The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-07
CEREMONY AT DUTCH DINNER
ST. NICHOLAS SOCJETI HOLDS
IT'S FEAST ~ STATE.

-
The WeathercCCk. the HNt and Chain of
Once and the long Pipes All There
-Austen a.. TON PreudCS -Presldent
Butler End .NIdSe HC"sIand speak.
The st. Niclolas Society, FORMED seventy
one years ago by persons whose ancestors
came from the land of dyke: and canals
to trim the noble savage IN the real estate
business, held it, anniversary oinner last
night at Delmonico's. The members dlned
happily. |toasting the One-ieGged rooster
who. in the first years of the last century,
pointed the wind from the roof Of the. Ntadt
Huys of New Amsterdam.
One Of the reasons that the society wrs
oraanizrd WIS to put the pushing NankeN
in his place. The New EnElanders were
getting numerous on this island when the
society was started, and the old Dutch
wanted TO establish a sort Of social barrier
Even 10 this aV the society preserves tho
tradition hy .oshin- tre Nnw England horn
The dinner lat night wRs presided over
bv Austen G.. Fox. who was reelected pTeEi-
dent of the society With MIR, Fox under
the At and coat Of arms Of the society
SAT Gen Frederick n. Grant. r dc MareesI
wan Svindcrpn. Minister from the Neither
lands. .John f plantan. Consul-General here
from the Netherlands: Hamilton Fish, John
r.. Van Wormcr. y. NJ. Butler. president of
Columbia. John Lloyd Thomas of the -.
David's society, William Butler Duncan Of
the St. Andrews society ana ten. tharles
i. Wilson.
The Dinner was opcuet with all the for
mality that the ancient customs of the
societv demand The huglcr in a doublet
OF dark blue and black. slashed with orange,
sounded A mess call while the emberS ana
guests assembled m the corridor. Behlnd
the bueler formed four negro boys in old
Dutch COSTUME, wide whit" collars, lace
ruff al the wrists. orange and blle douhlet
and knickerhoCSeTs. The stewards OF the
society marched hehind with sim torrnahty
and after them walked President Fox WIN
a hlaCL heaye three Cornered hat On his
head and the orange iewelled collar of the
society around his neck. before the pre-l-
dent marched 4 boy carrying th" celebrated
rooster.
windnills. Illuminated inside by orange
electr,c bulbs, and whose arms whirled
furiously. The one legged rooster Was
placed upon the table with his bill pointing
eastward until the guests were seated
Then he was taken out 70 his coop TO await
the speechmakIng Washington Irving pre-
sented the old weatherCoCk 10 the society
in ls4s. Mrs. Elizabeth Mackle gave II to
the author IN 1885. obtaining n from an
ancestor. who got il from the Dutch Iown
Hall. II r~evolved from the top of Irving =
house at Tarrytown for many years my
dunlicates Of the famous weathercock were
handed 10 the guests as souvenirs.
The members and their friends were
puffpg az long ChurChwardens, smoking
tobacco from the Dutch colonies, when
Austen G.. Fox raped for order. Then
there was another fanfare from the huCler,
and the stewards brought IN the bronze
rooster and pointed his bill 10 the East again.
The diners Cheered, Mr.. Fox, according 70
custom. planted the heavy black beaver
firmly on his head before he began 10 talk.
When he finished speaking he removed his
bonnet.
I'VE like TO get out Of tte market place
and forum 10 lose Ourselves IN good fellow
ship" said Mr.. Fox. W like TO sound the
praises of our ancestors and recall their
simple virtues good cheer and hospitality.
The banner Of 81. Nicholas! Who ha
seen "? Who has heard II mentioned? n
ia only a sentiment, but a sentiment That
warns the heart.
What was the great glory of the good
old saint? Was it his love for children'
His fondness for seafaring men2 Was II
because he suCCored those IN distressi
st. Patrick exiled the snakes. st. George
killed only one dragon, but st. Nicholas
drove out the greatest foe Of mankind
He killed dull care" Laughter and ap-
MIR. Fox presented William d. Murphy
who. in place Of Martin W. Iittleton, re-
sponded - the toast st. Nicholas; A
man he seems of cheerful yesterdays
and confident to-morrows.
John r. Van Wormer talked about -OuI
Country" President Butler of Columbia
about "Our City the Dutch Minister or
Holland and the Founders of New Am.
sterdam.' Judge Henry Z. Rowland spoke
TO the toast Our Guests