New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05
HONORED BY COLLEGE CHI UMS.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BACKUS ENTER
TANNED At A DINNER
MERRY CROWD AT THE ST. DENIS. IN NE"
YoRK-sT. LAWRENCE GRADUATES GREET

4 MERRY CROWD At THE ST. DENIS. IN NEW
YoRK-sT LAWRENCE GRADUATES GREET
nRooKLYNs LAW OFFICER
District-Attorney Foster j. Backus was the
guest OF honor at a dinner given last night at the
| Hotel 81 Denis New York. by the graduates ana
friends Of St Lawrence University who live IN New"
York and nearby points.
About seventy-hve guests were seated aroul'u TIC
| tables which were tastefu.y decorated Win ho"e''
and iha college co.Ors. scarlet ana prowh' feIoel
F Cunnison made an excellent POSTMASTER lie
recalled some of he college scrapes In which he al
Legged tn. istrct-Attoruey. and not he as the ira
, ditions declare. the ringleader
II. said that the position Of presiding officer had
been thrust upon him because he declined TO serve
on the Dinner Committee. He believed 1t was inc
on.v case on record whore pace had sought
~ Laurence County man. There were a few cases
/ ~ tho revers. II am pedsed.' he continued 10
see the increased membership OF the 81 Lawrence
/ coony II shows that they are crowd nara 10
XIII and that tho metropolis stin mas ATTRACTIONS
for the country lads. These annual gatherings are
An evidence OF the love men have for the homes OF
| thor hoyho1I and for tho Institution where they
v.ra educated \ man who keeps "A warm spot IN
his heart for early associations Is pretty apt 10
make A good citizen in h.s new home App.dus''
The record 81 tho I.awrentans for the last year
has been bright one. MIR Buck. one Of tho hrst
Graduates of tn. college has been chosen engineer
n-chef - th. new Fast River bridge a position ne
| il c.nlo.nf,v aua.incl 20 n Mr.. Backus has been
called 10 one OF the highest positions In the sii OF
his city
Mr. Gunrlson then spoke Of his long acquaint-
.nce with MIR Rackus and Of the high regard In
which he hsli him. one N Mr. Backuss chiet
charactcrlsics. he said. was his love for the Oh
nfcsir IN -. Lawrence County and loyalty ana d"-
votion e. the university from which he graduated
| The aim, mater had no son more worthy. and no
one IN whose success Il NOR" heartily reJosce1.
Ex-Civn Service Commissioner William A. Poste
was introduced a. one IaFtcu'ar.y NJ NJ ~
Mr. Rackus has not leel ASHAMED OF the h0mely
virtue. - the farmsiead nor OK tnr DFdNr O'u We"
dom % sincerity rApplt ~ ~ mas nenrr 80 ,a
poan culture a. to lose irsKhsss a ouid advSnce
or assist a worthy cause he has not been dtra,n
sleeve An ever youthful optimism IS. when joined
with ability and manlness ana honesty, a coWpehs
IDEAL politician Is times ga to 40 nGI bss To hem ene
en'nusast ,Ahp,arsoy ., Kings County not be.
cause OF any criticism or Of doubt concerning ms
brilliant and honorable opponent Sn. o ssb eas
and unmortsaged genius. II was SAID OF oi. i;st
hat ''i nyeth IT on. but CONGRATULATIONS are not
| premature in this case Along with the sentiment
mere o ~ ey" and fsce tact Along With the
high ideals Is an amazing quicknesa OF cohcrhra-
Such a man VII not fal. and may we all be he.e
assist IN The FAR pnrs ceehraton OF the con- com
Office. loud APPLAUSE
GREETED WITH THE COLLEGE YELL
District-Attorney Backus. on being introduced.
was greeted with the college yell
Mr. Backus's remarks follows
There are In the lives Of all extreme moments OF
depression and rXaltaion. and tho breadth ana I'M
portance Of ones lfe VIII depend upon no" FAR apart
and events Of mans life ar" VIII b" determined py
his temperament. his sentiment and his tastes. II
was a moment Of extreme depression in my expert
, took m mr' IN his wagon from my home 10 earn my
! !
sobs and tears by being allowed to drive his hand,
some black team. with their whii" faces ana whtrh
eyes. shall never forget mat in all my fe' II was
entered the og school at Monterey At the of six
teen teach my first school IT. was moment OF
return after graduation from ST Lawrence hlVer-
sy polished and finished as he then seemed TO me.
II was wonderful event when entered tnat I'M
mensc. magnificent institution. ana clInpei 10 the
summit Of the nh meath tns Scae, d ,v hen nv
old college chun and !. after having our anprotypes
taken. marched up the park; mounted he platform
the Decoration Day songs dressed III our SUMS Oh
black and white stripes. win black we've, collars a
round the necks. and our nrst plug mats upon our
heads It was grea ryenr 10 me W,e sirans words
of commcndatiOn from the faculty 10 comfehcss
sha al al. alwavs regard it as fortunate that Dr. Amon
Gunnison led me to choose me city o, btoohs" as
legal preceptor While an Assistant District Attor-
ney years ago used TO follow many o, hose w con
hnemen and in prison formed the nen wbo
was serving a life sentence. After year of hard.
unceasine foil a supreme moment In my experience
came when I appealing TO a Governor OF this
last Dear Governor. though II would not De DOL
lars advantage to me II I could take back 10 my
dear old friend to-day her pardon so that she can
he released at once after thirty I'VE years or I'M
prl,onment IL would be the proudest and happest
event OF my life since left old 81 Lawrence Iouty
its farms and schools" instantly the ,overhVss
yon'u walt half an hour" That Governor was Ros-
well p. Flower (appausel, and that was supreme
moment I'm my life. | afterward saw him, before
visiting our military schools or our State norman
schools through the prisons OF GU, otae an i,ha S
out from the forgotten cells those who had neither
mEddey nep when had pending
through many tcrms-and he added TO MS long ilst
the records the glory OF former overn99 no
that ne became known TO many as the paruoh,hhs
Governor" and in his personality realized the
beauty and significance OF the ihes' .'"''
The quality Of mercy Is not strained;
L, droppeth like the gentle rain from Heaven
Upon the place beneath ~,
After ] had been nominated and elected as IRE
District Attorney in the city OF brooklyn Guy ot
exaltation enthusiasm and JOY when got OF me
train at the little depot in Canton walked up me
track. through the back yard and INTO the paSn
door and gave a surprise visit to my brother' VINO
had sacrificed Cor me. and my old mother. who
had suffered and toled for me but to-niEnt YOU
have taken me from the low plains or me- sur
rounded by strife and selhshness. up 10 tne very
hilltops and mountain slopes. where can breathe
the atmosphere OF pure unselish friendship ana
love. for you know me as | have been ana as !
really am, and, knowing me with all my iaults anu
all my weaknesses that you love me STU an sur nd
round me makes me supremacy cohte"'eu anu
happy. loud applauseD
OTHER TOAsTs AND RESPONSES.
Ex-Governor Roswell P. Flower responded 10
"The State OF New-York" He said that he had
nfar