Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-27
A BIG LONDON DINNER
AMERICAN SOCIETY CELEBRATES
THANK SEWING DAY.
THREE HUNDRED PRESENT.
AMBASSADOR AND MRS. BAYARD w
ABLE To ATTEND.
"Commanded'' 10 Dine With the
Queen ut Windsor - American
Corn and PumpIlIn~-Thr
Day of Thanks Else
where.

London, Nov. 25.-The second Thanksgiv-
Ing diHuer Of the American Society took
place this evening in the grand hall Of the
HOtel Cecil. Mr.. Henry s. Welcome,
Chairman OF the society, presided iE the
absence Of the United States ambassador,
Mr. Thomas F. Bayard, who. with Mrs.
Bayard. was Commanded" to dine with
the queen at Windsor castle. The dinner
was on a more elaborate scale than any
Of the previous gatherings OF the society,
an1 about 800 ladies' and gentlemen were
present.
The hall was splaadidIy decorated. A
special feature Of the ornamen-ation. in
addition 10 the stars and stripes, which
were everywhere displayed, was a guam
tity Of American corn, especially brought
over for the purpose. Many American
dishes were on the menu, and some i'm
mense pumpkins had a share in providing
the good things for the table.
Behind the chair occupied by Mr.. Well
come was a representation Of the statue
OF Liberty, and large American eagle.
and near the chairman. on a velvet pedes-
tai. was an enormous pumpkin, sent as
present to Mr.. Bayard, whose absence was
In the middle Of the dinner a surprise
came for the guests. when each one pres
ent received leather bound souvenir book
containing the portraits of Mr.. Bayard
and all the American presidents, including
President-elect Mckinley, and emblematic
pictures and designs, historical and polit-
ical connected with Thanksgiving, the
music of Hail Columbia and extracts
from LOngfellOw-
Mr.. Bayard's letter of apology for not be
ing able to attend. and wishing 'Godspeed
to the land We all love" was followed by
n telegram from the United States ambas-
sadOr from Windsor castle, in which he
said: Your charming souvenir of the day
we celebrate has just been received and
the copy for her majesty will be presented
bfore your dinner is over. All who love
the United States and Great Britain will
join in mutual congratulations over the
peaceful relations of the English speaking
peoples of the world"
Mr. Bayard's sentiment was greeted with
loud cheers and Mr. Welcome, the chair
man of the society, in alluding TO Mr.. Bay
ards regretted absence, said that il was
good omen that the United States ambas-
sador was the guest Of the queen at a
Thanksgiving dinner.
The toast TO the queen was honored with
unusual energy. and with cries OF Tiger"
Sir Frank Lockwood, in proposing The
President of the United States" referred
TO his recent visit to the United States.
He bore a message, he said, from Baron
Russell, of Killowen (the lord chief justice),
that he would fain be with them but the
death of a relative prevented him. The
toast TO the president was drunk with
thusiasm. 10 the tune of the Star Spangled
Banner"
Chairman Welcomes toast, Thanks
giving" was honored without cheering. All
Of the speeches of the evening eulogized
Ambassador Bayard, and regarded the
queens invitation to Windsor as a great
compliment.
Sir Richard Webster, the attorney gen.
eral, responded TO a toast to THE Com
munity of the English Speaking Peoples,
Who Are Now Only Emulating Each Other
in the Peaceful Paths OF Science, Art and
Literature"
Among those present were. Lieutenant
Commander W S. Cowles. the United
States naval attache; Mr.. Carter Mr..
Bayards secretary; General Collins. the
United States consul general; Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry NJ. Stanley; Sir Richard Webster,
Sir Frank lockwood, Mr.. Francis W.
Jacobs. and Mr. Mourteney Jephon.
Sir Henry Irving and Lord Rosebery were
invited, but sent the following replies:
II am truly sorry that it will not be in
my power to avail myself of the most kind
invitation for Thanksgiving, as ] have to
pay mere on that night, many seats being
already booked. VIII you kindly explain
TO my friends that only a public duty
would keep me from such a delightful oc-
casion. Sincerely, HENRY IRVING"
Lord Rosebcry, writing from DaImony.
said: Il can truly say that II would have
given me the greatest pleasure to be pres
ent and to show my deep respect for your
country and It's ambassador But l am
detained here by public gathering, over
which ] have TO preside. Yours respect
fully, ROSERFlRy