The Washington herald., 1907-05-18

New York, May 1T-Gen. Baron Tame
motto kurokL who has been undergoing a
severe Initiation into American customs
Tor the past few weeks, was given the
maj degree tonight, an American ban
Quet The joint committee Of japanese
residents and Americans rendered this
honor TO the visiting soldier at the Hotel
AstOr
Being unconversant with the language,
the general missed what is usually the
Characteristic feature Of the great Ameri-
can banquet, the oratory. but he sat un-
Tuffled and smooth browed under the
speakers dais i'm the banquet hall and
toyed with his cigar butt while the flow
Of words was at it's full Nobody could
have read Kurokrs face to be Indicative
Of else but the most absorbed interest.
The general possesses 10 the full limit
that admirable japanese characteristic Of
assumed absorption.
There We're almost eight hundred guests
present who sat down at the tables in
the grand ballroom at O'Clock. The
guest list includes the names Of all the
prominent japanese in New York and the
surrounding cities. diplomats. and men,
bers Of legation staffs from Washington.
American men and women prominent in
business and social life in New York.
Admiral Dewey Modest.
Admiral George Dewey was ex-oflclo
POSTMASTER of the evening because Of his
headship on the American committee of
reception, but the admiral was modest
beyond precedent, and he spoke only
briefly. allowing John ". Finley. presi-
dent of the College Of the City Of New
York TO do the yeoman work. In so far as
the management Of the hotel could stretch
their knowledge Of things japanese. the
banquet room was prepared with an eye
TO the honor Of the guests japanese
and American flags were amicably inter /
twined.
Gen. kuroki sat at the table with Ad- !
miral Dewey. About the same board sat
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant, at the left of /
Gen. Kuruld; Mrs. Grant; Capt. Tanaka. /
Gen. KurOk's official Interpreter and !
handy man: Secretary Of Commerce and
Labor Oscar S. Straus; Viscount Aoki.
japanese ambassador; Lieut. Gen. Yasut-
Euma Kigcshi. and Mai. Gen Michiharu /
Cmezawa, of Gen Kuroki's staff. and .
Vice Admiral Ijuin. commander Of the .
Japanese squadron at anchor in North
River
Others at the banquet were Rear Ad- /
miral and Mrs J. B. Coghlan. Gen Joseph |
W Conedon. Z. 5. A. Delano. Senator and /
Mrs Chauncy Depew. John Fo0ra. Rich /
ard Watson Glider. Brayton Ives Mr.. and /
Mrs. Timothy L. Woodruff. Henry vs..
Taft. Dr. and Mrs. Takemine. Consul /
General koiCha. Mai Charles Lynch. and I
Gen. o. +. Wood
All of the japanese naval officers from
the 'nitose and the Tsukuba. as well as
the military attaches DO Gen KurokFs
staff were present in fun uniform. There
were some attaches from the British I.e-
cation IN Washington. the stan of the
japanese Legation. and several officers
OF the American army. also ln fun re-
gala.
Two little japanese ladies came in their
native dress.
Three Rousing Ranzafs.
When the demuasse stage OF the din
nGr was reached Mr.. Finley stspp.5 r,
O. the rostrlm. which the Hotel Asto-
has introduced as a v8luabl. adjunct =.
the formal banquet. and proposed the
heaiths of the President Of America and
bis majesty the Emperor Of Japan. The
orchestra started Of with q few bars Of
"The star SpanE,ed Banner and then
slipped limping into the weird minor
chords Of the "Kimigayo." the japanese
national anthem The japanese stood and
sung the anthem Justify. Then they gave
three rouslUg "Bauzais" The American
guests also applauded
Ineu President Finley, the toastmaster
by default Of Admiral Dewev's courage
called upon the hashful hero of Manila
Bay t9 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 NJ this gather
Ing, / wish % extend a hearty welcome IN
the guest of the evening, who comes
from that nation with which our reIa-
tons have always been the most cordial
japan, who was the first 10 chose our
nation as a guide 70 the greater ciyiliza-
tion OF the West
Now, how would you like 10 hear an
other speaker?' said the bashfuI Al
miral, suddenly; and he stepped hastily
down from the platform and hid behind
lis wine glass.
Finley Introduces Himself.
MT. Finley then thought il fitting 70 d
introduce himself to the japanese gentle
men, since there was no one TO do that
office for him So he said that he was
the president of the College Of the CITY Of
New York, where Russian and japanese
studied together out Of the same text
book
THE founder of my college. bv
strange. coincidence. was first American
20 Japan" said Mr. Finley. eand
by a still stranger coincidence there came
into my possession only a few DAYS ago
the first American flag that floated on
soil"
The speaker reached behind him and {
took from the corner a faded silk stand ]
ard
This flag" said he. waving it in the !
direction Of Gen. KurokTs table. was
made by Japanese and Of japanese silk
on the order Of the first Minister to that
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