Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-22
ABOUT BANQUET BOARD
ANNUAL FUNCTION OF ENGINEER
DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION
Clerks Of War Department Bureaus
Indulge in Festivities-Re-
sponses to Toasts.

The second annual banquet of the Engi-
neer Department Banquet Association was
held last Saturday evening in the parlors
of Hotel Fritz Reuter-, at which were gath
cred upward Of sixty of the clerical force
from the Offices, respectively. Of tho chief
of engineers, public buildings and grounds.
Washington aqueduct, Army War College
buildings and the engineer Office having
supervision Of works of river and harbos
Improvement and Notifications in this vicin-
ity, the assemblage being for the purpose OF
promoting fellowship and good will among
the clerks representing these branches Of
the War Department.
The initial attempt made last year by the
association proved to be successful, and
permanent organization was effected. with
a view Of holding annual meetings, at which
the daily humdrum of official cares and re-
sponsiblities might for the nonce be cast
aside in favor of the social function. There
were those whose absence from the city
prevented them from being present, except
in spirit, and from them telegraphic and
wireless messages came in such numbers
during the discussion of the menu as to en-
gage much of the time of the toastmaster,
Mr. Herbert L. Buell., In communicating to
the members that were able to answer
Present" to the roll call the regrets and
S0od wishes OF the dDS6nteeS.
Toasts and Responses.
Upon disposing of the offerings of mine
host. the formal evening program opened
with an address of welcome by the toast
master who also announced in turn, with
appropriate remarks, each speaker that
followed. The next speaker, Mr.. P. ].
Dempsey. chief clerk of the engineer de-
partment, paid tribute feelingly, to the loss
sustained by the association in the absence
from the banquet board of the genial coll
leagues that had in recent years passed to
the great beyond and discussed at length
the advantages and pleasure afforded each
member by thus meeting here together in
social intercourse
Mr.. Tyson Kinsell then delivered speech
on the subject Thine Wisely Wasted" say
ing, among other things, that, while to
for every individual a wide latitude of
choice, and that he makes the best choice
who, despite the modern spirit to the con-
trary. so regulates his life as to provide for
social and intellectual recreation to offset
the usual daily monotony and narrowness of
ones vocation. and by so doing develop
normal, well-balanced character.
Following these remarks came the toast,
Our Friends on Capitol HILL" responded
to, with wit and humor, by Mr.. George w.
Koonce, who, beginning with Rome in the
time of the Caesars, and coming down to
the present, recited the qualifications, weak
and strong, of the worlds great men,
weighing them in the balance with "our
honorable friends now on the HILL" and
closing with glowing tribute to the worth
and ability of the army of clerical workers
in the executive departments-the hewers
of wood and drawers of water, so called
who, though poorly paid and sorely perse-
cuted at times, derive the satisfaction that
comes from the consciousness of duty well
performed.
Topic Entitled Dams"
The gathering being composed largely of
those employed in connection with work re-
lating to engineering problems, the familiar
theme, entitled, Dams was appropriately
treated of by Major w. r. Lowe. He ex-
planned to the initiated the unique features
of structures of this nature in the Ohio
rivera stream whose supply of water in
times of flood can float battle Ship but
on which at other periods f1oatboat can
barely navigate-and remarked that man,
at one time or another, had found the word
of the text to be help to conversation, as
well as to navigation, it's use in the former
sense being not infrequently the more gen.
eral
in the person of Mr.. B. w. Vincent. After
reciting their many virtues and their fndis-
pensableness in this world, he concluded
with the wish to his unmarried comrades
that their sweethearts might soon become
their wives, and to the benedicts that their
better halves might ever remain their
sweetheartS.
AT TINS stage OF the ceremonies MI. w. L..
Browning's turn came to contribute to the
mirth his talk having a general reference
to 1.-The babies" but particularly to one he
had left at home. He argued that as the
little ones comfort us in our sorrows, they
should not be forgotten on this festive oc-
casion; nor, indeed, could they be left out
of consideration at any time, grave or
otherwise, their persistent and insistent
natures compel complete surrender to
them in all things, whether will or not"
Next in order "Sal Ina Pllndj ~ TO
which Capt. Mirand w. SaXton of Falls
Church Va, responded, explaining that the
word signifies etymologically "the small
and the great he applied the theme to
mans high aspirations in this world and
the results accomplished-be they humble
or greatly virtue of labor and patience
in the various fields of endeavor, and lilxen-
ed the benefcent uses made of the subtle
electric current to the current of fraternity
binding together and permating the soul of
every member, present or absent
Other Speakers.
The other speakers were Messrs. Picker
ing Dodge, John T. Eiker. A. ]. Kennedy,
H. L. Davis, R. p Brown. c. A. Crawford
and George J. Burton. Mr.. Frank d.
Fletcher contributed to the evenings pleas
ure by the reading of a comic story writ
ten for the occasion and dedicated to the
association by Mr.. Eiker. The festivities,
continuing till midnight, were concluded
with the singing by all present of the s'Star
Spangled Banner" and "Auld Lang Syne."
Many vocal selections were rendered dur
ing the evening by Mr. Burton and by the
association quartet, constituted by Majors
Lowe and Norman H. Camp and Messrs. B.
w. Beebe and III. A. Harding. with Mr.. L.
=. Rousseau at the plano. In addition there
was instrumental music by an orchestra.
Officers of the Association.
The officers of the association are: H. L.
Buell., president; F. D. Fletcher, secretary;
Gustave Bender. treasurer. Executive COM
mittee, P. ]. Dempsey, chairman; s. A.
Mccarthy, j. T. Eiker, T. s. Clark, R. p
Brown, J. VIM. DeGrange, L. @. Rousseau.
Members present: II. NJ. Adams, F. A. An
derson, w. 7. Austin B. w. Beebe, Gustave
Bender s. N. Bernhardt, T. c. Brecht, R.
P. Brown, W. L. Browning, H. L. Buell., G.
J. Burton, N. H. Camp, T. s. Clark, c. A.
Crawford Edward Culver, ]. c. Dalphin, H
l.. Davis, j. VIM. DeGrange, P. ]. Dempsey
Pickering Dodge s. L. Duryee J. 7. Eiker
G. M. e seman, J. E. Fenw.ck, F. D. Fletch-
er, j. X. Frederick W. E. Gedney w. T.
George, f. F. Gillen, Albert Grimes, T. r.
Quinn IT HARDING IJind d