The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-25
MERRY ENGLISHMEN MEET.
QUEEN VICTORIA TOASTED BY HER
COUNTRYMEN.

of Savannah Gathered to Celebrate
the Queens JubHec-A Solid Din
ner and n Good Time at Thunder
bOIt-A Permanent Organization of
the British Subjects in Savannah
to BE known as the Victoria So
ciety.
| Beneath the folds OF the Union Jack
| Englishmen of Savannah met last night
and crossed their legs under the mahog-
| any, so to speak, of Bannon Lodge at
| Thunderbolt, sent round toast after toast
in honor of the queen, and lived for
few purple hours in merry old England"
1t was one Of the most unique dinners
that have been given in Savannah In a
long time, and was the first ever given
by the native Englishmen Of the city.
The occasion was to join in the celebra-
ton of the queens jubilee, and there was
an abundance of enthusiasm which found
expression in the speeches.
The scene was one Of merriment and fun
and feasting, and the Englishmen have
reason to congratulate themselves upon
the success of the celebration.
It was a pleasing surprise to see how
great a number of Englishmen Savannah
can muster. They had never oeen gath
cred before at a similar call, and have
| never organized, but it was clear from
the attendance at the dinner that there is
a considerable coterie of them.
The dining-room was decorated with
British flags, of all sizes and de-
scriptions, mingled with the stars and
stripes of "Old Glory" and the scene was
bright with the colors of the two greatest
English speaking nations of the earth.
MIR. A. E. Horrocks, master of ceremo-
MES and chairman of the English coterie
in Savannah. sat at the head of the main
table, and Vice Chairman w. s. Pottin-
ger sat at the other end of the same table.
There was an IL" table on one side.
Before the guests sat down to dinner
Chairman Horrocks announced the purpose
of the meeting to be in celebration OF the
anniversary of the sixteth year of Queen
Vietoria's coronation. Then came the
courses, which were served in real good
English fashion, beginning with crab soup
and sherry and continuing with fish,
Bass ale and other things which delight
the Englishman's palate above all other
good things to eat. 1t was peculiarly an
Englishman's feast
After the dinner was fairly over with,
and while the guests were lighting their
cigars, the chairman stated that the first,
and only regular toast of the evening was
to the queen, which would be responded to
by Mr.. Percy Sugden.
Mr. Sugden spoke as follows:
Fellow Englishmen and Guests: 1t is
one of the traits of human character,
brought out more prominently by civili-
cation, that we are all bound by feelings
of reverence for our native land. The
native Georgian feels a just pride in his
state with its surf beaten shores, its pine
scented forests, its fertile valleys, and it's
rich and rugged hills. He has a feeling
of veneraion for orators and statesmen
Georgia has produced.
The American feels thrill of pride as
he points to his great country. A con-
glomeration of states containing within
| themselves agricultural richness, min
eral wealth and picturesque beauty, such
as no other single country can produce.
One of the youngest nations in the world
II has, without the aid of ancestoral ira
dition or emulation, in a few years built
itself up, by individual effort, to a posi-
| ton of power and influence amongst the
nations of the world. (Applause)
But no matter how proud we feel Of
| the land of our adoption, we should not
| be true to our mothers or our better
| selves did not our hearts beat with feel
| ings of love and reverence for that little
| land across the sea. We are not here to
celebrate its wealth or industrial
| splendor; It's moral supremacy
or Its colonial power; its statesmen or its
| poets, but to pay our respects to a woman
who Is adored by her countrymen and res
pected by the world. (Cheers)
| Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ire
/ ~ E7fnn Of Ind 10 Nnrhaa fa,ger
will be handed down through the pages OF
| history not only as the longest. but with
| halo cast around It of reverence and es-
| TEEN. As woman she has at all times,
| by her spontaneous sympathy, her kind
| ly charity, and her virtuous life present.
ed an example of purity and grace to the
| present and future mothers of our race.
As wife she has by her sweet and
| blissful married life raised and enobled
| the matrimonial state.
As mother she has by the joyous and
supreme peacefulness Of her family af-
| fairs, shed a reflection OF love and respect
into every household in her domain.
As queen, amid the temptations OF a
| life at court and subject to the searching
light of a sensitive public opinion she has
! occupied her throne for sixty years with
never the faintest breath of a rumor OF
scandal against her. Her reign as queen
has been marked by immense strides in
the progress of our civilization and her
sweet and gentle character has affected
the destuies OF the world. Her future
with us can be but short The one black
| cloud that hangs above this Joyous jubi-
lee is the regret of her people that they
cannot expect her benign presence in their
midst for a much longer time. But whilst
she lives let us rejoice and trust that the
| Divine Providence which shapes our ends
has still i'm store for her large works of
usefulness and good, rich gifts Of health
and peace and unboundod happiness and
joy.-The queen. God bless her.
When Mr. Sugden had finished, Mr. w.
r. Blois. a guest from the St. Andrews
society, sang God Save the Queen" the
refrain OF which was Joined In by all pres
ent and the patriotic air was sung over
and over again.
Then the chairman proposed a toast TO
the President OF the United States and
this was drunk standing. with cheers.
The next toast was TO the Governor Of
Georgia, and this was likewise drunk
standing.
Mr.. W. w. Starr. one Of the invited
guests, was called on, and led the inn
promptu toasts. lie spoke OF the bravery
- 49, INHN q.