The times., 1899-08-29
His MEMORY REVERED
Gosthe's Natal Day Celebrated by
German Americans.
Music and EIoquence Combined TO
Fttfingiy Observe the One Hun
dred and Fiftieth Anniversary of
the Poets Birth scenes From
Faust Among the Hall Decorations.

nc 1oVtH anniversary or the Dlrtn CT the
great German poet Johann Wolfgang Won
Goethe was celebrated by local German
Americans at the Hotel Reuter-, corner OF
Four -and-a- half Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue. last night. The anniversary was
an important one for German Americans.
Celebrations were held in every German city
from Weimar. the place where the poet
spent the greater part of his life, to Frank
fort. his birthplace. and there is hardly
city in any part of the world where the
German language is spoken where the an
niyersary OF Goethes natal day was not ap-
propriately observed The local Goethe
Feier was a success in every respect. All
the prominent German Americans residing
in Washington were present
The banquet hall was tastefully decorated
with flowers and ferns donated by local Ger
man florists. These decorations were fes-
tooned from chandelier to chandelier, and
fastened in appropriate places upon the
walls, which We're further embeliished with
portraits of Goethe and reproductions of
famous paintings of scenes from Faust"
and other masterpieces of the poet. Among
the most notable of these were charcoal
portraits, sketched for the occasion by local
artists, including picture showing the poet
at the age of seventy-five years, by julius
Ulke and another of Goethe at the age OF
twenty-five years, drawn by Miss Anita
Schade.
in the life of every German, was not lack
ihg. Among the guests were some OF the
best German musicians of the city, anG
score of these contributed toward the even
ing's entertainment by rendering vocal and
Instrumental selections of popular and
classic music. Prof Hugo Kuersehner sang
a selection from "Mignon;" Henry Jaeger
rendered difficult selection on the flute,
the Grad Fantasia" from Chopin's ma
jestic Funeral March" s. J. Kubei sang
an inspiring song. and Messrs. H. C. Rake
mann, Henry Xander, and Harry Roth
sehild added to the interesting programme.
The piano used for the occasion had dis
tinction of its own. Among the famous
musicians who have sat before it are Nine.
Lillian Nordica. Ysaye. Melba. Jerardy,
Marteau, Joseffy, Lachaume. Paur. Ben Da-
Wis, and Joseph Hoffman The autograph
of each of these celebrities is traced by
means of a diamond point on the polished
surface of the ebony lid of the instrument
The banquet was, in a certain sense,
unique, inaSmuch as the time between
courses was occupied by the toasts. The
true German custom was observed and
toasts, music, and banquet courses We're
fttingly commingled. George W. Spier,
who did so much toward bringing the BAN
quet about, presided. He delivered an adj
dress of welcome following which DR..
Christian Straek, editor of the Washing
ton Journal recited an original poem in
German dealing with the lfe-work and
influence of Goethe. The first toast, that
of Goethe as a Lyric and Epic Poet,
was responded to by William L. Elterieh,
President of the German Central Veren.
The second toast, Goethe as a Dramatic
Poet" was responded to by Frank Claudy,
President of the Saengerbund Singing So
ciety The other toasts were: Goethe as
One of the People, William Burehard;
'tThe Popular Sayings OF Goethe" Prof.
Hugo Kuerschner. of the Teehniker Verein;
Goethe and Schiller" Gustav Bender,
Secretary of the German Central Yerein:
"Goethes influence, Past and Present..
Simon Wolf. The last was the only toast,
spoken IN English. the others being in the
native tongues of the Fatherland.
Those present at the banquet we're as
follows: caf
G. W spier, f. &Ciaudy, DR.. Edward Farquhar,
s Wolf ] L. S.nithmeyer George S. Duncan,
Ph. D.; won Bohlen-fBalbach, Edward II. Drocp,
DR.. Cyrus Adler, Edward White. P. j. Pelz, J. II.
Whitaker, II. c. Rakemann, Henry Xander, Ernst
Lent, W. II. Santelmann, Henry Jager, 5. J.
Kubel Dr. L. L. Friedrich, leopold 0lszewski,
William Stiebeling, William Hannemann, Gus
tay Bender A. Levy, F. Altrup. Otto Schillng,
r. Schneider, Il. WelIauer. Louis Faber Herm.
Daiker, August Schmidt, Reginald Schroeder, j.
G. Erek. Harry Rothschild, Harry E. Rupprecht,
Dore Wolfstener, Max F. Muller, Fred Schade,
Paul Bartsch, Julius Ulke, jr.. John l.. Sag
muller, /. II. Forster, August Daetz, a. Harten-
stein. A. Conner, j. A. Kaschka, Dr. Cara, W.
A. Engel, B. F! Schubert, W. Berens. ir:. Fred
Carl A. F. Jerss. G. Fl. Aschenbach, Louis Kim
mel Amnon Behrend, ]. Waldmann, DR.. Chr.
Strack, Carl A. Dreop, A. Hart, William L.
Elterich, Dr. Paul Wieseke Charles Muden Louis
Dietrich Carl Auerbaeh, Charles Graf, W. Berens.
sr, V, Hoffman,, Ludwig Struck, l. Hoffman,,
C. Banzhaf, G. A. Brickwedde, c. 4. -Sautter. q.
R. PohI, E. szemelenyi, John II. Meyer, Otto
Heidenann Rud Hessel William Burchard. Gus
tave Herrle, Ewald Schmitt, L. q. Sehneiderith,
Otto l.. Wolfsteiner Frank Benton R. Leding
G.. F. Schayer, Joseph Lyons, Fred A. Schmidt,
DR.. L. ]. Eliot. DR.. George NJ. Kober, Werner
Koch, Henry Franc, Louis Baar, L. Kraft, Charles
Fischer, j. A. Griesbauer, Claas Denekas, r. Won
Ezdorf A. N. p. Maschmeyer, Alfred II. Raynal
Prof. P. Fireman, John Netzerott, c. A. Didden,
Albert Carry, J. like, Max FRANKIE. J. Jose II.
Won Bayer, H. H. Bergman, and representatives
OF the press.