Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-04-26
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS BANQUET
BANQUET LAST NIGHT-HAPPY oCCA-
sIoN-sPEKCHEs BY CONGRESS-
MEN AND OTHERS.


sIoN-sPEEoHEs BY CONGRESS
MEN AND OTHERS.
The members OF the Travellers Pro-
tettive Association are much pleased
with their visit to Alexandria. Alex
andria is equally pleased with her
guests, and during the two days the
convention has been 10 session the
members OF Post F in this city and the
mercantile community In general have
wed In making every thing as pleasant
| as possible for the visitors. Inc Dam
quet last night in McBurney's Hall In
honor Of the occasion was an affair long
to be remembered, as it was one OF the
most pleasant that ever was given In
this city.
When the business OF the convention
was concluded yesterday evening al
adjournment took piece with the un'
derstandiDg that the members and
their friends would reasonable at q
quarter past eight o'clock at night for
the purpose Of discussing the banquet
which was to be given at McBnrney's
Hall, on the opposite corner. Mrs. A.
| Rammel q Sons never acquitted them
selves more satisfactorily as caterers.
The taste displayed in the adornment
of the table, the profusion OF flowers
and palms, vsricolored lights, &C., pro.
duced q brilliant effect. The hall itself
is great Improvement upon many
places where banqutts have been held
In by-gone years. Some have proven
too large; others rather contracted.
Besides IL was at street railway sta.
ton, and Washington visitors were
enabled to remain up to within two or
three minutes OF the time the last train
left for the capital city.
About balf.psst eight O'Clock, oil
things being ready, the company
moved from the Business Mems
League rooms into the banquet ball,
while enlivenIng music was floating
upon the air.
There we're about two hundred 10
the company and the committee OF en-.
tertainment as well as oil the members
OF Alexandria Post made every one
feel perfectly nj home. 10 the as
semblage were number-of Alexan-
drians who are not members of the
post. The committee soon made all
acquainted with each other. As had
been the case during the day, news
paper men enlisted the special atten-
ton OF the committee, and seats Of
honor high up ct the board had been
apportioned for them. After some 10
terchange of greetings the company
were msrshaled In front OF their chairs
at the tables and raped TO order by
Mr.. q. G.. Lesdbeater, who presided
during the evening, ADD Rev. Mr..
Gravatt, OF Richmond, invoked bless
ing upon the proceedings. But.onhole
bouquets were at each plate aud these
having been adjusted the feast began.
The menu was tempting from start to
finish, as the following will show:
Queen olives, radishes bisque OF
clams, devilled crabs, roast turkey,
cranberry sauce, smoked beef tongue,
veal roll, oliver ham, chicken la
normsnde, shrimp vinsigairette, let
tuce and poutos remoulade, Waldorf
relish, pearl onions, Florida tomatoes,
Saratoga chips, gherkins, cheese straws,
fruits, Neapolitan ice cream, fancy
cakes, cream cheese, Beni's crackers,
cafe noir and cigars.
About On hour was most delightfully."-
spent in discussing these courses,
m usio in the moantimo enlivening the
scene. Finally Mr.. Leadbester arose
and raped the company to order and
after a neat and appropriate speech, 10
which be explained the intent OF the
occasion and the work of the orgaDiza-
ton, introduced Col. Il. Il. Hay, who
was to be the POSTMASTER. As this
genial gentleman rose there was much
applause. Col. Hay, as all know,
spent much of his early life in Alex
aalria, and is as we'll known here as
be ia anywhere else. He is a jovial
spirit, Astounding In pleasantly, and
probably no one can surpass him
as a symposiarch. He is nat
ural-born one and was at his
best last night. He began by
saying he was not present for the pur-
pose OF making a speech, but would act
as iutsrlocutor on the occasion. Before
the evening was over he unconsciously
had not ouly been the middle man but |
in o measure "bones" and "tamborine"
also. After he told some pleasing
anecdotes be referred to the fact that |
be was an ex.resident OF Alexandria
and after relieving himself of the first |
nstalment OF pleasantly, he introduced |
Lamb of Virginia. AT.
Ter the applause had subsidized Mr..
Lamb began by saying that after the
nlrth produced by Mr.. Hay he
would endeavor 10 portray the more
practical matters concerning com.
nercial travellers and the vital part
hey play in the business Of the country.
he pictured their places In the economy |
If trade wildly and 10 an Interesting
lDd instructive manner, bringing to the
minds Of many fscts that escape gen.
,ral attention. He referred to their
-amiication not Only throughout their
own country but into foreign climes,
heir natural and acquired eagaclty, the
OF their judgment OF human
nature, political observations. clever
less and intelligence. AT the conclus-
on Of his remarks he spoke OF historic
and the proud old common.
wealth OF Virginia, and said the in
peration OF by-gone days was animal
ng the generation of today. He took
lis seat amid great applause.
When the music which followed had
ubsided Mr.. Hay rose with another
,afoh of anaadctaa and nlaaaantriee |
rhe applause was long-continued as
le stood up and when it ceased
lie proceeded to deliver and animated
peech which was thrilling throughout
lie, TOO, described the commercial