The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-07
MANNIx WON.
He Beat the Record at Eat
ing Steak at the Davis
Dinner Last Night.
LEADERS, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED
Witty Speeches and a Good
Entertainment Followed
the Juicy Meat.

dred members of the Robert Davis As
ISOLATION enjoyed a beefsteak dinner at
the associations handsomely equipped
headquarters in Mercer street, last even
ing. II was typical Democratic gather
ing. The affair was one of the many
devices arranged to bring the members
together in social intercourse and pro-
mote a general feeling of harmony, with
out which no political party can be
absolutely successful
Beefsteak dinners, by the way, are be-
coming more and more fad with Demo-
cratic political organizations. Toast
Master Eugene Dewitt, last night, at
tributed this to the Alger embalmed beef
episode of the late Spanish-American war.
He said that Republicans were ashamed
to look honest beef in the face.
When the Entertainment Committee
decided upon last night as the date Of
the dinner it was not known to them
that the fifty-second anniversary of the
birthday of Robert Davis fell on the
same date. When this fact became known
arrangements were made to celebrate the
event in connection with the dinnr. Mr.
Davis was presented with a beautiful
chair made of rare, costly and fragrant
roses. The chair, it was aid later on by
one OF the speakers, was emblematic OF
the position which Robert Davis held as
leader of Hudson's Democracy. 1t was
inscribed e1S4S-1900' and occupied a posi-
ton in the centre of the rostrum of the
double assembly room.
An interesting scene was presented
There were three rows Of little square
tables extending the length of the double
room The tables of the centre row were
larger than those of the two side rows
The latter accommodated two each and
those of the centre row four each. Those
at the side tables sat in row. Each
table was spread with cloth and was
ornamented with huge bunch of celery,
two or four little glasses, and dish OF
celery salt. Each guest was provided
with a towel. There was no table cut
lery, and as fingers had to be used In
handling the rich juicy streaks of porter
house steak, served on slices of bread,
saturated with rich juice of the steak, the
use of towel instead of a napkin is ap-
parent. For these steak dinners last sew
eral hours, and it is astonishing how
much an average eater can stow away
under such circumstances.
The steaks were served by g -corfffait-
tee of members, who donned snow-white
aprons and as one passed a salver of the
semi-sandwiches along another filled the
little glasses on the tables with first
sherry and then ale or appolinaris, poured
from silver closed top pitchers. Baked
potatoes or spuds were also served. All
the time a programme of vocal and in
strumental music was being rendered
from the stage. A few short addresses
were made.
Robert Davis did not occupy one of
the tables. He stood during the entire
evening near the head of the stairway,
up which the walters came from the
kitchen, directing their movements and
seeing that all were being served and
made comfortable and happy.
Colonel Robert Smith the president OF
the association, did not reach the scene
until late in the evening, as he was obllg-
ed to attend drill at the Armory. Street
and Water Commissioners Hauck Nolan
and Heintze formed portion of group
near the centre of the hail. in Whlcn
Merchant Charles Furst, William Grattan
and Henry Perlmutter figured. A num-
ber of the Freeholders, including Director
Frank McNally, Alex. Clements, Mr..
Fitzsimmons Mr.. Murray, Mr.. Kenny
Mr.. Keating of Hoboken, Conrad Dietz OF
North Bergen, SeeIHeu " 5Se A
bunch well forward.
The stage programme opened with
niano solo by Reuben Baker. 1t was fol-
lowed by well rendered song by Henry
Kahlert. other vocal selections were
sung by Peter J. Kennedy, George Martin,
P. Kennedy, John Keane and Rudolph
Love- Mr.. Kennedy was in his best voice
and scored a triple encore. He sang The
s.T9<s nl
Bold Kennedy also got two encores.
Martin sang ASLEEP in the Deep" and
other songs. Rudolph Love put the
guests in exceedingly good humor by sing
ing my Hannah Lady and other coon
songs. They joined in the chorus. Will
lam King, one of the committee, recited
.'MacLain's Child
Ex-Alderman Moran was called upon
for a few remarks. go to the stage"
cried several guests ''This is good enough
for Democrats" said Mr. Moran, as he
started to speak from where he stood
He said he had been recently struck by
the number of Roberts who have become
famous. He was sorry that one of the
Roberts was not present, alluding to
President Robert Smith, who was at the
Armory. Then he recalled the name of
Roberts, England's "Bobs,'' but he didn't
wish him any great success. He alluded
to the fact that the anniversary of the
birth of Robert Emmet was celebrated
only few days ago.
I'VE have also our own Robert" he
said, who, I believe, would if necessary
lay down his life in the cause of human-
ity. I am reminded that this is his birth
day by that beautiful floral chair on the
rostrum. And / am also reminded that
there is a grand woman, still living.
though ninety-one years old, to whom we
owe SO much for Our Little Bob. 1 pro-
pose that we drink to the health of the
mother of Robert Davis
Col. Smith came in later on. After re-
freshing himself at table near the ros-
trun, he was introduced by Toastmaster
Dewitt as 'Our Warrior The Colonel
said it was hardly the time and place for
the development of warriors. However, a
man cannot be a good warrior if he does
not look after the stomachs of his men
and himself. He said it pleased him great
lv to see so many members of the associ-
alton enjoying themselves under such
auspicious circumstances. He alluded to
the fact that it was the standard bear
er,s birthday and the inscription on the
chair told him that Mr.. Davis was fifty-