Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-18
BANQUET FOR kUROK|
Warriors of Two Nations at
Brilliant Gathering.
NATIONAL ANTHEMS SUNG
General Declares That Japan Wants
Peace With %.
MANY N0TABLES WERE PRESENT
Nine Hundred People at the Tables
and Many Beautiful Women
In Attendance.
MANY NOTABLES WERE PRESENT

NEW YORK, May 18.-Gen. Baron Tame
motto Kuroki, who has been undergoing a
severe initiation into American customs for
the last few weeks, got the final degree last
night-an American banquet. The joint
committee Of japanese residents and Amer
leans gave this honor to the visiting SOL
der at the Hotel Astor.
the general missed what Is usually the
characteristic feature Of the great American
banquet, the 'oratory; but he sat unrufaed
and smooth-browed under the speakers
dais In the banquet hall and toyed with his
cigar while the fow of words was at its full.
Nobody could have read Kurokfs face to
be indicative Of else but the most absorbed
interest. The general possesses to the full
limit that admirable Japanese characters
tic OF assumed absorption.
There were almost nine hundred people
sitting about the tables In the grand ball
room at o'clock. The guest list included
the names OF all the prominent Japanese Of
New York and the surrounding cities, dip
lomats and members of legation STATS
from Washington, American men and wom-
Of New York. Admiral George Dewey was
ex-oficio toastmaster Of the evening be-
cause OF his headship on the American
committee OF reception. but the admiral
was modest beyond precedent, and he spoke
only briefly. allowing John H. Finley, presi-
dent Of the College Of the City of New
York. to do the yeoman work.
Dewey q Bashful Hero.
Then President Finley. the POSTMASTER
by default Of Admiral Dewey's courage.
called upon the bashful hero OF Manila bay
to rise and speak for himself. The admiral
had these few words to say:
In the name Of the gentlemen who have
asked me to preside at this gathering I
wish to extend hearty welcome to the
guest of the evening, who comes from that
nation with which our relations have al
ways been the most cordial, Japan, who was
the first to choose our nation as q guide to
the greater civilization Of the west.
Nov. how would you like to hear an
other speaker" said the bashful admiral
suddenly. and he stepped hastily from the
platform and hid behind his wineglass
DIR. Finley then thought 1t fitting to intro 4
Quce nfmSeh TO the japanese gentlemen,
since there was no one to do that -office
for him. So he said that he was the presi- /
dent of the College OF the City Of New
York, where Russian and Japanese studied
together out of the same textbook.
''The founder of my college, by q strange
coincidence, was the first American minister
to Japan" said Mr.. Finley. land by stili
stranger coincidence there came into my
possession only a few days ago the first
American nag that hoated on Japanese
soil' The speaker reached behind him and
took from the corner a faded silk standard.
This nag" said he, waving 1t in the di-
rection Of Gen. Kurokfs table, was made
by Japanese and Of japanese silk on the
order Of the flrst minister to that country,
Mr.. Townsend Parrish. It. few over the
minister's house until bunting came from
America with which he could have another
made"
The diners welcomed President Finley's
little attempt at the dramatic with pro-
longed cheering, In which the Japanese
Joined heartily. Then Secretary Straus was
introduced.
In the course of his speech the Secretary
picked up a piece Of writing paper that
Capt. Tanaka Of Kurold's stan had handed
to him.
IT am going to read to you the message
which Gen. Kurold has prepared for you
and for the American people," said Secre-
tary Straus. This, then. was his formal
message to America, expected since he first
arrived in Seattle.