New-York tribune., 1908-02-20
In HONOR OF MIR. REID
PILGRIMS GIPE DINNER
FOR THE AMBASSADOR.
Speakers Tell of the Good Feeling
EristiHg Bet5c6eH the United
States and Great Britain.

States and Great Britain.
Three hundred members of the Pilgrims q ths
United States. with headquarters in New York
and allied Orsauiza ton n London, the ons
composed of representative Americans. the other
of residents of Great Britain. whose common
purpose is 10 foster the friendly relations ex-
isting between the United States and England.
gathered IN the banquet room OF DeImOnic0-s
last 'ght and gave the official "Salve et Vale
If the American branch 10 WhfreIaw Reid. the
American Ambassador 10 the Court OF ST.
James-s. who departs on the Baltic to-day for
his post After drinking a compound" toast ID
the President Of the United States and to the
King of England and a single one 10 the depart
ing ambassador. the diners rose en- masse and
proclaimed Mr. Reid Jolly good fellow
In the absence Of ". Butler Duncan the pres
fdenr Of the New York Pilgrims. whom illness
prevented from being present Joseph H Choare,
a vice-presidenr OF the society and Mr. Reds
predecessor az the British court presided Above
him hung a blue banner bearing the coat-of-
arms of the United States fanIzed on the left
by a similar banner bearing the British insignia
and the right another on which appeared the
coat-of-arrls Of the city Of New YORK TIE
stars and Stripes and the Union Jack were used
together in the decorations of the dining room
\ the right Of Mr.. Choare sa- the guest =
Of the British Embassy who was present 10
say word cf greeting in the enforced absence
Of the British Ambassador. James Bryce
AT THE PRESIDENTS TABLE
At the night Of 5Ir Reid were the RfEhr Rev
William Lawrence. Protestant Episcopal Bishop
Of Massachusetts,. J Pierpont Morgan. 4x-Cfgv-
ernOr Levi p Morton. Andrew Carnegie. Courte-
nay Walter Bennett. British Consul Gieue-aI AZ
New York J Edward simmons. 81 Clair Nc
kelway and Sir Puri0u Clarke Mark Twain"
who was appLauded as such. sat between Mr..
Howard and ex-NIayor Seth Low Among the
others at the presidents table were Alton B
Parker. Colonel Hugh l. Scott. [. :. \. Lieu
tenant Colonel 3. R. James. General Theodore
\. Bingham and ogden Mills
Letters of reSret were read from President
Roosevelt and Vice-P-esidert Fairbanks The
former expressed the earnest hope tHac Secre-
tary Root might be present. bur Mr.. Root was
unable 20 attend Then came a telegram from t7s
Governor of New York. IN which he expressed
his regret ar not being present in person 10 tes-
1ify his admiration for the services OF Ambas-
sador Reid but though n could not be thers
the Pilgrims showed their pleasure az hearing
from him by giving roustnE cheer as Mr.
Choate. after reading the message which nad
just been received, read on t1e name Charles
E Hughes"
The Pilgrims always succeed III having good
time ar the festivals. and last nights was 10
exception 70 the rule They sang the good Old
songs, like Annie Rooney" and ~Ou The Bow
cry with an abandon which. as one OF the
rnerryulakers said showed a common heritage
and an acquaintance with the lyrics or the COM
mon tongue as intimate in VoIverha-1pron as n
Omaha and Salt Lake City. and not a Pilgrim
1f them present. either American or English
man, but per6ed UP in gLadness whenever the
-ar7 in he
the nations. the waltz song from The Merry
Widow"
Praise sor the latest two ambassadors 20 the
Court of = Jarues's was distinguished by a
,otabe appreciation OF the stability Of the friend
y basis on which now rest the relations between
the United States and England. Mr. Choa-s
'joIlied- his successor by references 10 the vvay
II life Of an American Arubassador IN England
and showed how easy II was 10 be an anabas-
7ador OF this nation in the United Kingdom
wen over half a century ago. when that keeuIy
,bservant resident of London. w VI Thackeray.
lad jotted down the utJerances OF the represent
ltives of this nation in the British capital and
heir tune Of -oue nation with common heri-
age"
CHEER JOHN HAYS NAME
The mention Of John Hays name came in fo-
round OF applause Then M Choate turning
o Nh Reid. and in regretfUl tones. told % the
10 days when an ambassadorship cor rather 4
linIsJership) 70 Great Britain meant prefer
lent 70 the Presidency. Those were the good
Ia days" said AIr- Choate. booking straight ar
Ir. Reid Who laughed as heartily as the resc
the assembIdge- Before starting % intro
uce the speaker OF the evening. Mr. Choate had
omething 10 say about what ought 20 be done
{ the embassy OF the United States. ar No &c
ictoria street, London. There should be placed
1noug portraits OF his successors one OF The
rsr and greatest OF American dipIoulatlsrs.
BENJAMIN Franklin. At this the Pilgrims cheered
IstiIy. Esme Howard and Sir Purdon Clarke
eing among the most enthusiastic in their eN-
ression OF approval or Mr.. Choate suggestion
When Mr. Choate arose only = few persons
-ere aware that the speeches were about 10 be-