The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-23
THEY DINED.
Annual Banquet of Sons
of the Revolution.
Several Interesting Historical
Addresses Made.
Gov. Lippitt Spoke Of Washington's
Camp at Valley Forge.


olution dineu at the Nsrragsnsett Hotel
last night In accordance with the custom
of the organization to devote the greater
part OF Wssbington's Birthday in each
year to the proper observance OF the ami
versary and the discussion OF historical
questions. IL is always q day for the re-
vivsl and stimulation OF patriotism for
who are so fortunate as to be their guests.
The enthusiasm of the occasion last
evening had the benefit of all the acces-
sories Of a perfectly arranged dinner.
Reeves orchestra furnished music, the
decorations were simple but effective,
consisting of a large portrait of Washing
ton draped with the stars and stripes and
each guest received a ashington souvenir
in the shape of punch box, thas might
be called elegant without exsggeration.
President Royal Chaplin Tsit was unable
to DO present because of death in his
family and Vice-President William L. q.
Wsrdwell assumed the duties of toast
master. He first introduced His Excel
lency Governor Charles Warren Lippitt
who said In part:
Your secretary suggested that some
thing in the way of an account Of Valley
Forge would perhaps be proper. 1t has
occurred to me as he spoke that within
the past year or two in an officisl, way /
have had the inestimab BILE privilege of
going over that historic ground and pos
sibly one or two sllusions to 1t would
not be out of place. 1t is q place to which
ell Amer leans must necessarily turn with
veneration and sincere respect. 1t Is
coming to be q place to which Americans
do turn. was told at my last visit to
the old encsmpment that as many as 1900
people a month during the summer sea-
son were already visiting Washiugton's
headquarters, which are at the entrance
from the Valley Forge station to the
camp ground itself, and that the number
was rapidly increasing.
The center of interest for Rhode Islsnd-
ers is necessarily that part off the ground
occupied by General Vsrnum and the
Rhode Island brigade. 1t Is situated in
one Of the most beautiful parts of this
beautiful stretch of territory. This whole
encsmpment is net by any means oissimi-
lar to a piece OF Rhode Island ground.
The hi lie are high and the view is from
the sides of the elevation in diff
directions and are not at sll unlike corres-
ponding views tnat you obtain from any
number of Rboae Island hills. The Rhode
I,lend encsmpment was so near W nat was
known as the Star Recoubt ss to make il
almost certainty, although no records
to show IL have as yet been discovered,
that Rhode Islanders defended these
earthwUrks. The esrthwork is so situa-
TED In connection with the only approach
10 Valley Forge en- the north at that time
by bridge called Sullivan's Brioge as to
make ii the only strategic point on that
side of the encampment. Ii was evident
that the oefsnce OF this approach, was
must have respected the yllor Of the
troops from this state; for IL that redoubt
we're once carried, the entire line of the
entertainments on the other two sides Of
the camp grounds would have been ao-
soIutely useless. In the immediate
neig b torhood of this redoupt is another
building quite as interesting to Rhode
Islanders as that of the Washington head
quarters; the house occupied by General
Vsrnum as bis beadq usrters. 1t is a
most interesting place indeed for a
citizen OF this state to visit,
and TO feel that he = is actually
iD the room occupied during that terrible
- AZ.
island ers who shared in the hsrdships at
Valley Forge. II is a territory which
/ bop, many OF you will have the
privilege Of visiting In the not cis-
tsnt future. and l trust that we shall be
able to show you, when you DO reach
that historic spot. that Rhode Island has
kept her usual plsce before the country
Ia everything that is patriotic and honor
able in peing the first to place upon that
famous ground, in behalf of her sons who
suffered and died In doing their duty, n
memorial that shall last for generations.
Another thought occur ed to me within
q few dsys,and IL is. surprisingly that 1t
has not been mentioned and spoken Of
before, ana that is.the debt that | believe
tbis country owes to the present Senator
OF the United States. Arbitration is a
good thing. 1 believe in arbitration.
wish that there was such thing to
BE- anticipated In ths immediate future
a. national disarmment. But as Q matter
Of fsct think IL IL as likely to come in
tho present generation ss IL is that we
shalt DO able In lsrgs cities to do away
with the police force. II any gentleman
supposes that II IL possible to entirel die
arm the armies that sre maintained to
protect nations OF TO entirely do swav
with those means that. ss the fstber OF
bis country said IN time of pesce should
Continued on Psge-S.)