Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-21
DIALECT AT DINNER.
HONOR OF POLK MILLER.
Old songs and Good stories-Lco
wheat's Plano. DIR. Sid Hollands
Violin, Hams Jokes, and Miners
Anecdotes All Play Their Fart.

will be read with interest here, as nearly
all the gentlemen referred 10 are wei
known and popular In Richmond:
Polk Miller and his banjo. Sid Holland
and his fiddle. Leo wheat and his piano.
snolIygoster Ham sud his tales OF cracker
life Alexander Bealer and his stories OF
negro lore. Major Aker and his anecdotes
together with other features. mace an
evening OF rare pleasure for a NUMBER
Of congcnia spirits at the Aragon lasi
night.
There were sixteen happy-hearted men
gathered around the table in private
breakfast-room OF the hotel. when Mr
Joe Jacobs. at whose invitation they hao
assembled to do honor to POLK Miller.
the genial humorst OF Virginia. arose ana
called attention 10 the decorations on the
wall Of the room. 1t was an evening
in honor Of the veterans o. the Confede-
racy. on one side was the old Confeue-
rate flag. with is bar and its thirteen
stars: on another was the battic-fag OF
the Confederacy; on sim another was a
picture Of the generals Of the army OF
the Lost Cause, and on yet another was
the first flag Of all, the blue ground with
the palmetto tree and the half moon
over the mantel, draped In Confederate
money, was an ancient horse-pislol mat
had gone through the war ana done
valiant service for the Confederate who
carried IL. as indicated by "a number OF
notches on the stock. each counting Tor
the life Of one Of the enemy.
ATE AND MADE MERRY
Mr.. ". A. Hemphni was called on to
say grace at which the company
arose and remained standing with bowed
heads during the time the blessing was
being asked. Then the dinner came on
In courses. and. there being so many
bright men present. 1t was regarded
as a waste Of time 10 await the compile
.on Of the feast; 50 between the
COURSES songs and speeches were called
for. Mr. Leo Wheat, Of Richmond,
one Of the masters Of the piano, a
man who can get more music as well
as melody from this instrument than
dozen ordinary men, was called forth
10 give a southern medley. compila-
ton OF all the famous songs Of the south,
and he seemed TO enter thoroughly into
the spirit of the music. and put his whole
soul into what h. was doing. Then he
started that stirring song of the days OF
old. THE Bonnie Blue Flag Ii was
too much for such a man as Polk MIL
Ter. so he launched forth with the words
Of the song. and at the conclusion Of
the first verse waved his hands 10 the
company around the table, and all joined
IN the chorus In a fashion that woke
the echoes about the hotel and caused
the northern visitors in the corridors
TO lift their ears 10 listen To the music
that had loated to some Of them in days
gone by across the bloody chasm.
JUDGE CALHOUN SINGS
Judge Andy Calhoun took Up the SCI
cond verse and sung II with fine feel
ing and the chorus was rolled out as
before. aud all the while the piano was
singing louder and more heartily than
any OF the others. beneath the fingers of
The gifted musician az the keys. This
was the favoite song of the evening, and
before the company dispersed il was
sung three times.
Polk Miller gathered his banjo in MS
arms; Or. Holland Rugged his old hd-
de--it might be "a violin In some hands.
bat IL can be nothing but a fiddle i'm the
Doct0r's-Leo Wheat took his place at
the piano, and the old loVe-sOugs that
cheered the hearts of the sOldier-bOys
when they were far from home. upon The
tented field were rendered with all the
pathos and feeling that characterized
them in the days Of long ago.
GOOD STORIES AND REGULATIONS.
Major Akor, formerly OF virginia, a
gentleman with all the graces Of ne old
South. recitod with fine effect High Tide
at Gettysburg" Mr.. Bealer gave selec-
tions from Mrs Virginia Frazer Boyles's
great southern poem on the war. and
then the lighter features of the evening
were entered upon. Polk Miller STRUNG
his banjo TO the proper tension, and tolt
In music about how "Old Pharaoh Let
All Dem Chillun Co." about Dat Water
million Smiling on de Vine" and about
many other simple negro melodies which
shall always be- sung as long as the chill
dren OF the South have voice
Something suggested sermon to DR..
Sid Holland and he gave a rich and racy
negro sermon he had heard an old negro
preach. This, in turn, reminded Judge
Andy Calhoun Of a sermon ne had heard.
and he reproduced II In a manner that
made his hearers give him round OF
applause. SnOllygoster Ham has a crack
er prayer 10 give, one made by old
Brother Dewberry way down I'm Gum-Log
church. and then Alex Bealer told OF a
camp meeting sermon he had heard de-
liVered by a negro preacher.
After this the fun lvenod up. and
the festive board at a rapid rate of speed
Ham gave the origin of the Snollygoster
DR.. Holland gave Little Leather
Brooches and other old-time melodies
that are well nigh forgotten in the South
Polk Miller drew from his never-endlne
supply OF pathos and humor, Andy Cal
houn gave some OF his rich experiences a.
the guardian angel of the Police Court
Major Aker told some rare stories, and
those who had nothing to tell made the
hotel ring with their shouts Of laughter
and appreciation.
Besides the host OF the evening Mr.. JoC
Jacobs. there were present Mr.. Polk MI
Ter. Mr. Alex. Bealer. Mr.. Leo Wheat Dr
Sid Holland. Mr.. IL. w. j. Ham. Judge
Andy Calhoun. Mr. Hamilton Douglas
Mr.. w A. Hemphill. Dr. Amos Fox
Major j. Van Holt Nash. Mr.. Donald NJ
Balm. Mr. Schwab. Major Aker, T. u
Jeter. and MIR. II j, Menord.