Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
Oldest Inhabitants Celebrate
Thirty Eighth Anniversary.
PLEASING DECORATIONS
MR.. ALLISON Major, JR.,
SERVES AS POSTMASTER.
Addresses by Gen. John NJ. Wilson,
Col, Biddle and Others-Presldent
Roosevelt Toasted.

Columbia gave a banquet last evening III
celebration of the thirty-eighth anniversary
Of their association. Many banquets nave
been held In this city under the auspices OF
the organization but never before has there
been an event to commemorate its forma-
ton. 1t was conceded that the anniversary
banquet last evening, at Freund's parlors,
on 10th street, eclipsed all previous rune
tons of the association.
There were number of veterans OF the
civil war In the assemblage, and they lost
no opportunity to make mention OF the
American flag. The starry emblem FORMED
a prominent part of the decorations OF the
parlors. The walls were almost obscureu
by huge flags draped from the ceiling tc
the floor Immense palms and vari-colored
roses chrysanthemumS and carnations
were also used in the decoration scheme.
and, against background of the national
colors. presented a pleasing effect.
Covers were laid for eighty and every
seat was taken when President T. Thomas
Brown announced that the time Tor the
opening of the celebration had arrived he
occupied a seat at the head or the table.
To his right were Gen. John NJ. Wilson,
u s. A. retired; Mr.. Simon Wolf and Mr..
Barry Buckley: to President Browns LETT
were Colonel Biddle. Engineer Comms-
sloner of the District; Mr.. Nicholas Wat
kins and Mr.. William w. Birth, the last
named the Oldest member of the associa-
ton, being ninety years of age. The BAN
Duet COm1nllIee, composed OIL MI
Nailor. jr.. A. II. Raglan. Bryson Tilley and
J. T. Sullivan, with Mr.. Watkins, as chair
man. also occupied seats near the head of
the table.
Mr.. Majors Opening Remarks.
The menu was we'll selected and was
made up of the most appetizing viands OF
the season. After coffee and cigars had
been served Mr.. Allison Nailor was called
upon by President Brown to discharge the
duties of POSTMASTER. In his address Mr..
Nailor. in part, said:
I'VE are assembled together this evening
to commemorate the thirty-eighth anniver-
sary of the formation of the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Co
lumba The name would imply that we
are centenarians, but while most of US are
nearing the century mark, we are all as
youthful in spirits. and, l trust. as firm in
health, as our young associates
Our objects are to cement and strength
en- the interests of an association arising
out of a common residence for long period
In the same locality; to keep alive the
"reminiscences of the past and to add in
every way to the prosperity and improve
ment of the Dlstrict-for its good order,
right government for social intercourse
and courtesy and respect for all function
aries and authorities without regard to
sectional or political distinctions
In furtherance of these objects we have
come together to celebrate the anniversary
OF the formation Of the association and
1t has been your pleasure to select me as
POSTMASTER, an office in which l have had
no experience and in which am, therefore,
a novice
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr.
Major announced that Commissioner West
was expected TO arrive later in the evening
He read a letter from the commissioner, in
which 1t was stated that the latter had to
attend meeting of a golf club but that
he would call at the banquet late in the
evening, II he could possibly do So 1t
proved, however, that Mr. West was unable
to get to the banquet.
Letters of Regret and Addresses.
Letters of regret at their inability to be in
attendance were received from President
Roosevelt, Secretary Loeb, Admiral Win
field s. Schley. Commissioner Henry b. F.
mcfarland. Mr.. Crosby S. Moves. Mr.
Owen s. Wiley. After reading these let
tiers. the POSTMASTER called upon Mr.. Barry
Buckley, who. with Commissioner Biddle,
was a special guest, to respond to the toast,
Our Country and Our Flag" Mr.. Bulk
ley stated that he had attended large
number of banQuets in the last few years,
and that he desired to say that the event
In which he was then a participant was one
OF the most enjoyable he had ever attend
ed He said he realized the distinction that
the association had bestowed upon him and
announced that he would apply for member
ship as soon as he became eligible, fifty
years of age.
Mr.. Buckley declared that the toast to
which he had been called upon to respond
was an inspiring one. Our emblem, he said
is an original one and vastly different from
the banners OF other worldly powers. The
design or the American emblem was taken
from the starry heavens and Is typical of
liberty and union. He declared that 1t is
the only banner on the face of the earth
that has not yet been trampled beneath the
ieet OF an enemy. Mr. Buckley made men
ton OF the civil war and concluded his re-
marks by reading a poem appropriate TO the
occasion.
The President Toasted.
After Secretary Reiss rendered the ma
tonal airs the piano Mr. Simon Wolf
responded to the toast, The President of
the United States Mr.. Wolf observed that.
unlike Mr. Buckley, he was not born In the
District. nor was his mother or his father
his birthplace is near Jerusalem, and that
OF his father Is in that city Such spots. he
said, were dear to him. but that his best
love Is America. Mr.. Wolf paid a glowing
tribute to Mr.. Roosevelt, and declared that
raler. he is a gentleman" The remarks
OF Mr.. Wolf were loudly applauded.
The Capital City.
Mr.. George W. Balloch sang a patriotic
anthem. following which General John M.
Wilson responded to the toast THE City of
Washington, the Home of the Nation the
Pride of Its People, the Beautiful Capital of
the Greatest Nation on Earth" General
Wilson pictured his childhood days in this
zee his playmates of long ago assembled
at ths banquet board before him. He said
that no matter where is he fifty years from
the present day he would ask for furlough
OF twenty-four hours to come back to
Washington to see how It had developed
and progressed. The general took the OBJ
portunity to have a little fun at the expense
Of Prof. Langley. by adding, Then Lang
ley's machine will fly
Colonel Biddle responded to the toast
The Commissioners of the District -
Among others who spoke were Mr. Frank
Hackett, former assistant secretary OF the
navy: Mr. E. +. Droop, Dr. A. P. Pardon.
Mr.. James Croggon and Mr.. Robert E.
Smith.
Those Present.
The following is the list of members in
attendance: Joseph Acton, Geo. w. Bal
loch, Sebastian Bauer. Richard j. Beall,
VIM. Boron, Henry Bernheimer, VIM. W.
Birth, VIM. F. Brown 8. Thomas Brown,
Fred. G. Calvert, John T. Clarke, VIM. A.
Clarke. Harvey V. Cotton. Martin G. Cope
land, James Croggon, James DAILY, Henry
NJ. Dellinger. Fredk. NJ. Detweiler, Edward
T. Droop. Rudolph Eichhorn. A. P. Pardon.
r. M. A. Fenwick, VIM, H. Fuss. Anthony
Call Catar I