The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-23
BLUES BANQUET
WAS BRILLIANT
New Army Movement Was BY
No Means Forgotten By
Speakers.
HUMOROUS TELEGRAMs READ
Pseutlo Messages From Noted
People Create Much
Laughter.


Infantry Blues Association, in the ar
mory of the Blues. on Ninth Street. last
night was brilliant and thoroughly enjoy
able 1t was notable because OF the pres
ence of SO many prominent Richinonders
and Nirginians, and 1t had the effect of
intoxicating into the minds OF all of those
present the urgent necessity for a new
arnnory for this historic organization
an organization that has been an honor
to Virginia. M
Addresses were made by Mayor .McCar-
thy, Colonel Robert r. Lee. Jr.. member
OF the House of Delegates; Delegate G.
e. T. Lane. of Mathews county: Mr.. John
F. Branch, Colonel Dempsey, of the
United States army; Captains Bowles and
Kent and several others. The keynote OF
each speech was for better quarters for
the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, and
the banquet and reception last night by
tho Blues Association brought tho mem
bers of this, organization in closer touch
one with the other. The evening was
most pleasantly spent, and there were
more than two hundred people present.
The committee on arrangement had
made every preparation for the event
Tables were stretched across the hall
room, and the yels from the different
companies or Glasses resounded through
out the old building at frequent intervals.
For the honce all were boys, and even
those there who had fought In tho Civil
War were as boys again. and Joined In
the songs and the yells and the enjoy
ments as though fifty years or more
was as nothing.
Colonel Cutchins Speaks.
Colonel Sol. Cutchins was the first to
speak. On behalf of the Blues, Associa-
ton, he thanked the guests for their at
tendance. He appreciated the fact that
so many had. come, and deplored that
there were not all of those present who
had sent messages expressing their re-
greet at not being able to attend.
Colonel Cutchins then read letters of
regret from Governor Claude A. Swan
son. Ex-Governor A. j. Montague. Hon.
Joseph L. Willard. Colonel Charles j.
Anderson and Mr. Joseph Bryan.
When each letter or telegram was
read there were prolonged cheers Gov
ernor Swansons name was given three
cheers and when the regrets of Hon A.
j. Montague were made known. there
were given with will three cheers and
tiger.
General Charles j. Anderson in his let
ter of regret to the association at not
being able to attend. said that a previous
engagement kept him from being present.
He spoke at the meeting OF the Sons
of American Revolution last night.
I'VE yield in point of age to this
organization" said Colonel Cutshaw.
The Mayor Speaks.
In introducing May Mccarthy. as the
first speaker of the evening. Colonel Cut
chins said: 1.-THE subject that you will
listen to is the city of Richmond and
the Richmond Blues-It's a strong COM
bination-.one headed by the Hon. Carlton
Mccarthy and the other by me"-pro-
lonsed applause.
Mayor Mccarthy spoke in most hap
by vein, but at the same time injected
into his remarks facts that reached the
heart of every soldier present At the
offset he paid his compliments to the
city of Richmond.
"Richmond." he said, conveys to my
mind everything that makes life desir-
able. And 1T also clothes the future with
hope. with desire and with affection. This
old city contains body of people who
are as energetic. as hopeful, as hospitable,
as charitable and Ms capable as any body
OF people to be found in the world. The
people here are capable of caring for
themselves and they are doing this very
thing"
The history of thu Blues organization
I. had been ground into him since his ear
Hest recollection. THE Blues always
had in their ranks continued the cap
tain. "a lot Of old bachelors with their
moustaches cu, short and yellow n: the
ends prolonged applause). He traced
the organization since 1855, and to-day it
was the same. only a little different"
from then. AT this time an excuse to
go fishing is necessary. In those days,
when 1 first knew the organization, a
target practice was all that was neces-
sary for any thing" exclaimed the Mayor
amid a burst of laughter that did not
end for several minutes. Mr.. Mccarthy
continued in this happy vein some time
Keen ing the large audience In one con-
tinual round OF laughter and applause.
Ills utterances were from the shoulder
and they came fright off the bat" max
ing them moro impressive and the ef-
feet greater upon those who were wait
ing for his every word.
1.-THE only objection that have to the
Blues, or have ever had to the organiz-l-
tion," he said, sis these turn down in
front caps These blue Douses also get
me riled. Every time l see ono i feel
like going around a corner and turning
n gnttling gun on them.
The mayor paid n beautiful tribute to
the State Of Virginia. He declared that
Virginia was his home and was his 'coun-
try and that while he loves the Star
SDanSIeu banner IdlIiy We'll
ali tho circumstances the flag of Vir-
gnia was the one for which he would
fight against any tyrannical foe." Long
applause followed this remark.
Most Sacred Duty.
TO tho members Of the Blues the mayor
said that they deserved, the name OF
being the foremost orgnnizationwln tho
state and IN tho country. You repre-
sent the last resort for the preservation
Of the law And If any one OF you
feels ot-night that he has any duty moro
sacred than his duty as soldier, then
let him get out now. for to remain in
any company with this belief in his mind,
brands him q traitor, "a
"ohicialiy or <unoftically,, am willing
and ready TO give to the Blues All
armory that Will be a credit to Richmond
and an honor to this splendid orgAnlsa, !,
ton" concluded Mayor Mccarthy, amid
daafenlng applause that lasted for I several
minutes,
,erhe state OF virginia the Richmond
Blues was the toasts that was to have
been responded to by Lieutenant-doverr-
or j. Taylor ,I1llyson, but u delayed train
made ii impossible for him to reach the