The Irish standard., 1907-03-23

st. Patrick, old Ireland. and the sons
who have had and are having a part
in the making of American history
were lauded last night at the sixth an
nual banquet of the Irish Fellowship
Club Of Chicago, the presence of Chas.
Warren Fairbanks, vice president of
the United States, making the occasion
o notable one.
The vice president won for himself
a warm place In the hearts of repre-
sentative sh-Americans Of the city
who were present, and although there
was but q, suggestion of politics in the
speeches of the evening the hearty
manifestations of admiration paid the
distinguished guest plainly indicated
that support in his presidential aspir-
ations may be expected by Mr.. Fair
banks from members of the race iden-
titled with his party.
Always an event of Importance to
the Gaelic citizens of the city, the ban
quet that evening surpassed in bril-
liancy all the previous annual gather
ings. For elaborateness of preparation
and good fellowship it has seldom been
surpassed anywhere. Five hundred Ir-
ish-American men and women sat
down to the banquet tables at the Au-
ditorium hotel, where the affair was
held.
Previous to the banquet reception
was held for an hour in the rooms in
the Fine Arts building, adjoining the
banquet hall. The presence of promi-
nent society leaders made it a social
event of no small Importance. The vice
president mingled with the tfrong and
chatted informally from group to
group. -.
Decorations in keeping with the spir-
1t Of the occasion adorned the tables in
the banquet hall. Lilies and carnations
tinted with green formed the CENTER
pieces at each table, and strewn on the
damask were sprigs of ferns. Tiny
green electric bulbs added to the ef-
spread about in profusion.
Back of the speakers table was
draped the tattered flag of the Seventh
Regiment, Illinois volunteers, the famed
Irish. regiment which did valiant serv-
ice in the civil war. Beside it was the
harp adorned green Irish flag of the
present Seventh regiment of the Illi-'
nois National guard. In other alcoves
about tho room large flags of the Uni
ted States were hung.
, The souvenir menus are unique, the
colored cover having been designed
and printed in Ireland. The design was
modelled from the color copies of the
famous books Of Kells, the beautifully
illuminated manuscript made in an
Irish monastery soon after st. Patrick's
time. Other souvenirs at each plate
were shamrocks and photogravure cop
les of the Celtic Madonna by Mucha,
the Bohemian artist, and a representa-
tion of the statue of Lincoln by Charles
j. Mulligan.
Vice President Fairbanks sat at the
right of James O'Shaughnessy, presi-
dent of the Irish Fellowship club, while
next to Mr.. Fairbanks on the right was
Mayor Dunno.
Mr.. Fairbanks, the principal speaker
of the evening, was preceded by Mr.
O'Shaughnessy- and by Mr. Clarke of
South Bend. Bishop Muldoon and May
or Dunno were the other speakers.
1--WE did ourselves the, honor of in
viting him. who is not only qualified to.
speak, with eloquence and wisdom in
commenting upon that large page in
American history, the part the Irish
have played, but also whom we would
have been happy to have chosen for
many other reasons said Mr.
oshaughnessy in introducing Vice
President Fairbanks. 1T is nv distin-
suished duty. to present, to you to re-