificent
resources attracts the attention OF the
world; her wonderful development Is
matter of pride to the State"
His remarks we're fully III keep Ing with
the merriment OF the occasion.
The sentiment, Southern Wholesale
Grocers' Association and Knoxville. its
| Rirthplace,p was responded TO by Mr.. f.:
r. Hooker. of Knoxville, who was greeted
mo,t cordially by his Virginia brethren.
| His address was an excellent one.
Mr. c. A. Taylor responded TO the toast