New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-23
NEW-ENGLAND NIGHT.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE NEW-YORK
SOCIETY AT THE WALDORF.

SOCIETY AT THE WALDORF.
SPEECHES BY Ex-JuDGE ROWLAND. EX-MINTsTER
PHELPS. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
THE REV. DR. SAVAGE. COLONEL
JOHNSTON GEM RAJ MILES. GEN.
ERAL HORACE PORTER
AND OTHERS
1t was Yankee day yesterday. as II Is always
on December % for 1t was on that day in the 2
faraway year Of 1920 that the Pilgrim Fathers
first set foo. on Plymouth Rock, while the good
ship Mayflower rode at anchor hard by. It
might have been Just such day as yesterday
that the pioneers Of religion liberty first
touched American soil. At any rate we are told
of the S'stern and rockbound coast" and Il Is
also recorded that the sky was so stormy that
he woods tossed their giant branches against II.
In New-York the day is always celebrated most
iittingly by the NewEngland Society by an
elaborate dinner. which is appropriately called
a festival The society is composed OF nearly
LOO men who though born in New England
came later to enrich the resources of the Ma
tons metropolis with their brains and their In.
eXhaustibe energy. The society Is ninety-six
years Old now, fast verging toward the compile
ton OF its first century. 1t has fund Of more
than SlO0O0) whose income is available for
the relief Of deserving NewEnglanders. but
such is the solidity and thrift OF the New-Eng-
land character that calls for help are exceed
ngly rare. and the sOcety's principal mounts
up so fast that its Investment has become no
light task.
The annual New England Society dinner has
long been astronomical and oratorcal treat
and has tested the capacity Of the largest public
dining rooms Of the city. The dinners have been
held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel at the Madison
Square Garden Assembly Rooms. at Delmoncos.
at Sherry's, and at other places. and last night
for. the first time took place at the Waldorf The
society has earned a reputation for assembling
the wittlest and most effective after-dinner
speakers of the country around it's board and
many time members Of the organization have
missed the treat because there was not room to
accommodate them in comfort Last evening
there were only a score less than 800 men around
the tables that were set in the new ballroom Of
the Waldorf, while in the gallery were many
women who came to enjoy the verbal and thu
most delightful part Of the feast.
sEASONABLE DECORATIONS
The decorations Of the room were descriptive
OF the occasion to the least particulars. About
the walls hung banners bearing the seals OF
tdcH vi tHe New -fISlFu states, WNile dOONe
all was the American flag twined about the
porticos and the ceiling in every conceivable
form and fashion. Neither the ap-
Iroach Of Christmas for gotten for the Yuletide
greens climbed the walls ard ran riot with the
graceful smilax about the windows and the gall
lery. The tables were powered in the roses
whose prototypes grew in many quaint door
yard we-remembered by many OF the men
who were gathered there. while the modest
daisies that wave in thousand rocky pastures
stood between. Whole turkeys reclined at ease
upon the tables. and jack-o lanterns. whose
manufacture is still the sport Of country boys In
autumn. glared with fiery eyes that had no
speculation in them. The ices were served in
miniature Plymouth Rocks that faithfully
showed the huge crack that divides the original
on Cape Cod. as we'll as the historic date Of
1G20 while each was crowned with tiny
American flag. The walters. French to the
last man. arrayed in a garb the like OF
which they never in the fields of Aveyron
or Normandie. but which was familiar enough
to the diners 1t just the sort of "tog'
that is ,orn by the New-England farmer in the
bayfield, and consisted OF a jumper. overals and
a broad brimmed straw hat of the sort that is
seldom lighted by the electric lamps. Had
Josiah Allen wandered In he would certainly
/
GUESTS OF HONOR.
! Among the eminent sons Of England who
were present to talk of the sterling qualities OF
the forefathers. and the energy, the thrift and
| the humor of the modern ew-Englander. were
| Edward J. Phelps formerly Minister to England.
whose toast was "Forefathers Day: the Rev.
Dr.. Minot ]. Savage who responded TO Our
+ Debt to the Pilgrim Fathers: Colonel Richard
Malcolm Johnston. who talked Of Some New
Englanders in Georgia.; President Eliot. OF Har-
ward whose toast was The Characteristic New
England Tendency to Reform and Progress"
/ Hamilton w. Mabie, who spoke on "New-Eng-
} land Literature; General Horace Porter. whose
toast was The Results of Puritan Influence: +:
Secretary of the Navy Hilary A. Herbert. who
spoke for The Navy; Major General Nelson A.
Miles. who appropriately responded to THE
Army: Arthur Lord. whose subject was The
Civic Compact and the Church Covenant Of the
Pilgrims" Mayor Strong and Edward King.
who responded to the toast OF our Sister Socie-
ties"
In the absence of the president of the society.
! Charles c. Beaman. who Is still out Of town
recuperating from the effects of severe illness.
ex-Judse Henry f. Rowland the Bismarck OF
| Yale and first vice-president Of the society," pre-
| sided introducing himself by saying that In
| place Of the virtue Of the president II became
necessary to accept a vice" At his right
hand at the table OF honor sat Secretary Her
tc,t. Colonel Johnson Hamilton w. Mabie.
General Thomas H. Ruger. Arthur Lord, Cor
nelius ~ Bliss J. Pierpont Morgan. Elihu
Root, Mayor Strong. General Stewart L. Wood
ford Horace Russell and Colonel Daniel r.
Appleton At the left OF the presiding officer.
at the same table. sat Mr.. Phelps. General Miles.
the Rev. DIR. Savage General Horace Porter.
Commodore Montgomery Sicard. Charles A.
Dana, Hugh S. Thompson. Warner Van Nor
den. Edward King. J. Kennedy Tod Horace
White. General Henry l.. Burnett and William
James