Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-05
PILGRIMS HONOR UPTON.
General Wheeler Tells of His sPOpu
 larity In America.

| 1 Iarity In America.
 NEW YORK, Sept 5,-At the dinner of the Pilgrims of the United States to l Sir Thomas Lipton at the WaldorfAs
 foria George T. Wilson, chairman ot
 the executive committee, presided in
 the absence of Bishop Potter, president
 of the Pilgrims.
 l Tn proposing the health of Sir Thom l as Lipton General Wheeler said:
 ''The Pilgrims club appreciates the ] honor conferred upon its members and its guests by the presence with, us of l Sir Thomas Lipton.
 '"The events of the last two weeks are 1 an illustration of the old and trite say l ing that we sometimes build better 1 than we know It is fortunate not only ] for himself, but for the world that Sir Thomas did not succeed in the special purpose for which he crossed the ocean. | What seemed to be loss, misfortune l and disaster has become in reality for | tune, triumph and victory. Sir Thomas came to America to win silver cup. He has won what is even better than l golden crown-the admiration, applause l and love of the world. Any one can be grand in success and victory, but the
 world produces few who can rise to the
 height of grandeur when their most herculean efforts have failed in the cherished purpose of their ambitions. "In all ages and in all countries the l ablest and strongest of men have at | times been overwhelmed with misfor- tune and disaster. The greatest and most successful soldiers have lost bat ties, have lost campaigns, have lost kingdoms, empires and country. It only proves that misfortune is sometimes even more potential than genius and | that the strongest and best efforts can- 1 not overcome the irresistible. Koscius- sko is immortal in fame and poetry.
 though defeated in his military and pa triotic aspirations, Washington after
 his reverses in Boston and Long Island
 and amid all the gloom which lowered
 on his cause in the dark days at Valley Forge was revefed by his countrymen and trusted by his troops and people, as a military commander, Lee in his al- most solitary ride from Appomattox to Richmond lost none of the glory and popular idolatry which had attached to
 his name in the midst of his greatest
 triumphs, and, to use the words of the great historian, Napoleon, the greatest ] man of whom history makes mention, l the most wonderful commander, the
 most sagacious politician, the most pro- found statesman, lost by arms Poland,
 Germany Italy, Portugal, Spain and France. Fortune, that name for the l unknown combinations of indefinite
 power was wanting to him, and with
 out her aid the designs of men are as bubbles on a troubled ocean
 For months Sir Thomas has been | the most prominent and conspicuous in-, l dividual upon the face of the globe. The calcium searchlight has been upon 1 him every moment, and when he re- l turns to our mother country he will be l welcomed as one who in the eyes of the world has elevated the standard of An
 glo-Saxon manhood, and he will carry with him the ever increasing love and admiration of the American people," l Sir Thomas rose to speak amid salvo of cheers. The guests rose to
 their feet and waved salute and then
 gave three final shouts to show their
 appreciation. ....g Ladies and gentleman" said Sir
 Thomas, T do not feel that have done
 anything to merit the kind reception
 you have given to me tonight It is very gratifying to know that in the 1 midst of defeat retain your friend ship and good will.
 | T am beginning to think that there is magic spell about that blooming old cup. Two years ago it was in. my 1 grasp, and it escaped me then as now.
 It seems at present to be as far off as ever I have not even the excuse which
 the Irishman offered when he was ask ed if he could play the fiddle. I don't
 know he replied, I never tried it.
 have tried and lost. My motto is, Try,
 try again. have tried the proverbial
 three times, each time without success.
 'sI do not despair that I shall some day succeed in winning that famous trophy. I must confess that at the
 present moment seem to be far astern. In MT. Herreshof you have the great
 est designer the world ever has seen. expect though, to see that cup on the
 other side of the water yet"