The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-28
THE BANQUET.

For the first time we believe IN the history
of the Philadelphia Clothing Trade, the
members of the Newspaper Fraternity of
that city and vicinity were on Monday night
entertained at their establishment. To the
| inventive brain, and progressive spirit of
VIM. II Wanamaker the head of the house
aided by his capable assistants Messrs.
Nell, McCorkle, Ettinger and Others the
guests of Monday night owe an evening of
pleasure, and which Mr.. Wanamaker very
aptly termed a Pan-Journalistic Congress,
The entire rear of the main floor running
parallel with sixth street had been trans
formed into banquetting hall, and had
been deliberately decorated with blooming
plants, flowers and ferns Excellent taste
has been shown in the tints of the walls
of the entire floor. Pale green and silver
every where prevail. the large painting the
"Old Homestead" recently added to the
attractions of the store, being a conspicuous
object in the spacious apartment. The
| guests of the evening comprising number
| Of the prominent business men of New
York and Philadelphia, Representatives OF
the Philadelphia press, aud of the towns
within a radius of a hundred miles Of that
| city, nun bering over two hundred gentle
men were seated at handsomely decorated
| tables, brilliantly illuminated with electric
ligh;s and fancy lamps, the deep foliage of
| the plants, aud the rich tints of the decora
| tions, contrasting strikipgly with the snowy
whiteness of the liuen Gamask that covered
| the tables, over which hung in conspicuous
| beauty a floral banner which bore the
inscription welcome the Press" The
| menu card was of a novel and unique
design, in the form of a miniature news
| paper, in the columns OF which the differ
emit dishes constituting the course were
printed, while over the upper lift head
corner of the Menu Card, was att ached
with ribbon quill pen.
At eight o'clock Mr.. Wanamaker's guests
| were seated, and after discussing the menu
| which was served by Weiner and embraced
| an elaborate list of dishes, at ten O'Clock he
| arose and said:
st gives me great pleasure, gentlemen of
| the press, and you, my business friends, to
make you welcome to our house Tonight. L
count it an honor to bring you under this
| roof. These old walls have heard the echo
of business jargon for many years, but TO-
| night they have new scenes. This Pan
journalistic Congress which we have called
| together will speak to US on a very import
| ant suhject-one that is very dear to us
| Philadelphia, good old Philadelphia"
| bar rafa 70 ha
| toric associations which clustered around
| the old corner of Sixth and Market streets.
told about the residence of Robert Morris on
the spot now occupied by the firm, and then
| coming to later times, he said:
| ION lot, so by 60 feet, was laid tine found
alton stone of the place where the fortunes
of the Postm aster General were first for ned
| and made. 1t is the spot on which he roi d
| and carried cloth; it was a little store which
| he kept neat and clean and swept it out
| himself.
1t was here he tied rolls and carried bun
dies, and it was here that he began to grow
until he became one of the first merchants
of this country. Aud 1, his brother take
| delight in giving him this grand certificate
and honor. bid yon a most cordial and
| hearty welcome
Mr.. Wana maker was warmly applauded
| during his remarks, and he regretted that
! official business prevented the Postmaster
| General from attending. Letters of regret
| were also received from Mayor Stuart and
| others.
Mr.. Wanamaker then introduced in very
| complimentary terms Col. A. X. Mcclure
editor of the Times. He compared the growth
| of the city 20 the little clothing store which
| stood on the corner, and said Philadelphia
| had not been backward. especially with its
| newspapers.
In ten years the publication &C the papers
had increased from 1U0, 900 daily TO nearly
| half million, and that showed progress.
The cause had been due to just such men as
the Wanamakers, who had done more to
| advance journalism in Phila delphia than
all other causes combined outside of the
newspaper publishers themselves.
The merchants and the newspapers, he
said, are little ahead of the people, but the
latter will be brought up to the same spirit
of progress.
Then Colenel Mcclure referred to the
prospective influences of the Bourse and
O. her agencies in building up the city, and
said we would soon have New Philadel-
phis ia,lact.