Evening star., 1909-05-23
Annual PIanked Shad Dinner
Given at Marshall Hall.
J. 7. DU BOlS FELICITATED
Appointment to Post at Singapore
Subject Of Resolutions.
AFTER-DINNER TALKS MADE
e. W. Bradford Of Mayhower De-
scendants Expresses Appreciation
as Guest on Outing.

| Despite the most discouraging weather
conditions seventy-five members OF the
District Of Columbia Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution sailed down
the Potomac to Marshall Hall yesterday
for their annual planked shad dinner.
| Although prevented by the wind and
rain from wandering about the grounds
and dining al fresco, as they had planned
to do. the delights Of shad. clam chowder
and Maryland ham, served In the big din
ing room and number of short and witty
speeches were ample to forestall any pos
sibe feelings OF regret on the part of
those loyal members Of the association
who refused to let bad day keep them
at home.
| Yesterdays excursion to Marshall Hall
was in accordance with the regular GUS
tom of the Sons of the American Revo-
luton to bring their season Of monthly
meetings to close with picnic at Mar
Shall Hall. Beginning in the fall and
continuing until early spring, these month
ly meetings are one of the special fea-
| lures of the life of the organization, but
with the departure Of members for sum-
mer vacations they are brought to a close
with the Marshall Hall outing, which is
the great annual affair of the society.
Most of those who braved the inclement
weather yesterday left Washington on the
Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall Steam
boat Company's boat, which started from
| the foot of 7th street at 1:45 pm, al
though a few took the 10 o'clock morn
ing boat. Promptly at o'clock the doors
of the big dining room were thrown open
and rush was made for seats at the
tables.
Long before that the members Of the
society and their guests had had their
appetites whetted by the crisp. spicy odor
| Of the smoke that came from the crack
|
| the kitchen, where the shad were being
planked in true Maryland style. A few
who were wise stood by the fire and
watched the negro cooks at their work.
| Past masters they were, those cooks,
and the sight Of the shad as they lay
against the oak boards. cooking slowly
in the glow of the Goals. touched now
and then by a shower of sparks, was
the most confirmed and misanthropic dys-
peptic.
Weather Bureau Not Blamed.
| When everybody had had enough shad,
E. B. Moore, the president of the society,
who acted as toastmaster, announced
that while he, as well as every other
loyal member of the society present. re-
gretted deeply that the weather was SO
unfavorable, he thought 1t but just to
confess that he did not consider that his
kinsman, Willis L. Moore. director of
| the weather bureau, was responsible for
1t. At least, he added. he knew Of no
grudge that Prof. Moore had against
either the Society of the Sons of the
| the absence of direct evidence, therefore,
1t was his opinion that the weather
| bureau should be excused.
| President Moore then referred in happy
vein to the work of the society during
the past season. and paid particularly
high tribute to the recent national con-
ventionsin Baltimore and to the Baltimore
society for the manner in which it en-
| tertained the visiting delegates.
Mayfower Descendant Speaks.
The first speaker called upon by Mr..
Moore was Ernest w. Bradford, secre-
tary of the Society of Mayhower
Descendants in the District Of Columbia.
an organization which had been invited
to join the members of the s. A. R. in
the outing. mr. Bradford was intro
duced with much fattering and jocular
personal reference by Mr.. Moore.
His position as patent attorney, most
of whose practice was before the COM
missioner of patents (Mr. Moore), pre-
vented him, Mr.. Bradford said. from
Mr.. Moore that he was dying to make.
| He wished. however, to express in be-
| half of the society he represented, the
pleasure he and his fellow Mayflower
i OeSConQdnIS
that existed between the two patriotic
| organizations.
| One More Moore Heard.
Commander John H. Moore, U. s. N, re-
tired. former president Of the society,
and at present member of the execu-
tive committee of the general society.
when called upon, said that it would do
no harm for one more Moore to be
1T nC;l
ing officer and POSTMASTER, thought he
would catch him unprepared. the presid-
ing officer would better Immediately pre-
pare himself to be fooled.
Thereupon Commander Moore drew from
his pocket roll of papers large enough
| to choke an alligator. It so happened
that they had nothing whatever to do
with what the commander afterward
said, but the sight of them brought the
toastmaster close to the point of apo
plexy.
Thanking the presiding oficer for put
ting him in the new class he had created,
the class OF personal pulchritude. for the
presiding off1cer took great care to intro
duce every speaker as handsome man
Commander Moore forgot all about pres
ent matters for awhile and launched
forth in glowing description OF the re-
cent Baltimore national congress, pay
ing special tribute to to the sayatso various iuncnes
There were three lunches that Com
mander Moore rememberd distinctly, one
in the convention hall. another in the
state house at Annapolis. where the dele
gates spent the day. and another at the
Hotel Belvidere in Baltimore. The com
mander mentioned no others, but his
guarded omission indicated that there
might have been several more.
The Baltimore congress. he declared,
had set a new mark In the general So
ciety for efficiency in business methods
and delightful entertainment.
That Washington should be the scene
of the annual general congress in 1912
was the firm opinion of Commander
Moore The last congress held here was
held in 1902, he said. and he urged his as
sociates to begin early and prepare for
three years hence.
j. T. Du Bois Congratulated.
Resolutions OF congratulation for ]. T.
Du Bois Of the State Department. upon
his appointment as consul general to
Singapore, were unanimously passed by
the society. They were offered by Col.
Charles Lyman. Mr.. Du Bois is vice
president Of the society, and has long
been one of its most active members.
The resolutions follow:
whereas the District OF Columbia So
ciety of the Sons of the American Rev
olution has learned with pride and sat
isfaotion of the appointment of its hon.
president, James T. Du Bois. as consul
general of the United States at Singa-
pore, Straits Settlements, member who
has greatly endeared himself to his COM