Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
GOODBYE TO TROOPERS
SECOND CAVALRY OFFICERS
GUESTS OF GUARpsMEN.
Oysters the Only Dish and Vocal Music
Principal Feature of the
Entertainment,

The officers OF the District National
Guard babe farewell To the officers of the
I'd United States, Cavalry last night. The
army men Were the,lguests of the militia
soldiers at an oyster roast at Frank Halls
oyster house. corner of 7th and K streets
southwest. The location OF the place was
such that the guests OF the guardsmen
could witness the entire operation OF trans
ferring the oysters from the boat on which
they were caught to the yawnfpg oven in
Mr.. Halls establishment. None of the Of
f1cers took advantage Of this unique oppor-
tunity. however.
The crowd of military men numbered
over one hundred when Gen. Harries caused
mess call to be sounded. and the company
filed into the dining hall. The place was
ablaze with lights and brilliant colors.
hected from the vari-hued decorations Of
bunting and flags. Yellow, the cavalry
color predominated in the scheme of the
decorations. Yellow bunting adorned the
walls. yellow chrysanthemums large and
small. were strewn over the tables and
yellow shades reflected the light from the
electric globes. ,i-51-
The program for the evening was made
up entirely of music. which probably ac-
counts for the tables being laid in the
shape of huge tuning fork The head of
the table corresponded with what would he
the connecting bar between the two prongs
of the fork. Here Gen. Harries sat, with
Col. Winfield s. Edgery, commanding me
I'd Cavalry, on his right and Lieut. Col.
Lloyd M. Brett on his left. Mai. Theodore
MoSher, Us. A., former adjutant general
of the District militia. occupied the right
end of the head table. with Major j. 8.
Gresham, 10Th United States Cavalry. OPP
posite him. The officers Of the cavalry were
distributed along the two long tables at
such intervals that two or three guardsmen
could devote their attention to each.
Oysters-Then More Oysters.
The menu was announced as being "Oys-
ters. more oysters, and oyster patties." To
the credit of the cook be it said, there was
no departure from this program. oysters
in almost all the accepted styles Of serving
were laid before the guests. There We're Of
course the usual accomplishments of such
a feast, and the party ate and drank Tor
more than an hour before the program fer
the evening was announced.
Gen. Harries acted as chairman, and took
occasion at the outset Of the festivities to
announce that there would be no speeches.
There were numerous gentlemen present.
he said. who could sing. however, and these
were the people who would furnish enter
tainment for the assemblage The chair
man also said. very emphaucally. that
there were several persons in the room who
would not be permitted to sing under any
circumstances, and declared that he made
this announcement to relieve the minds of
some of the cavalry officers.
Capt. Reynolds J. Burt, 9th United States
Infantry, the first singer. Capt. Burt
has acquired q reputation of more than
usual compass as a vocalist. and he sang
an army song, the burden of which told
the joys of thesiea valpy branch Of the serv-
Ice as compared with the other branches
and particularly with the infantry. First
Lieut.. Walter F. Martin Of Troop H, I'd
Cavalry, then sang THE I'd Cavalry Hymn"
This hymn was composed by Mr.. M. Klein.
the composer OF many light musical come
dies, while he was guest of the officers at
Fort Myer one day, last winter. and was
heard for the first lime by many Of the
guardsmen last night The rafters rang
with the chords that followed each verse,
every cavalry officer present lending his
voice to swell the volume. First Lieut..
Charles F. Roberts, I'd Regiment, D. c. N.
c., contributed the guardsmen's share of
the entertainment atlth avery appropriate
parody on the old ballad I'm the Gloam-
Ing after which Capt. Burt was called
upon for another song. This time the song
dealt with theDviewsyof, the Empress Dow
ager of China on the progress of her en-
pire
Capt. Burts regiment was in the thick Of
all the fighting In China, and it is alleged
that the information as to what the en-
press thought Of the state of affairs
brought about by the ballad was obtained
at first hand. Lieut.. Martin was again
called on for song, and contributed
meath the Shade of the Sheltering Palm"
Exchange of Compliments.
| After another song by Lieut. Roberts and
stories by Capt. John P. Wade. Troop E.
I'd Cavalry, and Maj James E. Bell, in
spector general Of rifle practice Of the Dis
trict militia. Gen. Harries made short ad-
dress. in which he declared that the I'd
Cavalry had done more to help the District
militia than had any other regiment or part
OF regiment In the regular service. He
spoke of the fact that guardsmen and army
officers must work together to secure the
best results for both of their commands
and that the union Of the I'd Cavalry and
the District military organizations had
been most harmonious, and as 1t should be-
He paid an eloquent tribute to Lieut. Col
Lloyd M Brett. a captain in the I'd Cav
airy. who has been detailed as adiutant
general Of the militia. He said Col. Brett
would serve as a tie to bind the local SOL
d1ery to the cavalry.
In responding to the sentiments expressed
by Gen Harries. Col. Edgerly declared that
the regiment did owe a debt of gratitude to
the District militia, but it felt that it had
repaid the debt when it permitted Col Brett
to leave and take service with the militia
He said the regiment had been treated
handsomely by the people of the District
and by its military representatives, and he
hoped there would be other occasions in the
future when they could all meet The
recollection Of the entertainment of the
evening, he, said, would remain as a very
sweet remembrance Of the last days of the
regiment in the United States before Its
transfer to a distant field Col EdrerIv
then babe. the officers present goodebye
This brought the exercises to an end and
after period of handshaking all around
the guests departed
Those Who Answered to Roll Call.
Those present from the regular army
were Col. Winfield'S. Edgerly, Capts. chas.
c. Pierce, F. 8. Foltz, Harry G. Trout.
Ralph Harrison, w. F. Clark, John P. Wade
and Stephen M. Kockersperger, First Lieu
tenants John W. Moore and Walter F. Mar
tin and Second Lieutenants Frank E.
Lynch, Emory J. Pike, Charles MICH. Eby.
Joseph F: Taulbee. William W. Gordon and
William V. Lusk. all Of the I'd Cavalry;
Mai ]. c. Gresham 18th Cavalry; Capt.
Stephen NJ Foote, Artillery Corps, com
handing the 4th Field Battery; Capt.
Reynolds j. Burt, 9th Infantry, and Frst
Lieutenant RichardP. Rifenberick, IT., 10Th
. Infantry. a."
The National GGardsinen present were
Maj. James E, Bell, Col Henry May Maj,
b. H. Neumeyer.. Lieut.. B. q. Pool, En-
sign J. DoyleuCarfnody. Maj Frank L.
Averill. Capt. Leroy, w Heron. Lieut.. I.
P. Clephane. col, r. NJ. Brett Lieut. j a.