The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-23
DINNER TO Nh
The SENATE.
The Lawmakers Of the Upper
Branch the Guests Of Prcsi-
dent Willard.
THE REPAsT MOST ELEGANT
Speeches Full Of Wit aid Wis I, =.
dom Follow the Enjoyment s
il of the Tables, Pleasures.

dom Follow the Enjoyment. Il.
Of the Tables, Pleasures.
Tho dinner given by Lieutcnant.Govcr-}
) ror j Joseph z. Willard to the members Of
4 the Senate OF Virginia, over which he has
presided go impartlnlly, yet withal SO
nlodestly, for the past two years and
more, was d delightful finale to the
longest session OF the General Assembly
Of Virginia The dinner was served at
tho Westmor,sland Club, and that famous
old organization. tho scene OF so many
gatherings Of this nature. mover shell
tered more harmonious assefnblago
than that gathered there last night. Inc
Z. toasts were all lmprOmptu, and many
Of the responses were brief, but all we're
eminently suited to the occasion. and the
bon homte that marked this Democratic
gathering. where Governor. Licutcnant.
Governor. Attorney General and Prcsl.
dent oil the Court of Appeals, touched ell
bows With the employees Of tho Senate
and the press representatives, and oil 4
dwelt together in delightful harmony.
MOST ri EIIANT ItEPAST. 4
CAPTAIN Willard. with characteristic
rnodcaty, had rc.crred 10 the junction as
an Informal little dinner. TO be served at
8 o'clock. but without Intention 10 Inn
peach the LL,utcnnnt-Govcrnor the
Weslmorcland's chef, experienced though
4 he Is In such affairs, never served more
elegant menu NOR, faultlessly. ana
guests neWer paid moro substantial tri-
bu q thin On tails occ son.. II WIS
nearly a. NJ. when Senator Halscy, tho
eloquent member IRON LynchDu.g, con-
cluded his address. which, without dis
raragcment Of the others, was the speech
OF the evening 1t was the vale" which
must always follow the "Salvc, even on
delightful occasions. and y was r.fcn-
8liarly appropriate that the sweet strains
OF AUD Lang syne" should follow an
address SO happily conceived, SO uppro-
PIRATE, and so fcllcitods rs his valc1Ic-
tory to tho Senate. in which. 1t may be
added. no man has taken higher place
within q two-year session than he. a
I. Beginning on the right, those occupying
seats at the toastmastcr's table were
Attorney General William a. Anderson.
Judg., James Keith, President OF the,
Supreme Court OF Appeals of Virginia.
His Excellency. Governor A. ]. Monta-
que; the host Of the evening. Lieutenant
Governor Joseph t. Willard; the toast
master, who, by the way, is admirably
equipped for this diplomatic post. Senator
Henry 7. Wckham; Hon. John +. Ryan.
7E5IeuKcr u Liz CO-Oi uI1tllc ~ " LuC
General Assembly, the House Of Dele
gates OF Virginia; and on the extreme
hft Hon. j. Taylor Ellyson. distn.
guishcd former member Of the Senate OF
Virginia, and now State chairman Of the
3 Democratic -artv.
MoRG THAN A QUORUM. u. 4.
ID There was more than quorum present.
Fthe senator's seated around : tho festul
board being: Messrs. john S. Chapman. c.
NJ. Wallace. ". p. Barlsdnle..@. h. r..
Cromwell. Bland aIassie. S. r.. Donohoe.s
Henry 4. Wickham. D.. Gardiner Tyler.
NV. A. Garrett r. j. Harvey. Don r..
comb Frank C. Moon George Il. Keezell.t
the veteran in point Of service and the
giant OF the Senate: ]. Lawrence Camp
bell, John N. Opie. JABoyd Sears. w. w.
Sale and George S. Sfackelford. Bcsidest
there were Clerk Button. Scrgeant-nt-
Arms Watkins. and Doorkeeper Samuel
4 M. Donald. and the committee clerks. and
assistant clerks or tho Senate. including
Messis. T. a. Lynch and Harry Mann.
frs and second assistant clerks; last. but
not least Mr.. William Wilson, librarian.
affec,lonately known as Uncle BLY,
and beloved by all in the body. OF course.
there were the reporters. also. II. -..s,H;..55i
This made up the party. Many had IL
q oSlid tiiSit iS6ASes's AAotop'S A''''h1Ss t1a-
Ilwainc, of Petersburg, who wrote n char
enthusiastically sincere and happily worded
letter.
ri Senator NVlckham presided with q fc-
lcty Of which even his admirers hardly
expected He was an ideal toastmastHr.
and added much to the pleasure Of the
\ evening.
IMPROMPTU TOAsTs.
The toasts were all more or less I'M
promptu, and all were emincntly OF the
8nfter.dnner order, conceived purely for
the pleasure and good humor OF the &C.
casion. 1t is II source of regret that at the
late hour when Aud Lang Syne trans
ferred the occasion to the realm Of things
past, 1t was so late as to preclude more
than bare mention of the responses to
the toas.s many Of which We're unusually
happy. AS it Is. but q bare enumeration
of them can be attempted.
Erst on the list. Senator Wiclkham
toasted the host. and the Lieutennnt-Gov-
Grnor responded with an expression as
sincere as 1t was modest and appropriate,
Then came Virginia" to which Gov.
erE0r Montague, In his hapDiest vein
QaAdc filling response,
Tine Supreme Court of Appeals of Vir-
girlil." was responded to by Judge James
Keith. president ofsthe court and q jurlst
who has his peers, perhaps, but su-
pcrlor,s hardly. With a modesty commen-
auratG with his merit and ability he &C.
5knowledged the honor paid the ermino,
4 Tile House OF Delegates" was respond
Cd to by Speaker John F. Ryan, Of Lou
doun. i gentleman universally esteemed.
for his kindllness of heart and his
athoughtfulness Of others, Mr.. Ryan was
warmly received and deserved the recep-
tio. tb4 s6 aE
''rhe Senate Of Virginia" was respond
ed Ia BY Senator George s. Shackel ford.
OF Orange, II man known for the fidelity
Of his friendship and his unswervlng de-
volIun 10 duty. "TEe Liliputian" meas
u,ed fully UP TO the oeca SON. which was
no snllll one. sssjt sta
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADDRESS IS
Attorney-G eneral Anderson, represent
Ing tho Department OF Justice or the
STATE, responded happily to the. toast.
"rhe Effect Upon the Constitution OF
Eelng, Drinking and Beng Merry"
Major Anderson entered fully into the
spirit OF the occasion and lett food. for
thought amid lis peasuntrles.
1.-THE officers of TIE Senate of virginia.
E,t