New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-23
PRIZE WINNERS NAMED.
A FEATURE OF THE DINNER OF THE
SONS OF THE REVOLUTION.

Wliiiam l. Ransom OF the jamestown High
ochool' Raymond e Cook Of the Troy Hish
ech0OL and Howard ". Mercy. of the Buffalo High
SCHOOL Were announced last night as the winners
respectively of the gold silver and bronze medals
AWARDED by the Sons of the Revolution for the
tn'ee essays on Washington as a General
uoiih'teo In the year 1893. Eighty-nine essays
were submitted by high school students of the State
and the committee had some difficulty in making
Its nnal selection. Young Mr.. Ranson's essay was
read by CHARLES Oliver Dewey TO the two hundred
and nfty people at the dinner last night at Del
monico's
telegram from Licutenant-ColoneI Hon, at San
Juan, Puerto Rico, announcing the receipt at the
OLD Spanish town Of two thousand copies OF The
Star Spangled Banner and Columbia" and two
thousand American flags used by the people there
yesterday in the celebration of Washingtons Birth
day.
William Alexander Smith 4 member Of the So
eiety. presented TO the organization an autograph
letter written by General Lafayette 10 Mayor
Lewis of Fredericksburg.
Those at the guest able were Frederick S Tall
madge, president OF the society: DR. Daniel F.
Warren. William CASTOR Hamilton. E. T. TonIin-
son. Mr.. Evans, representing the Society of the
War Of 1872: ]. W Beeknan. representing the So
ctety Of Colonial Wars; Colonel P S. Niche Of
the United States Army; the Rev. J. Lewis Parks
John T. Terry. representing the Mayfower Society;
Professor William N. Sloane. OF Columbia Uni
versity; Charles Oliver Dewey, Berthold Fernow,
the Rev. DR.. Donald Sage Mckay and John Austin
Stevens.
General James N, varnum presented President
Tallmadge with a huge three cornered black hat,
the insignia OF authority for future presiding Off
GERS.
The Rev DR.. j. Lewis Parks. Of Calvary Protes-
tant Episcopal Church. said that Washington
Of the few who long time in politics
without prohting personally. He had been in poll
tics from the age Of sixteen till his death and
when he had given Up the Presidency he was
$4,000 poorer than when he began his incumbency.
Everett T Tomlinson. In a half jocose vein, said
New-Jersey undoubtedly greater than any
New-England State. although she had no great
poets TO make New-Jersey tales Of heroism i'm
mortal in history. Paul Revere, no doubt, was en-
titled great deal Of credit for jumping on a
horse and yelling that the British were coming,
but lots of Jerseymen had done better than that,
and nothing had been heard Of it. Mr.. Tomlin-
son cited deeds of heroism not generally known
He referred to washington's strategy in RamapO
pass, and remarked that we hear good ceaI
about Ramapo nowadays, but II is strategy of an
other sort" He ended his address Dy saying that
the romance and heroism Of the Revolution were
to be found in the annals Of New-Jersey and South
Carolina.
Colonel P S. Niche, for thirty-three years con-
nected with the West Point Military Academy,
was the next speaker and he said in part:
The pre-eminent quality that seems to stand out
IN washington's character love OF country
so entirely free from all faint suspicion of per
sonal consideration or professional ambition as to
VA 80 6oSers s conferrei on Wash
ington. but by him were the liberties Of the
people endangered. Two days before his death
Washington in a letter TO Alexander Hamilton
wrote I have duly received your letter on the
subject Of q military academy. The establishment
Of institution Of this kind upon respectable
and extensive basis has ever been considered by
object Of primary Importance to this coun-
omitted opportunity Of mendfrg II in my
public speeches and other ways TO the Legislature
sincerely hope that the subject will with due
attention, and that the for the establish
which you have clearly pointed out to the
Secretary will prevail upon the Legislature place
1t upon permanent and respectable footing"
Notwithstanding discouragements the Regular
Army Of the United States has executed every mis-
sion confded TO IL IN time Of exemplifying the
spirit Of Washington by its steadfast courage, its
disciplined valor and the sturdiest patriotism.
When Colonel Niche finished his address three
cheers were given for the Army.
Professor William NJ. Sloane, of Columbia, who
spoke The Battles Of the Revolution: Their
Civil and Political Aspect" said that coca
sion when he visited Won Moltke the latter told him
that George Washington the great political
genius Of this country. When Frederick the Great
heard of the result Of the battle Of Monmouth he
said, according TO Professor Sloane, that America
lost England forever. Professor Sloane said
the decisive actions of the War of Independence
were those around Philadelphia.
The souvenirs silk flags and gilded ice cream
boxes with the Mount Vernon Washington house
in high relief
incorporated in the society's records.