The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-25

A large percentage of the best Slavic brains in America were assembled, last night, ac the Stratfield, at the con- vention banquet given under the aus pices of the National Slavonic Society and those residents of this city who had the honor to be present were charmed by the eloquence of the men born in foreign climes who have risen to high positions in the arts, sciences, and professions. Perhaps the most prominent of these was Professor M. l. Pupin of Columbia University who has made a big dent in the electrical world by numerous inventions including one which increases the efficiency of ocean cables. Then there was Albert Albert. Ma Ma chanics at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburg. He paid a glowing tribute to the machine tools made in Connec- ticut.
 There were many others who spoke and all the addresses were in the pur- est of English with the exception Of one who spoke Slovak. Almost every state in the union was represented as from the rapidly growing organiza- ton of 27,0O0 people. The music was SIav with the exception of a few Am erican pieces and was played by Ka- zamek's orchestra of New York. Sev- eral times the diners were carried all most into ecstacies by the music and the orchestra was made to repeat a piece that was weirdly enchanting and and sweet but punctuated with vigor- ous and inspiring strains.
 The card was typically Slovak and the picture on the cover represented Slovak mother and child in peasant costume. It was the work of Alols V F,abry a celebrated artist in New York and one of the guests at the ban quet.
 President A. s. Ambrose, of the Ma tionaI Society was the toastmaster and was delightfully."- witty In in troducing Mayor Lee he said that the mayor expressed a desire to get home early but, if he (AInbrose) was drink ing water like the mayor he felt that he would be able to stay until morn ing. He referred to Secretary of State Rogers speech at the Armory in the afternoon saying: "The representative of the governor made a mistake this afternoon. He handed us the key Of the state but he did not tell us where the hole is. He probably found out his error and that is the reason he is not with us tonight"
 forget America and to ask the new corners of their nationality to become electors. He said: This is the land Of freedom and you tell us that you come from a place where there is not much freedom You must always remem- Der in casting your votes that a coun- try under bad laws in the hands Of honest people is better than good laws i'm inc hands of dishonest people, He said it was inspiring to see so many American flags in the line of march yesterday.
 The mayor said that Congressman Hill was unable to be present and had sent his regrets. The congressman, he said, was a member of the charter re- vision committee of the nation and could not get away. He concluded by telling the members of the society that by the time the organization had 50,- 900 members Bridgeport would be a city of 25OOO0 inhabitants and if they did not come to Bridgeport then the city would have a Slavonic society of its own-
 Rev. Dr. Vincent Pisek of New York is Presbyterian minister who has watched the advancement of the Slo- yak in this country for many years. He said in part: Many nations have a great past in which they are wont to dwell, but the greatness of the Sla- vonian people lies in the future. Sla- vonians have learned to follow that first of all commandments, to work and multiply. They came to Pennsyl- vania years ago to work in the mines and they came with clean hearts.
 .eThey have kept working and now it is getting so that their condition is being changed. A woman told me a short time ago that the reason for the change is that they were getting to know us better III IIllS ". InelE simplicity has won them a warm spot in the hearts of those with whom they came in contact. I have been in stores in every state in the union. The Slo- yak and the Bohemian came and ask ed the Yankee store keeper for credit and always got it. The Yankee came and asked for credit and the merchant said: No, you are too smart The Slovenian certainly pays his way.
 "The Slovak is apt to go back to the other side of the ocean. but there is a yearning for this country within his breast, and the second time here he is not in such a hurry to go back and the third time he comes back here he has a love for this land of freedom that is sure to keep him here the rest of his days. The reason that more went back years ago than they do now was explained by the Slovak who said that he had not lived in America, but under America He had been a miner and had not been given an opportun- ity to see the country.
 .sI have married more than G. 900 cou- ples in this country. One man asked me the size of my fee. told him that it was for him to say. He replied cannot give you much, but I will make it up on baptisms-''
 He closed with a pathetic story of how the Bohemian athletes carrying