The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-03-23

Longwell's opera house was filled with
our best citizens last Saturday evening
to assist those who delight in honoring
lreland's patron saint in celebrating
their great festival.
The floor space of the opera house
was entirely taken up by long tables
extending lengthwise of the room, ex-
cepting that one was placed across the
upper end directly In front of the stage.
These were prettily decorated with
smilax, box, pinks and roses, and laden
with food to tempt the appetite for the
of an epicure. Pretty misses, becoming
ly altered for the occasion, fitted hither
and thither, giving finishing touch to
this and that decoration until at about
$50 the feast was pronounced i'm readi-
ness and Rev. Fr Mulcahy, in few
well chosen words gave IAN hundred
thousand welcomes" to the assembled
guests, who at once proceeded to a dis
cussion of the good things before them.
After the banquet came the set pro-
gram for the evening, and it was well
chosen and interesting one.
Toastmaster David l.. Dillon an
nounced the first regular sentiment
"Our Country"-and called upon Judge
Benz. + .Heckert to respond. The ground
which might be covered in speaking To
this toast is almost limitless, but Judge
Heckert contented himself with culling
from his store of historical knowledge
only the most shining periods, and held
them up before the banqueters clothed
in rugged eloquence which is peculiar
ly his own and which, on his resuming
his seat, were greeted with round on
round of applause
MO M W IL
Fitch and Mrs. Mae Mowrey, was
enthusiastically applauded; and the
violin and piano duet of Charles and
Ellen Duffy which followed set the
audience wild with delight.
Thos. j. CaVanaugh was called upon
to respond to "The Irish American, and
who SO well fitted for the task as an
Irish American himself, trimming full
of the native fiery eloquence OF the
Green Isle, toned down and polished
by his American birth and education.
A vocal selection by Bruce A. Cum
ings met with such boisterous applause
that an encore was given TO quiet the
house.
''The Day we Celebrate" was the toast
selected by the committee for Mr.. VIM.
Dorgan TO respond to, and Toastmaster
Dillon, in introducing the subject and
the speaker, took occasion to unburden
himself of some of his pent-up humor,
but his victim fired back as good as was
sent-a very pretty exchange of Irish
hot-shot and good-natured bandinage
Mr.. Dorgan's dissection of his subject
evidenced not only an intimate know
ledge of the history of Ireland aud her
patron saint, but also an ability to weave
around his ideas framework of elo-
quence, dotted here and there by bits
of sparkling wit and entertaining
anecdote.
Mrs. terguson's vocal selection met
with such favor as only an encore could
compensate.
MIR. Geo. f. Breck responded to
"Michigan" and gave to the banqueters
some bits of Michigan history that are
only to be found in Indian legends or
in the fertile imagination of good after
dinner takers, rs Mr. Breck conclusive
ly proved himself to be.
David l.. Dillon sang a couple of very
pretty songs and was rewarded by an
applause which brought the carmine to
the cheeks of that ordinarily stoical
young gentleman.
"The Ladies"-the theme To which
Mr. X. w Broughton was called upon
TO respond, was reserved for the final
number on the program, and the COM
mittee "builded wiser than il knew" in
so arranging it, for IL was q most glow
ing and fitting finale TO a very pleasant
and successful affair. If Mr.. Broughton
lacks in anything it certainly is not in
ability to clothe his thoughts in eloquent
language and round his periods in APP
propriate and fascinating metaphor.