New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-20
WIT AT THE BANQUET BOARD
THE ST. NICHOLAS SOCIETYs PAAS FES-
TIvAL AT DELMONICOS.
g. F. STANTON PREsIDEs AND CAPTAIN A. T.
MAHAS SPEAKS FOR THE AMERICAN NAVY

e F. STANTON pREsIDEs AND CAPTAIN A. T.
MAuAS SPEAKS FOR THE AMERICAN NAVY
OTHER INFORMAL SPEECHES FULL
OF HcMoR AND ANECDOTES
The members of the ST. Nicholas Society. In the
observance of a custom they have ioiowed loi
more than sixty years celebrated last night with a
dinner at Delmoncos the ancient Paas iesuVai
OF the early Dutch settlers In New-Anlsteruam'
Last nights dinner was marked by all the merrment
spirited gaycty and brightness that nave LOT many
years past been characteristic OF this particular
feast At these Pais dinners there Is none OF inc
formality that surrounds the societys annual pah-
quet held carly In the winter season 1here are ho
set tcasts and no orthodox sentiments 10 ""c"
the speakers are expected to pay due reverence.
Consequently, free from restraint. the speahc's
take the fullest advantage OF the latitude ahoWc"
them and as n general thing the tuna OF h"ino'
and anecdote that falls from their lips ADDS greatly
to the evenings merrymaking
S. F. stanton. the first ice-presdent OF the so
ciety. presided. and Captain \. T. Mahon' the prih'
cpal guest of the dinner. sat at his right Also
at the head table were seated Colonel George r..
Warng Park Commissioner william ~ stiles
Austen G.. Fox c. c. De Witt. +. j. De Peyster,
and Charles A. Schormerhorn.
Among the guests and members present were
G. T. Schenck G. J. Schermerhorn. j. Maus Schef-
merhorn. William l.. Skidmore. a. II. Carpenter,
G. l.. Carpenter. John n. Carpenter. +. A. Chap
man. Frederick Clarkson, G. Y. Wemple' j. T.
Westervelt DR.. G. NJ. White. David Wilcox. Jo-
seph Wodell. J. " Wheeler. q. Abecl william
Newton Adams Ernest L. Allen. John u. Floyd'
Abbott Foster Stuyyesant Fish. r. NJ. galloway,
H. D. Gregory g. V. +. Gallup William a. Boyd.
Charles Bray, William l.. Brewer. J. s. Bussing,
Arthur Burtis William Robson, y. w. Roberts.
II. S Rokenbaugh. Walter Rutherford, Latham o.
Reed. Lewis johnson Davis, i. w. Devoe, w. g.
Dewitt, c. D. Dickey tr. f. T. Dickinson II. r.
Dominck. +. w. Dewey. Orison H. Smith. H. NJ
Speir. William Moore Stlwel. Arthur Bull Sulli-
van. Austin +. Baldwin, c. Y. y. BALDWIN. j.
Searle Barclay William Bayliss. j. y. Beekman.
Henry l.. Bogert. J. NJ Knox John 7. Lockman,
+. t. Lockman Edward i. Livingston, Gratz Ma
than l.. NJ. Norwood. f. b. Oakley. A. j. Onder-
donk. J. Seaver Page. Thomas b. Peck, b. ~
Taller Abraham b. Valentine, William Bayard
Van Rensselaer,. Abraham Van Santvoord, T. I.
Van Santvoord. William II. Hall. j. Thorne liar-
per- Merritt Havi'and William Tod IIelmuth jr..
s. O. Howe, A. G. Hackstaff G. A. Meyer J. +.
Miller c. de X. Moore. William ID. Murphy. r. {.
Mott, Warner Miller Edgar Van Wrinkle, j. X.
Van Wormer and Alfred Van santvoord.
When at length the long clay pipes, so beloved by
the old-time Dutchman. were lighted Mr.. Stanton
open the after-dnner oratory. He confined
himself to few words of welcome speaking of what
has come to be known, as he termed it. the annual
family gathering OF the society -,..- +.
Mr.. De Peyster was the first regular speaker m
roduced With one Of his characteristics monde nds
SCRIPT sort OF addresses. made up NANNY Oh Buou-
natured illusions friends gathered around him.
he provoked many peals of laughter.
Captain Mahan, who followed, received a natter
ing reception There had been some anticipation In
the minds of many people that Captain Mahan
would make some reference 10 the pending struggle
between Turkey and Greece, and that he would
dwell upon the naval strength and equipments of
the two countries and the possible Developments OF
conflict between them on the sea. but the Captain
did not touch upon the subject even by inference.
His theme lay nearer home. and based upon
the purposes Of the American Navy. II fire.
quently heard. he said that the country existed
hpf Vg.n h. two hat M
that II had no interests outside Of this. and that
the only purpose OF It's Navy was to defend It's
coasts. If that were altogether true. the Navy had
little reason for it's existence.
Do you think he asked. tina. We have no In
terests outside the United States, that have
no interest in any other country out our own. and
that the one thing We have 10 devote ourselves to
Is internal policy? Sometimes offence is the best
kind Of defence. The Navy OF the United States
stands for that idea Captain Mahan at some
length explained that the United States had In
tcrcsts outside OF IT'S borders and that a Nation
il must take an interest In the general welfare OF
the world
Colonel Waring spoke upon the work accom-
pshcd under the present municipal administration
In the better cleaning Of the streets. OF the ad-
Vantagcous methods now prevailing In the Depart
men;. and of numerous Improvements IL was pro-
posed introduce in the near future. Park Com
missioner Stiles and Austen q. Fox also spoke.