The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-25
THE SOUTHERN CLUB DINNER.
An Extract From thespeech of Joseph
e. ChOate
From the Ne1o York Tribune


From the Ne1o York Tribune
The rich, warm life of the south, with its
fondness for the good things of earth, its
bouuteous hospitality and its glowing
human sympathy and affection, pulsated at
the dinner of the Southern Society Wednes-
day night. Capital as 90 viands, beautiful
as spectacle and of SURPRISING interest for
the oratory, it stands out as one Of the most
notable Of the seven annual affairs given by
the society. Throughout most OF the year
the sons or the south who have made this
city their abiding place are conspicuously
New Workers, keen, alert business men, but
at the annual dinner of their club they give
themselves over completely to the lovabls
fellowship of their old homes. They are
the devoted, loyal offspring of Virginia. or
Kentucky, or Georgia, and each comrade is
q brother,
The dinner was held in the assembly
rooms OF the Madison Square garden, than
which no more admirable place could be
suggested. It is richly and artistically
adorned and spacious, so that there is no
croWdlng Another important point in its
favor is the splendid opportunity 1t gives
tue wives and daughters of members to see
the festive scene and TO hear the eloquent
words Of the speakers. This works double
advantage. IL delights the women and their
presence, in rich gowns and sparkling
gems, gives pleasing variety and adds
beauty to the scene. Last night, several
scores Of lovely daughters of the south
greced the boxes In the balcony
A feature of the affair which wears per-
manent interest was the presentation TO the
society Of bronze bust Of Algernon Sidney
Sullivan, first president Of the organization
and one of the most effective laborers In its
behalf when it struggled for firm footing.
1,rvoN 10 ,3yvnf Of -. h.
Metropolitan Museum of Art and was the
gift OF George II. Sullivan.
DR.. Parker, president Of the society, read
letters Of regret from Don NJ Dickinson
and Congressman John Allen of Mississippi,
and then asked Mr.. Choate. whom he de-
scribed as the head of the bar of America,
TO speak to the toast Nv Warrington The
guests cheered most enthusiastically as Mr..
Choate arose. The following Is the intro-
ductory part of his speech:
At last the southerners have fairly captured
and captivatei New York. The brave and gay
company, made up of the representatives Of all
their states, from Virginia to Louisiana, is met
to celebrate the birthday of the father Of their
country and ours with pious reverence and
patriotic zeal You have invited me- q lifelong
republican, to unite with you in this national
communion, and by that token have assured
me that not even in your presence will you ex-
pect me to disguise my sentiments or to profess
or to pretend anything that / do not believe.
Brains and beauty carry SO much further than
bay onets and bullets-and these have secured
for you an equal footing with the rest of us in
this the common house of the states of the
unioH and the common refuge Of the nations of
the earth. If | should ask you why you have
come to New York as your adopted home, be-
lieve you would give the same answer as the
yankee the weSterner, the Irshman, the Scotch
man and the German, that while you were
proud of the scenes of your nativity, while they
were all very good places to be born in, they
were very comfortable to leave behind.
Like Joseph's brethren, we had all heard alike
that there was corn in Egypt, and like them re
ceiving our fathers blessing, we started out for
the land of plenty-and how well you have
realized your fondest expectations in that regard
your sleek and happy and comfortable appear
ance does abundantly show. Laughter When
look around upon this sea of upturned faces,
all beaming with peace and happiness-upon
these expanded forms all rounded out with the
spoils of the Egyptiaus-and when lift my eyes
and look up from this anything but the empti
ness of things below to the blessedness of things
above and behold these fair daughters OF the
south arrayed in costumes and bedecked with
jewels that might have startled the Queen Of
Sheba-I say to myself, well, the southerner,
too, knows good thing when he sees it-he
knows on which side his bread is buttered-and
after seeing his state safely back 10 her place
for once and forever in the peerless gala Of the
union, he made no mistake in turning his foot
steps northward and making his home In this,
the real cAnter of the union.