Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-21

Whisky Punch, Old CoDfederacy style.
Relishes
Celery. Chow Chow Cranberry Sauce.
Sweet Pickles, Spanish Olives,
Red Beets Cabbage Slaw.
Fruit
Oranges, Apples, Malaga Grapes,
Bananas, Nuts.
Coffee. Tea, German Cocktail Cigars,
Cheese, Crackers.
Commander Smoot having raped
the company to order, Capt. X. Kemper
invoked blessing upon the repast,
after which there was an attack made
all along the line on the tempting dishes
which was continued without cessation
for three-quarters of an hour, during
which all present engaged in social con-
versation and in recounting reminis
cences of by-gone days in their individ,
ual experiences when parched corn
and not enough of that-was the only
article on their bills of fare. Finally,
all having done ample justice to the
substantials, whisky punch (old con-
federacy style) began to circulate free
~. when the assemblsge was again rap
ped to order and General Hooker, the
orator of the occasion, was announced.
The General was greeted with much
applause. He spoke ITO the Memory
of General K. f. Lee" and that he
handled his subject with mastery
nand was the unanimous verdict. He
said the name of Virginia alone was
suggestive of reverence. There was no
pl ace like the Old Dominion for such
acts and historic Alexandria especially.
Washington and Lee had both lived in
this good old city and had both worship
p-d in ivy-mantled Christ Church.
rhe subject of his discourse had re-
moved to Alexandria when but four
years old, and old men now creep among
US who may remember the boy who
Joined in the juvenile sports of the day
and who wendell his way with them 10
the same schools. The speaker then
ia an exceeding interesting manner
traced the history of Lee from his boy
ISL days to the zenith of his fame, and
iwelt touchingly upon his devotion to
his mother especially when deprived of
husbands love aud protection. Gen
tral Hooker then graphically described
his first meeting with General Lee
aud his impressions of the mau.
and referred to the fact that when
indicted with other prominent fg
ures of the late confederacy
General Grant had put his veto
upon it. This alusion to the federal
generals magnaminity and his respect
for General Lee brought forth consid-
cradle applause. The speaker related
numerous "reminiscences of the great
leader connected with his private life
and before he had achieved promi-
hence, among them one illustrative
of his regard even for those of humble
mission in life, when he took an old
colored servant who had been stricken
with pulmonary trouble to Georgia
in hopes of restoring him to health
aud at his death had his remains
brought back to his native State and
decentlv burned. The southern people,
General Hooker said, were those at
ter all who understood the negro.
He closed by saying it was gratifying to
realize tho f.ct Ii i Virginia had pro-
duced such a man one gifted with such
a genius, devoid of mean principles
ill-will, malice, &c, and man insus-
ceptible to anger-the perfection of
true manhood. "And at last the great
spirit was surrendered at the call of
the Master. The news was caught up
by the swell of the Atlantic, waited to
foreign shores and reverberated back
that the noblest man God had ever let
live had passed into the realms of bliss"
Tremendous applause.
Colonel Arthur Herbert next spoke
in response to the toast, "The Infan
try" The speaker said some one had
told him he could compass his subject
in a five-minutes' speech, but he
couldn't possibly see how be could give
a resume Of the heroism and trials Incl
dent to four years. service in that time
and he would make no such attempt.
The Colonel then, as an appropriate
preface to his speech, read "John Swim
toms Tribute to the Confederate Infan-
try" The remainder of his address
consisted of anecdotes and deeds OF
heroism connected with the old Seven
teenth. some of which were interesting
and others humorous and all were high
ly enjoyed.
MIR. John NJ. Johnson spoke to "The
in which he depicted in Wig
orous language the arduous duties i'm
posed upon that branch of the service
No nobler band, he said, ever lived than
the cavalry of the Army ofNorthern Vir-
ginia. He had their history down to a
inc point, and, at each recital of their
1ashes and exploits, among them
Stuart's ride around the federal army,
brought down the house with applause.
The last scene in the war was, he said,
enacted by the cavalry, when they rode
through the enemy's line and didn't
surrender: All the .rass ysss asKed;
owever, was to be given the credit
7hieh justly belongedsto them.
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