The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-14
Was The HerOIOi the Occasion and Re-
CeiVed Congratulations.
DECORATIONS WERE BEAUTIFUL
Gordon of Policemen Surrounded the
Opera House, While Detectives in
Evening Dress Mingled Withs
Guests-Menu Excellent.

New York, April 13-The dinner of the
Democratic club in honor OF the annivers-
ary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson was
held tonight at the Metropolitan opera
house. Looking from the tiers to the floor
Of the vast dining hall the tables seemed
like great beds of roses. The thirty-two
tables were on either side of the speakers
table Either table was piled with a mass
of roses and ferns interlwined. So abund-
ant were the flowers that some OF the
guests were hardly able to see<each other
over the floral bank.
Swans and vases of alabaster held fiow-
ers; there were cornupias of horns OF
plenty filled with flowers, and the scene
was set off with ribbons of cardinal silk.
The floor of the auditorium was raised to
level with that of the stage by tenn
porary floor, making one rectangular room
OF immense size. The tables We're set IN
rows parallel with Thirty-ninth and Forti-
eth streets. The guests of honor were at
two tables set about under the prosecenium
arch and at right angles to the other
tables.
The stage was set with a gorgeous pail
ace scene of the court of Louis XIV -Four
great electric chandeliers lighted up the
picture
Conspicuous Inscription.
Conspicuousy displayed at the west end
of the dining hall was the Inscription:
Jefferson-174s-1S99."
Democratic Club"
Tnis was composed of incandescent
lights 1t surrounded a picture of Thomas
Jefferson.
The al-silver candelabra, with shades
harmonizing with the floral effect on all
the tables.
The guests began to arrive at o'clock
but the dinner did not begin for an hour
and a half after that. Captain Price, of
the Tenderloin and forty-two policemen
were in and around the building. A Gordon
of bicycle policemen surrounded the build
ing. crank letter of a few days ago, in
which a threat was made to blow up the
building during the dinner seemed to have
made the police unusually vigilant. A num-
Der of detective sergeants, in evening dress,
mingled with the guests to see that no un-
hidden person might enter. There were
number of firemen also on guard to prevent
any danger from fire.
An Army of Attendants.
Inside the building was an army of ush-
erS and attendants.
These wore a drab uniform with silver
buttons.
Just before the guests were called to order
Richard Broker and Perry Belmont en-
tered a box. Mr.. Croker was in enthusiasts
tic conversation with those about him and
waved his hand to guests all over the hail.
There were fully 300 more guests than the
1000 planned for, but all found seats This
is said to be the largest number ever ac-
comodated at banquet in the history of
the city.
The service of the menu was excellent
Croker held a levee just before the regular
spech-making began. He shook hands cor
daily with everybody and smiled as man
after man congratulated him upon the sue
cess of the dinner.
Perry Belmont began to speak at 10
o'clock. After his address Mr. Belmont in
troduced Augustus Van Wyck by referring
to the latter's canvass for governor He
said Justice Van Wyck had conducted a
campaign with honor to himself and credit
to the democracy.
Justice Van Wyck was greeted with great
applause
Justice Van Wyck's reference to trusts, -
the Estate cavils" and the Individuality Of
an alliance with Great Britain" seemed to
attract more attention than anything he
said, and these utterances were applauded
with much show of spirit
Robert B. Roosevelt followed
Mr.. Roosevelt was followed by Congress-
man Amos G. Cummings, who spoke on the
Army and Navy.