The times., 1897-10-27

foil of good things that one wishes to
remeTnhes.
In the Ginning hall OF the Raleigh fifty
men sat down to do honor and to pledge
friendship TO the most surprising man of
the hour; the hero OF modern fairy tale.
the man who braved untold dangers 10
rescue tile princess. Then the hero OF
the occasion IL an American and a Wash
ingtonian. u is not TO be wondered that
There was enthusiasm, and enthusiasm is "A
great thing st banquet.
There we're jokes and laughter and I'm
passioned and eloquent speeches There
was not tire sparkle Of ladies eyes and the
simmer OF silk for it was a stag af
lair, one sorrow but there w as the glow
OF the gems in the wine and the glitter
OF the genius III the wit.
The banquet was a most informal af-
fair, in this respect like Mr.. Decker's
achievement. There were speeches, but
they did not begin until some time after
midnight, and they all had the ring 0f
happy go lucky, yery-much-to-thC-p3i c1
fusions born % the inspiration OF the no
ment. The affair wasn't over until
pretty late hour this morning.
Mr.. II L. MerTick was the POSTMASTER
and chairman. His sallies We're as pointed
and as pat as his paragraphs Mr.. Decker
occupied the seat OF honor at his right
On his left was the star speaker of the
evening, the Hon Amos J Cummings. Over
a hundred other people filled the hat
with themselves and their laughter aud
cheers
The passive decorations were nearly as
brilliant as the speeches. The room was
b garden OF great American Beauties ana
chrySanthemums, and Cuban palms anu
other tgopica! decorations almost entirels
hid the walls. On the central wall there
was great electrical shield OF America
flsnked or either sides with the Stag aud
Stripes and the single star golden
eagle spread it's wings under the shield
and under this were the words Cuba Libre
Oh each side OF this emblem of the friend
ship between America and Cuba were ir.-
nense Cu,,ap palms reaching TO the high
ceiling,
Mr.. Cummings made the principal speech.
II was happy one. Coming from him it
could not well be otherwise He said he
had Come 500 miles to be present and
would have come thousand. He said, no
hero OF ancient or modern times had ever
uOHe d nODleE Qeeu nor Gone II more
heroically than the young man al his side
II required the nerve of an 1rishman and
thechivaIry of an, American, a nd Mr. Decker
mad them both. The tale Of the achieve
ment is ringing round the world from okio
TO Puget Sound, and il VIII never be for
gotten.
MIR, Andrew Iipscomb followed with an
eloquent tribute to tie yalor and the ro-
nance o. the young mans perfect deed,
and quoted a spirited poem.
The Hon. James D. Kerr, the joyous
MIR. Frank Hosford, Mr.. W. E. Amin. Mr..
Edward Moseiey, Mr.. NJ. T. Imson and
Mr. Sam Ireland were the other speakers
They followed Mr.. Cummings and Mr.. Lips
comb ike other Stanzas of an heroic penta-
meter poem, with applause and cheers for
periods
The menu OF the affair was a gem. A
pretty water-colur sketch of a Cuban
scene with American and Cuban flags, a
picture Of Mr.. Decker in one corner and
beautiful Cuban girl captive at the side
with the words Complimentary Dinner to
Mr. Kari Decker, Tuesday, October %,
1897 made the first page, Across the
menu page was a light outline map of
Cuba Libre.'' 1t was the work of Mr..
pau n Ct,1I