The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-10
THEIR FIRST BANQUET.
First Light Infantry Veterans Enjoy
Themselves at the banquet Table.


First Light Infantry Veterans Enjoy
Themselves at the banquet Table.
The first annual banquet OF the First
Light Infantry Veteran association was
held last evening at 16l Westminster
street. About rs members and guests
discussed the elaborate menn spread before
them. After the wants OF the inner man
had been attended to cigars were lighted
and an hour or more was given up to
social enjoyment. The occasion was
marked by the whole souled and complete
abandonment to the recital OF events OF
past days for which the association is SO
noted.
The officers OF the association occupied
seats at the head table. Among these
werc ex-Lieutenant Governor Lucius Dar-
ling, Brigadier General DeDnis, Colonel
Thornton, Chaplain Samuel III. Webb, w.
III. Sayles, Pawtucket, Col. j. T.. Kondrick,
Captain Fred B. Burt, Lieutenant Colonel
John j. Jencks, c. w. Jencks Captain
George II. Chadsey, Lieutenant William
Gottschalk, Central Falls DIR. William B.
Mead and Lieutenant A. /. Talbot.
At 8 o'clock Colonel Duckworth called
the meeting to order and extended
hearty welcome to the members and in
troduced Colonel j. r. Kendrick as toast
master. Colonel Kendrick stated that II
was very pleasant to look back after many
years and know that each one present
helped to make up the First Light In
fantry regiment. No organization in the
state or country possesses greater in
terest than this regiment. No other
organization is better. We represent q
regiment noted far and near for discipline
and good order and for the good times en-
joyed by the members. He hoped that
the time was far distant when any
member would forget that he belonged to
the association and regiment and ceased
to love the old organization.
Colonel Kendrick then introduced ex-
Lieutenant Governor Darling, who spoke
of his connection with the regiment and
association, calling up old memories and
bringing back anew the festive times OF
years past.
Gen. Dennis also spoke and in ansinfor-
NAL manner of his connection with the
regiment. He said that he had entered the
regiment to learn everything possible con-
nected with military affairs and was proud
to state that when he was chosen captain
of the regiment be was capable of going
into the ranks and drilling with the pri-
vate. He urged the necessity OF building
up the regiment by inducing the young
men in the city to join. A'
Col. Thornton spoke about the matter
of encouraging the young men to enter
the regiment. A military training is the
best thing in the world for the man. 1t is
not an easy matter to keep the company
up to the standard. II takes great deal
of time and must receive the support OF
the community. Col. Thornton's brief
speech was received with the heartiest
applause, testiiying in itself the great
esteem in which the ex-colonel is held by
the regiment.
Chaplain Webb was then introduced
and reviewed briefly the festivities and
occasions that were not OF the festive
order of the past days. Other speakers
were called upon and the social period was
intensified by the brief sketches Of
previous times.