Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
A BEAUTIFUL LUNCHEON.
Exquisite DecoratiOns-The Toasts
and Responses.


Exquisite Decorations-The To"sts
and Responses.
About noon 40 guests OF the Newport
News Ship-Building and Dry-Dock Com
pany were ushered into the spacious
drawing-room In the company's principal
office building where luncheon was
served. The decorations were magnii-
cent. In fact, their beauty was so pro-
nounced that Secretary Herbert sought
our MIR. V. Il. Barclay. who had charge
Of them, and complimented him highly
on his work.
At one end Of the room hung fine por-
trait of Secretary Herbert, and above
Il was the inscription, In letters OF sold:
"Our Nayy-Our Pride at Home; Our
Protection Abroad"
At one side of the picture was the
shield OF the State of Delaware, and at
the other side was the shield of tn
State Of Tennessee. At the other end
OF the room hung a splendid portrait OF
q. i. Huntington. founder or the snip
yard, and in the background there was
a very large United States flag Hun
dreds OF yards of dwhite-and-blue
bunting adorned the sides of the room
s'lAI iilE NNiA.ios ph'NA' N'N'-A
conspicuous in the decorations.
Following is a list of the toasts and
the names Of the gentlemen who re-
sponGed:
The President" Rev. d. Mckay Smith,
of Washington.
THE Navy" Secretary Herbert.
THE Newport News Ship-Buildlng and
Dry-Dock Company" MIR. G. j.. circuit
president OF the company.
Nashville" Hon. Joseph +. Washing
ton, member OF Congress from Tennes'
see
wilmington" Hon. c +. Jeffrles
| Mayor OF the city.
The speeches were made in a very
happy vein, and all the speakers took
| occasion to say some very nice thing
about the Newport News ship-yard.
MIR. CIRCUITS SPEECH.
The remarks OF Nr. circuit were es-
pecialy well chosen. and he was fire.
| qucnIly interrupted by vociferous ap-
| pause. lie said
MIR. Secretary, Ladies, and Gentle
men,-Repre senting the company you
have honored by your presence here to-
day. permit me to thank you for the
! GOOD wishes EXPRESSED in the toast just
| offered, the pleasing echoes Of which VII
| ere long reach the ears of the / i-nder
and owner Of the works. who Is now go
/ journing for a time on the Pacific coast
, Mr @. +. Huntington.
I'm his behalf | thank you, ladies' and
gentlemen. for the compliment you have
% craciously accorded 10 this company
! Many who are gathered about these Ia
BEES have. no doubt viewed with interest
| and surprise the transformation which
has taken place on this river bank within
| a Iriaf uerlod Of time. one has only a
half score Of years 10 recall. that where
now stands this great ship-yard only d
| candy beach could be seen in 1881. The
/ half mile of water front now within the
enclosure we view from these wirdoWs
was simply an eligible site. nothing
more. rich in history from Captain New
! Yort's day TO later times. but only q
A MASTER MIND.
"A master mind. whose energy mas
belted a continent with steel iodh"ay
Iccreod that ships should be built on the
lanes hard by wonder r0adsted IN Wnos,
waters the navies OF the world migh'
safely anchor 49,
In obedience to the command theI'
gathered on these shores artisans ah'
men OF brain and muscle, without whoH
magic Industrial Development were I'M
nossible. and In q twinkle a barren vast
was covered over with mammoth DuiIa
ines. fires were lighted. and the uusi'
| Of the anvil attested the chanSe. heei'
49, laid. ribs of iron and steel wer,
hoisted in place. end anon theIe sHle'
from slippery WAYS ambitious tugs. state
ly Merchantmen, and fleet passenSel
steamers. the latest being the greyhoun'
of the bay. the steamer Newport News
now moorcd at yonder wharf awaiting
Mr.. Secretary. to serve you furtner.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION.
Having ambitions for naval construc
ton, we obtained from you, Mt secre
tary. contracts for quarter OF dozei
e1,nboats. and to-day the fair godmotner'
from distant Nashville and busy Whining
ton have christencd two Of these gun
| hoats. starting the tandem team on III
career Of usefulness Heaven bless tn'
r1dmothers and their craft. IL Is M
small honor, Mr. Secretary, 10 have ha'
even an humble part in helping TO built
nm the New Navy" OF this greaN re
public. and the Newport News Shipbuild
ing and Dry-Dock Company confesses L
| 4 thrill OF satisfaction as IL contem
plates tho little brood assembled yonder
We even counted them before they wer'
ha tchedl
| think. Mr.. Secretary. that when yoI
| come 10 look Dack upon yOut uStidi dh'
| honorable career as a public servant yol
will get most satisfaction from the fac
that In the Committee on Naval Affairs
and as Secretary OF the Navy. you assist
| ed nobly in building a naval fleet which
| is the admiration OF the world.
| True Americans are longing for thu
day when the flag Of our country Will 0'
restored 10 its old-timed prestige on th'
ocean, and when We can again boast o.
| an American merchant marine.
Every hammer stroke in the work o
building up our navy brings nearer tn
| fruition OF our hopes for mer
chant marine worthy Of the name
| God grant that the day is no
the name. God grant that the day is no
far distant when the American flag vii
be d familiar emblem on sea and lam
the world around-that when the wan
derer, lonely, frIendless, In foreign har
bors shall behold that flag unrolled, 'twll
be as a friendly hand stretched out from
his native land. filling his heart wit
memories sweet and endless"