Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-22
Board Of Trade Banquet to Capital
Centennial Committee.
LOYAL TRIBUTES 10 NATIONS CITY
A Notable Gathering Of Distin-
guished Guests.
IMP RESSIVE SPEECHES

"A health to the President of the United
States.''
1t was Mr.. John Joy Edison, president of
the Washington board of trade. who spoke
He stood in the dining room of the Arling-
ton Hotel at the head of a series of tables
on which the immaculate linen cloths were
fairly buried beneath a wealth of rare
blossoms, and about which were gathered
men of affairs and of prominence in state
and national office. And. with this pa
triottc toast the banquet rendered the
capital centennial committee last evening
by the Washington board of trade was
formally iuaugurated.
The dinner was one that was remarkable
in many respects. The governors of many
states mingled with senators and represen-
tatives in Congress and with distinguished
residents of the capital city, having come
together for common purpose, the pro-
motion of the welfare and development of
Washington, the federal city As one
speaker admirably said in describing the
dinner, it was the gathering of brave and
loyal sons about the national mother the
first reunion OF her growing family, and all
of these sons were determined that moth
ing could be too good for the mater" And
in identifying this maternal city, it was
declared, the benefit would be reaped by
the country at large. The prevailing idea
was of Washington. not as the capital of
the District OF Columbia but as the nation
al city belonging to the nation a charge
of the country, and a city whose welfare
and upbuilding could not be neglected.
Washington. the Peoples City.
Expressions of loyal interest came from
each of the governors, the chief executives
of the states declaring that they brought
the best wishes from the people of their
respective commonwealth, and they as
{ ba =.
pressed upon the senators and representa-
uves that the people of the country at
large did not begrudge one cent spent IN
the Improvement of their capital The men
of Congress replied in return that their
votes ti.-t voice ''>'uIu aINay- pt .".>ea al
favor OF any measure that had the beauti-
tying and expanding of Washington as its
object More especially, they declared they
would urge the proper action from Con-
gress with regard to a permanent memo
rial of the forthcoming centennial ceebra-
ton.
There were other ways IL which the din
ner was notable also In magnihcence of
appointment and in floral decorations and
electrical effects it was the equal If not
the superior of any function of kindred
character ever given III Washington.
Another feature of national and uncom-
mon interest was an avowal by Governor
Heoer of Utah, who, Iii referring hy in
ference to the recent Roberts case. declared
his state would never again send to Con-
having more than one wife. This statement
was greeted with rounds Of friendly APP
Dlause-
A reception in the par,ors of the Airing
ton preceded the feast. Here the guests of
the evening and the subscribing members
of the board of trade assembled. They
were received by President Edison and other
officers of the organization and talked to-
gether for three-Quarters of an hour. At
a few minutes past s o'clock the large
folding doors leading into the banquet hall
were opened. The guests filed in inform
ally. When they entered the only light
was the glimmer from green-shaded candel-
abras placed here and there on the grid
ron of tables. In a darkened alcove an
orchestra was playing one of Sousa's
marches.
Magnificent Decorative Effects.
Suddenly there flashed on the northern
wall huge American flag of electric lights
There was a spontaneous outburst of APP
plause. The Sousa, march quickly gave
way to The Star Spanged Banner" The
scene and the effect were impressive in the
extreme. With the last strains of the ma
ticnal anthem all of the lights encircing
the hall and studded in the floral decora-
tons were turned on. Glowing beneath the
orchestral balcony were the figures 1880
800 in imnortelies and tiny incandescent
globes Despite the dazzling brilliance of
the multiplied lights the flag glowed mag
nificently and was the central attraction.
Surrounding and beneath the electric flag
We're banked flowers of wonderful fra
GRANGE. Orchids, lilacs. American Beauty
roses ana ferns were massed together in a
harmony OF warm coiors. Decorations of
ike character extended entirely around the
rnirrored wall of the dining room, the vines
and blossoms being held in place by lovers'
knots and streamers of broad var-colured
ribbons. The chandeliers were entwined
with smilax and ivy, and in the green vines
were Embedded red and white electric
globes. Early blooming Easter lilies were
prominent in the floral decora lions. Chair
man Edison was seated at the center of the
guests table, which stretched along the
northern border of the hall. and from which
enanated the six tongues of the gridiron
formation. To his rear the electric flag
burned, while on the table directly in front
was the floral centerpiece, bank of grow
ing azaleas, violets. lilies of the valley,
maindenhair ferns, orchids and roses. In
vases and in masses along the spread tables
were roses. tulips, jonquils and every kind
OF flower cultivated by the florists at this
season of the year. The set floral decora-
tons were towering palms and rubber
plants. Mr.. ]. Henry Small, who furnished
the flowers, gave personal direction to the
exquisite.
The scene was one Of such splendor that
the guests fairly gasped it was flashed
upon them in all its radiance. Then it was
that Mr.. Edison raped for order and pro-
posed the toast to the health of the Presi-
dent Of the United States.
During the service of the dinner the
orchestra of the National Guard Brigade
Band. under the direction of Mr. D. B. Nc
Leod, rendered an excellent program of in
strumental music, which included a cornet
solo. THE Holy City" the selection being
enthusiastically encored The Apollo Quar-
tet, composed of Messrs. VIM. D. McFar-
land. Frank p. Reeside, Perry b. Turpin
and Bernard A. Ryan, gave a number Of
amusing and artistic vocal selections that
We're highly enjoyed. The menu was an
elaborate list of epicurean dishes inter-
spersed with rare reserve wines and SPAR
king table waters. 81
President McKinIey's Regrets.
President Edison acted as POSTMASTER.
When the dinner had been served In its en-
tirety, he raped for order. and announced
the regret felt by the board of trade at the
enforced absence of President Mckinley,
who was unable to attend on account of
the White House reception set for last
night Mr. Edison called upon Gen. George
H. Harries, secretary Of the board, to read
| the following letter:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, February 81, 1900.
My Dear Sir: l regret that engagements
already made will prevent me from accept
ing the very kind invitation extended me
EIG