New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-07
DESCENDANTS OF UTCHMEN
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE st. NICHOLAS
SOCIETY

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE ST NICHOLAS
SOCIETY
SOLID MEN OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY EDMUND wETMoRE. GENERAL
RUGER. CoMMor oRE sICARp. MR.
CHoArE AND orHERs-MR. DE-
PEW PLEADS FOR THE
ARMENIANs AND CUBA
II IL question whether the st. Nicholas Society
ever celebrated the festival OF the ancient Bishop OF
Nyra who. first the patron OF sailors and school
children. came TO be the saint OF the Hol.anders
and then appropriately enough the saint of the
descendants OF the settlers OF w-Amsterdam. with
more eclat and briance than when at Delmonico's
last night the sixty-first annual dinner OF the
cety took place. These dinners have been held
weary since the organization OF the society, and
each succeeding years banquet according to the
memories of Of the oder members seems TO
Rave ecpsed ali previous efforts. But while 80
sweeping assertion may be somewhat due 10 the
fact that the environments OF the present more
vivid than those of the past IL is unouestionable
that last nights dinner was surpassed by any
O. tho noted and conspicuous gatherings OF this
society that have gone before
distinctive feature. and one which strikes
persons in the habit OF attending public dinners
a happy innovation. is the arrangements Of the
tables. Instead Of the orthodox long rows of tables
set at right angles the head table. the St Ncho
las Society insists provision of separate round
tables. There twenty-six OF these prepared
last night and at each eight diners were seated
The advantages OF the system many as the
feast-loving members of st. Nicholas have dis
covered BY this arrangement man is not con-
fined for his exchanges Of views to his next door
neighbor his vis-a-vs. He has at once whole
Circe Of friends TO chat with. and handy words of
humor. This grouping is admittedly an aid TO good
fellowship. a pleasing element that Is sometimes
sadly lacking at public banquets.
AT THE HEAD TABLE.
The guests table extended almost the entire
breadth Of the room. Edward King, the president
Of the society. occupied the seat of honor. Upon
his immediate right NJ. c. de Weckherlin, the
Netherlands Minister. while the Rev. DR. Henry
Dyke sat to the left of the president Others at
the head table Commodore Scard. Judge
Clearwater. of Kingston; Joseph II. Choate, NJ.
Pauten. Consul General of the Netherlands; Nicho-
las Fish. OF the Society of the Cincinnati Berkeley
Mostyn. ST. Georges Society; DR.. d. b. st. John
Roosa. Holland Society; Major-General Roger. W.
II. McElroy Chsuncey NJ. Depew. +. c. De Feyster.
Society of Colonial Wars; Edmund Wetmore. w +.
Dodge New England Society: T L. James, st.
David's Society; ]. Kennedy Tod. ST Andrews So
ciety. and j. S Coleman. st. Patrick's Society
BEAUTIFUL SCENE.
The scene in Delmonico's handsome banquettng
hall when the guests had taken their places was
one OF exceeding beauty. Immediately behind the
chairman the orange-colored banner OF the so
cie;y CALAMITY supported one side by the Glori-
Gus flag of the Republic and on the other by the
national flag OF Holland. The orchestral gallery
facing the president. was draped with the stars ana
Stripes, with a centrally situated pointed device
Of the socety's coat of arms and It's motto under
ra1lza fipvn
urally predominated In the decorations-the menu
cards the toast list the mementos the recepacies for
ne fancy ices were all orange tinted and the subdued
rays from the aluminium oil lamps placed upon each
table gave added effect in penetrating through
gauzy shades OF the same coor. Benind the char-
mans table, and in other prominent parts OF 'he
hall stood stoid. solemn. almost impressive ne
groes. dressed in the Old Knickerbocker costume
looking az If they had just stepr-d from car
toon but adding picturesque fringe to me scene
SOME OLD CEREMONIES.
1us. before the speaking began the traditional
ceremonies OF the society observed The ne
groes before mentioned attired In their ancestr1l
aarb entered the hall. headed by bugier pewlgged
and powdered bearing the precious reno OF 'ile
society the old weathercock which once croWheu
The New-Amsterdam Town Hall. al Burling SID
and aftery-ard turned In the wind Washington
Irvns's home ct Sleepy Hollow With the COCK
came the great mace of the society and ooth were
paced before the president. in accordance with Gus
TOM A proceeding which he acknowledged by dohlns
the od-fashoned three-cornered hat he had worn
caring the dinner. With each succeeding year the
members OF the society grow look Upon the an
touated old vane with greater reverence. and II Is
a popular belief among the adherents OF 81 Memo
ias that the cock still points the direction OF the
wind. Be that il may. 1t IL an indsputaD'e iact
that no sooner had the old bird found resting
place on the table OF honor than II Immediately
swung round and pointed its beak al Joseph H.
Choate Chauncey NJ. Depew. who had been de-
tanned had not then arrived. but eager eyes
watched the ROSTERS face. when shortly aferward,
Mr. Depew entered the room and sat at a circular
table opposite me chairman and the owners OF the
eyes were prepared to testify on oath that 1t vi
brated and quivered TO an intense degree in an
effort 10 swing round in line with the late arrival
SOME OF THOSE PRESENT.
Over two hundred and fifty members and guests
were present. among whom were the following
5sha W. 4 ,,,.s = S yGP L M5 Msy''
Gs6rge 7 i;s' Baldwin George E. Meyer.
p; S'i ass'.nan / y So5Sssa
dam d1,55- R Rs%crs W anaPa si'I Tenod
Vh1Tiss + !. g BrSTsr Harsen rariy.
J: " l!eekmsn, {. + Pos p.t:co,,
H. II cammsnn. Z A Qunta5d
J yfo A S SnaSs5 samuel W Richardson.
Marin W Cooke f. $. Renwck.
William Carey, p'n Il 1snc,-s
DR.. T. NJ. cheesr1an. iieiiy =. it1seIs,
- =. T.. J. Swords.
- - Cannn, ". Y. Swords.
g. /. Carpenter. W ''si T..
r. ~. II = Tou,b,v II. Schmezel.
irhaaao-a ne Wiz, Charles F. Sylvester,
$1,000 no WI. Franklin Stanton.
n,aLe "'''' j. lie Roy Sntterlee,
Chauncey NJ. Depew. iiellI! ~ o4o''
Robert Bowling ;;AI.nLo g. o,ch
y W Ja~oe T. Aymar Sands.
y,;r,.r, r. re WIZ, Henry Stanton.
~ !" rn yai ~ George II. SHARPE,
yt.t,ta, - Ie,r,. ro,s,rn John H. Starln.
ff-,o.S Charles A SchermerhOrn
.ma,.,,s tiovd J.. Maus Sohermernorn.