Evening star., 1903-11-27
ENGAGE IN REPARTEE
BRYAN AND CHOATE AT AMERI-
CAN SOCIETY DINNER.
Former Compliments British People
and Makes Plea for inter-
national Amity.


ssys: Thanksgiving day was celebrated by
the American Society in London at a
bs nquet given at the Hotel Cecil tonight.
There were over 400 covers. William
Jer nings Bryan was the guest OF honor
The speeches. while favored by the usual
seasonal cheer and references to Anglo
American friendliness. developed partcu-
larly into a duel of repartee between MT.
Bryan and Ambassador Choate.
There were a number of notable guests
at the banquet, including the Duke OF
Marlborough, Earl Denbigh of the Honor
able Artillery Company, Lord Davey. Gen.
Ian Hamilton, Gilbert Parker. Major
Arthur Lee formerly military attache at
Washington, now civil lord or the aa,
miralty; Sir Monte que F. Ommanney, all
the ambassadors in London, Miss Evans.
Mrs. Ronalds, Countess Denbigh, Major
Budworth of the Honorable Artillery Com
pany, and several members Of the house OF
commons.
Marlborough Toasts President.
The Duke of Marlborough proposed a
toast to President Roosevelt, and, address
ing himself to the interests which England
and the United States have in common. re-
ferred in terms of the highest praise to
President Roosevelt, and spoke feelngly
Of the late Sir Michael Herbert
Ambassador Choate, responding to the
toast to his health, which was proposed In
con- plimentary terms by Lord Davey, TOOK
up the Duke of Marlboroughs reference to
the mutual sympathies Of the American
and British peoples, and said that there
had been reason heretofore to suspect some
since he had set an example in one form OF
the Anglo American alliance on which the
people of both countries were able to look
with entire approval.
Showed Bryan Around.
Turning to Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Choate said
1t was the custom Of Americans, torn from
their native shores. to gather annually and
return thanks. The American Society in
London had now among them another OF
these exiles, for whom personally he, as
ambassador, had been doing the best he
could
He had taken Mr. Bryan to visit the
Bank of England, where he was able TO
study the fiscal system in its native lar.
The company would be edited, SAID MI
Choate had they heard Mr.. Bryan cross
examine the governor of the Bank OF Eng
land.
The ambassador said he had aided Mr..
Bryan to hear Mr.. Asquith, Mr.. Chamber
lain, Lord Goschen and Lord Roseberr|
all within forty-eight hours, so If his views
on the fiscal question were not entirely
mixed. they would appreciate at least the
quality of the man they had before them.
Mr. Bryan Responds.
The speech of the ambassador was fol-
lowed by an ovation to Mr.. Bryan, which
lasted several minutes. Mr.. Bryan, In re-
spending, paid a graceful tribute to the
English guests of the society. He said the
highest compliment he was able to pay
was that in looking over the tables he was
unable to distinguish the English from the
American women present He thanked the
British nation for the kindly forbearance
tionists for letting him land at all, and the
gold bugs for not having deported him i'm
me diat tely after his arrival.
Mr. Bryan said he had profited exceed
ingly by his visit to the Bank of England.
He wanted to call attention, however. to
the fact that the murderous attack by an
insane man with a revolver on Mr.. Ken
meth Grahame, the secretary of the bank.
occurred the day before he called.
Paid Tribute to United States.
Touching the theme of Thanksgiving day,
Mr. Bryan spoke eloquentIy of the natural
resources and advantages of the United
States, for which the people must return
thanks to God, and of the ideals of liberty
and progress. for which they must thank
their English progenitors. He urged the
necessity of the present generation be-
queathing to. posterity some gift commen-
surate with the blessings they had received
from their ancestors, and suggested that
they beuueath the ideal of international
amity of which The Hague arbitration tr1-
bunal was a lasting monument.
Hail to the nation concluded Mr..
Bryan, whatever her name, who leads the
world toward this higher ideal for the last
Ing good of all humanity"