Evening star., 1898-12-20
CANADIAN COMMISSIONERS AS HOSTS
Banquet Given to Prominent WASH
ingtonians Last Night.
Ii ST OF THE EST S


tory. English and American flags were in
tertwined everywhere the eye rested, the
| union jack and stars and stripes nesting
closely together. The high commissioners
of her Britannia majesty entertained at an
elaborate dinner, the Washingtonians who
have shown them such gracious courtesies
during their stay in the capital city, en-
gagged in perfecting new commercial
treaty and scheme of reciprocity between
Canada and the great American republic.
canadian hospitality the soil of the
United States was enjoyed and appreciated
by nearly one hundred guests, the company
being made up of representatives of Off
cial and resident society.
The banquet was but another occasion
upon which the friendly relation between
England and her subjects and the people
of Uncle Sans domain was evidenced in
an unnistakabe and significant manner.
The queen ana the President were Joined
IN the first toast Of the evening, which was
drunk standing. the orchestra rendering
God Save the Queen and America" 1t
was an impressive and thrilling moment.
The Canadian commissioners testified
their regard for the American friends and
were hosts OF rare ability. Marking as it
did the farewell before an absence for a
little season of the commissioners of the
queen, the dinner presented the opportunity
OF giving American assurance of the high
regard and esteem in which the distinguish
ed representatives of the dominion are held
mere The opportunity was not lost. and
the commissioners return to their northern
homes accompanied by the best wishes of
the American people for a merry Christmas
ana a bright, prosperous New Year, and
speedy return to the United States This
assurance found expression in a toast pro-
posed by Senator Fairbanks, in which all
the guests Joined most heartily.
Compliments EXCHANGED.
The commissioners received their guests
IN the hotel parlors, where the compli-
ments of the season were exchanged.
Shortly after o'clock the march to the
banquet hall was begun, Lord Herschel
leading. Leaning upon his arm was Mrs.
ar fbanks; Senator Fairbanks escorted
Mrs. Henderson; Sir Julian Pauncefote ac-
companied Mrs. Faulkner; Sir Louis Davies,
Mrs. Dngley; Representative Dinelev es-
corted Mrs. Gray; Secretary of State Hay
the Lady Davies: Senator Faulkner, Miss
Pauncefote; Sir Richard Cartwright, Mrs
Foster; Mr.. Charlton, Mrs. Letter; Sir Will
frid Laurier, Lady Pauncefote: Mr. Kas-
son. Mrs. Hazeltine; Rev. A. Mackay-
Smith, Miss Boardman; Speaker Reed, Lady
Laur!er; Justice Brown. Miss CartWrieht
these being followed in turn by the re-
malnder OF the guests.
Scene of SpIendor.
Entering the banquet hail. after passing
through corridors lined with tropical plants
the diners were greeted with a scene of
prlncely splendor. The air was heavy with
the perfumes of flowers, roses and violets
mhgHng their delicate scents. The ban
quet hall was draped and decorated ele-
gantly and elaboratey in red tapestries
and the flags of a united race the ensigns
OF England and the United States The
co!of scheme was red, and the effect was
lalthtuliy carried out. Brilliant incandes-
cent nights cleaned from beneath globes
shaded with red mantIes the banquet ta-
5 pIe5 were banked almost solidIy with Amer
icah beauty roses, while upon the walls
We're arranged holly wreaths fastened with
red ribbons. Red predominated in the
flags.
The floral display attracted the attention
OIL the guests for it was perhaps the most
profuse ever seen al a Washington dinner
In addition to the hundreds OF American
beauty roses the tables were lined with
La rance roses. A magnificent bouquet of
nIoieIS iS rested at each ladys place. while the
male members of the company found a
Doutonnaire of white roses awaiting them
Inc center table was shaped as a double r
Whlle smaller tables, each presided over
W rs d niellDer r OIL the Canadian commission,
were arranged on either side of the room
Inc elegant gowns of the ladies' enhanced
the color elect the scene, when all were
seated Delng one of rare elegance
Lord Herschel took up his position mid
way way the center arm of the main table, the
Bfltish ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote
SUING directly opposite. REPRESENTATIVE
DlnSley and Speaker Reed sat near Pre-
"
LOUIS Davies, accompanied by Mrs. Ding
icy, while at the north end was Mr., Char
ton NJ p, ana Mrs. Letter. Presiding at
ne .ne sHlaler table, on the east side of the
room was Sir Wilfrid Laurier and LADY
Fauncefote. among the other diners there
being Senator Fairbanks and Mr. John w
roster. At the west table Sir Richard
Cartwright was accompanied bv Mrs Eos
ter, and Senator Faulkner by Miss Paunce
fote.
Three in One.
A most interesting decoration was an inn
mense flag brought from Ottawa. Canada
for the especial occasion of the dinner. If
was the royal arms of Great Britain in
Guided in the one flag being the red lion of
Scotland, the gold lions of the empire and
the harp Of old Ireland This was hung on
the eastern wall, opposite an immense
American flag
1he menu cards were got up with the
same elegance marking every point of the
dinner They were illumined in colors and
upon the front cover was embossed the
Union Jack the American flag embellishing
the reverse covering. The English coat-of-
arms, stamped in gilt decorated one of the
inside pages, while upon another were the
names CT the high commissioners, as fol-
lows:
The Right Hon. Lord Herschel G. c. B.
c. NJ. G..
The Hon. Sir Richard Cartwright, G. G.
NJ. G..
The Hon. Sir James Winter, K. c. NJ G.
The Hon. Sir Louis Davies, K. C. NJ G.
Mr. John Charlton, NJ. P.
Queen and President.
When the menu had been discussed and
coffee served, Lord Herschel arose and said
in view of the work calling together the
representatives of Great Britain and the
United States, it was appropriate to pro-
pose a toast to the queen and the Presi-
dent.
THE queen and the President" repeated
the diners, as, standing, each drained a cup
The orchestra, stationed in a balcony above
played the national airs of the two coun-
tries, the guests remaining standing upon
their feet until the last strains of Amer
lea" had died away. When the company
took their seats Lord Herschel remained
standing.
Il now propose the health of the United