The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-10
TALKED OF THE DAYS
OF AULD LANG SYNE
National Rifles Veteran AS
ISOLATION at Banquet.

More than forty members of the Ma
t:cnal Rifles Veteran Association gath
cred in the spacious dining hall OF
Cabin John Bridge Hotel last night, to
attend the twenty third annual ban
quet OF the organization. Good fellow
ship and congeniality reigned supreme,
and many We're the good stories and
"reminiscences told by the members.
some OF whom have been with the or
ganiZation from its incipiency.
An elaborate banquet was spread upon
the tables. which extended down the
full length of the hall. The snowy COW
ers were offset with huge sprays of
roses down the center of the tables,
with verdant branches thrown in here
and there. While the repast was serv-
ed, the jolly members told jokes and
laughed to their hearts content A
clever acrostic menu, by Edwin B. Hay.
was the souvenir of the occasion.
Lieut.. George w. Evans, secretary of
the association, sat at the head of the
table. and presided as POSTMASTER, and
made an address Of welcome When the
banquet was at its height, Lieutenant
Evans sprang few surprises by calling
upon the various members to respond to
the toasts which he proposed. All of
the toasts were answered appropriately,
and were one and all confined to merits
and good-fellOwship of the National
Rifles Veteran Association. Comrade
Bailey's response to the toast on THE
rie That Binds" was one of the most
fitting and best of the evening. Lieu
tenant Evans was called upon TO tell
his comrades what has kept him work
ing untiringly for the interests of the
organization for the past twenty-three
years.
Lieutenant Evans modestly arose and
informed his comrades that IL was in
spiration more than anything else that
had spurred him on TO do what he had
done, but he could not contribute it all
to Inspiration The love for his fellow
men and the high regard in which he
held every member of the organization
was also in a great measure response
bic
He took his comrades back to the
competitive drill at st. Louis on a broil-
ing hot summers day, and depicted 10
| them how he threw his sword aside and
stepped into the ranks with gun on his
shoulder and showed the younger mem
hers of the organization how to drill.
Although he was then. in 1897, more
than fifty years old. he drilled until the
elimination of the drill while a number
OF the young 'uns fell fainting TO the
ground and were carried of in ambu
| laLces. Lieutenant Evans said he was
| happy 10 know that everything he ha6
| undertaken in the interest of the organ
iZStion had proved a success and for the
Itctterment of the association, and also
thanked the members of the society for
Living given him their hearty support
AID cooperation throughout the TWEEN
ty-three years. When he took his seat
tie old hall rang out with cheers and
aprl ause for five minutes.
After few brief toasts Lieutenant
Evans arose TO bring the banquet to {
close. He asked the other members Of
tie association always 10 remember
| June 9. and never to let that day go by
without d celebration OF some sort II
! hCLor of the organization of the Ma
/ tlonal Rifles The entire assemblage
arose and sang Aud Lang Syne, aho
gave three rousing cheers for the as
/ sncfation and the 1903 banquet became
a matter of history. it having proved by
fer the greatest and most successful
event in the career of the organization.
The officers of the society are: Col j
O. p Burnside. president; Capt. James
/ F. Oyster. vice president; Lieut. George
! w. Evans. secretary, and Sergt Henry
! K. Simpson. treasurer.