The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-12
Huge Medal Presented to Him by
Richmond Citizens.
SHINING GEMS OF oRAToRY.
air. Ben T. owen Made Strong Mcn
Weep Copiously and Laugh Until
They Grew Fat in Their Seats.
Mr. s,crn's Address Was
Unique in the History
of Oratory.


.suiia declared himself Dictator Of the
Roman Empire. and set up colossal
monopoly of all the political patronage,
then worth a bag of toasted peanuts, Is
Hon. Samuel Stern. Upon his swelling
hosom last night swung heavily Il monster
medal of l6.curat gold, all inscribed with
sentiments that would puff UP TO IAN in1ol-
cradle state of hauteur anybody else in
the world but an exceedingly modest and
retiring citizen of the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
TO the title of Mayor of Jefferson Ward
has been added the soubriquet of Chief of
the Shuckoc Creek Nation, while to him
who was last night entrusted with The
pleasant task of presenting to A1r. Stern
suitable token Of the esteem in which ne
is held by his fellow-citizens for having
started tie movement which f1asiled
around the globe the intelligence that
Richmond is a great torpedo-boat centre,
a new and honorable additional title was
spontaneously sugsested-that OF All
Around Public Spirited Citizen from Way
Back"
With so highly descriptive and patriotic
sentiments suggested by his titles it can
be easily appreciated how Mr.. Stern coulu,
with pecuniary advantage to himself. IN
scribe the trio respectively upon the three
slittering spheres that swing merrlly over
his place of business, and sal! snoolhlE
along the sea of life as u money-lender.
who combines with local pride a 1'e"
points that come under the general phrase,
strictly Business.
EARLY. ARRIVALS.
,,,eo4in.- last DESPITE
the rain which Datted on the tin roof OF
: Old Market Hall hefgathcring was much
larger than was expected some VINO were
looked for were unweli, others mad TO
meet enga sements that could not tfe post
r,oned, one man had married d wife and
a,sothcr had just purchased a yoke OF
oxen. However, large asseiip'ase
carr. by iwos and fours, and half an houT
before the proceedings were opened UP
there was a distinguished audience on
hand.
Amony the early arrivals was Captain
George D. Wise, who climbed up the steps
10 the entrance of the great hall with q
smile between breaihs and remarked:
Wouldn't miss it for a thousand DOL
lars He was given 4 cordial welcome.
IIy.erybody who had distinguished himself
with patriotic speeches that rang with
pyrotech1lic eioquence through the halls
OF the John w Daniel Club rushed up to
tell how glad they We're that he mad oened
the clements TO come down and help do
honor to the man who conceived the 1oel
of launching torpedo boats here with the
proper kind of dignity, extravaganza ana
champagne.
Justice Crutchfield occupied a. seat away
UP near the front. He got there before
the drum and fife corps started 10 whoop
things up. In a brief interview not in
tended for publication. he said: This is
one Of those memorable occasions which
one cannot afford to miss. and he vas
soon surrounded by friends waiting LOT
the show to start with all the expectancy
that characterizes a big bridal procession
at a country church
CONSPICUOUS FIGURES.
a conspicuous figure in the audience was
Senator Shands who took his seat WIN
more freedom than he has felt i'll the
Democratic caucus, while near him was
noted Mr.. Simon Sycle. the celebrated
wing shot; Clerk Saville. of the Chancery
Court, who came to that things were
properly recorded; Mr.. Felix Smith. who.
doesn't mind weather for ducks. and
Mayor Richard NJ. Taylor. who occupied
a seat in the front row and chatted with
Judge Thomas NJ Miller. of Powhatan,
pre- Of the most interested spectators
prominent guest present was Colonel
John g Cunningham. who is Democratic
candidate for Governor of North Carolina,
and the largest tobacco grower IN the
world. He came all the way from the
land of tul,pentine 10 hear Mr.. SternS
address.
Docr-keeper of the Senate Lemuel
Donald. piloted large number OF the
members of the Legislature to choice
seats in the Hall. They had been lying
awake nights thinking about the forth
coming show, and there We're no moro
charmed listeners than these lawmakers
proved to be-
Over on the right side of the Hall
drum and fife corps made lots of noise
al S:17 o'clock. The shrill screams of
the wind instrument taxed the perform
ers' lungs. while a grown man ham,
mered the big bass drum with rumblinS
effect, and two youngsters nervouSly,
and with some uniformity, pattered away
on the little drums. There was not
much variety in the musical compost
tions selected for the occasion. Noise
was not lacking.
THE HERO ARRIVES
AT S:23 o'clock the man TO whom all
honor was to be payed entered the
room. He was accompanied by one Of
the Con mittee on Arrangements. who
had seen to it that the national -colors
hung over the entrance, red hot Ere
tn a stove on either side drove out the
chill the gas Jets burned uniformly and
the speakers stand and reporters table
were in good place.
The hero Of the evening wore dress
suit, with the regulation white tie.
huge American Beauty rose, one size
smaller than the bass drum. and
diamond shirt stud that resembled in
effect the biggest search-iight operated
BY the British forces In the South Afri-
can campaign. He sat on the right
side OF the stand In the middle was
nir. j. Samuel Parrish, who presided
With great dignity and free of charge.
He also wore q colossal American Beauty
rose. On the left was Mr.. Ben. p. Owen.
Jr. the orator OF the evening well known
for that class of cloqucnce which has
caused the most hopeless knights Of the
turnpike to stop In their wandering