Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-19
RECEPTION AT new ALEXANDRIA.

night, several hundred representative
people of old Alexandria having made
family visit to the offspring bearing
its name which has commenced keep
ing house, for itself in new and mod
ern STYLE with electric lights, electric
railroad, &c. The Hotel Mount Yer
non was their objective point, and II
ever host was successful in entertain
ing it was on this occasion. Mr.. L. W.
Spear, the lessee, and Mr.. ]. T. Roberts,
the manager, Wed in thoughtfulness
and civility and their exertions were
eminently successful. They were
on the platform when every car arrived
and cordially extended the hand of
welcome to each guest. The hotel
blazed with electricity, while without
variegated lights, rockets, roman can
dies and other fireworks produced q
grand effect. Cars bearing visitors be.
gan arriving early in the evening and
by ten o'clock the crowd was dense.
AS has been stated Messrs. Spear and
Roberts, both of whom are Masons,
had invited their brethren of the two
lodges in this city to partake of the
hospitality of the hotel last night, and
large number of the members of both
lodges had availed themselves of the
opportunity to spend a pleasant even.
ing in their company. MIR: c: Brad
ley Prices string band had been
secured for the occasion, as well
IS the Leonada Quartette of this city,
and they acquitted themselves admir-
ably. Dancing was engaged in for sew
eral hours, and the quartette-Messrs.
Smith, Nails, Monroe and Price-as
they always do, rendered admirable
vocal music. The guests enjoyed seats
on the veranda smoking and conyers,
ing until about ten o'clock, when Mr..
Roberts invited the company into the
dining room where gorgeous feast
had been spread.
Mr.. F. A. Reed presided and raped
the company to order, when Mr.. Il. E.
Knight invoked q blessing.
Mr.. Reed then made o few apt re-
marks concerning the occasion which
had brought the company together.
He said there were times when all felt
the need of a relaxation, when we could
temporarily lay aside the issues, per-
plexities and tolls of life and spend an
hour in social gathering around the
festive board, when the friction of con-
yersation would animate us and render
our spirits in better condition to re.
sumo the labors for which we are des-
tined. Mr.. Reed rendered the thanks
OF the company to Messrs. Spear and
Roberts for the royal entertainment ex-
tended to their Alexandrian brethren.
He also said he admired Mr.. Spears
pluck az the founder of New Alexand-
ria. He had taken hold of this locality
on which to build new town and des-
pite many drawbacks was perseyering
and succeeding in the undertaking.
The new town had the good wishes Of
the old, as what was for the benefit of
one was naturally for the good of the
other.
After the feast had been duly discuss
ed and when the wine and cigars were
circulating, Mr.. F. E. Anderson, justly
termed the ''Silver. tongued" orator of
the fraternity hereabouts, was called
upon and he entranced his audience
with one of his best efforts. He pic
tured in glowing language the fratri-
cidal conflict through which the coun-
try had passed, how it had emerged
from the fray with the New South en-
blazoning this part of the country where
the hum of spindles and the whur of
machinery were new being heard. He
paid special tribute to the promoters
of New Alexandria and expressed his
best wishes for their abundant success.
Mr.. Spear was called upon for
speech. He regretted he could say
nothing to add to the special interest
of the occasion, but would remark that
he and his colaborer, Mr.. Roberts, were
overpleased at the manner in which
their guests were enjoying themselves
and at the complete success of the en-.
tertainment. He thanked all for the
honor of their presence, and hoped
there would be other occasions when
they would meet under similar happy
circumstances.
Mr.. Charles ]. Wise followed in
few well-timed remarks in which he
pictured the growth of the present CEN
fury, the abolition of the stage coach
for the electric car and the sailing yes.
sci for the steamboat.
Mr.. M. P. Vincent, being the only
representative of the government pres
emit, was called upon. He made few
appropriate remarks, and 10 turn call
ed upon Mr.. E. E. Downham. The
latter responded in behalf of old Alex.
andria. He said that the spirit which
was manifested in New Alexandria was
not apparent in the old, and was out
spoken in his admiration for the enter
prise of the former. He spoke of Mr..
Spear as being the originator of the
new town and of the electric railway
over which the guests had reached the
hotel.
Mr.. R. E. Knight was next called on
to respond to the toast 1.-THE Press.n
His address was pertinent and well re-
ceived.
Calls were made for Mr.. L. II. Thomp.
son and finally that gentleman arose
and said he had ascertained many years
ago that public speaking was not his
forte. He remarked, however, that
he had watched with pride the devel-
opment of New Alexandria and had al.
ways endeavored in his humble way to
keep the enterprise before the public.
He referred to the fact that thirty odd
years ago the very spot on which the
company were assembled bristled with
bayonets, and the doleful sound of the