Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-12

Just 90 WAS eXpect2d Tue great Dig
armory was filed to Overlooking last
night. the star atrsc ion being two OF
the most distinguished citizsbs Of the
limited States-Rear Admiral Winfield
Scott Scbley aud SeDa,Or Benjamin K.
TiIlman, of South Carolina. Long be.
fore the train bearing these distinguished
personsges bad arrived at the hall-we
may say, long before 1t had left the CAPT.
tai city-the crowd began 10 gather and
at s o'clock it did no. take prophet to
anticipate what the result would be.
The bail was packed, but those who
vera there we're ladies aud gentlemen,
hence it was an orderly gathering, About
s;45 the visitors arrived on the mount
Vernon" Accompanying the party
from Washington we're Representative
Carlin, Judge L. O. Barley and Mayor
Pat, composing the committee on lnvl-
ta.ion; Robert w. Fuller, worshipful
master of Alexandria. Washington Lodge
of Masons; CHARLES H CALLAHAN, senior
warden; J. Edward Shinn, past master
and chairman of the fair committee;
August OehIert, past master; Charles b.
Marshall, psst master Of Andrew Jack
son Lodge OF Masons; Oande Fletcher,
Thomas A. Fisher, Percy Gift AID Il.
A. Chester; Mrs. Tillmau. Miss TillmsD,
Mrs. @. o. Ca'lin, Ms Fred ]. Psf,
Mrs. George B. Csriu, Chairman OF
the women's committee OF the fair;
Mrs. NJ. w. O'Brien, vice chair
man; Ms. ]. E SbinD, Mrs. N. L. Dir
widdie, aud Mrs. r. A. Chester. As
they entered the hall az aisle was formed
by the crowd that thrODged the room and
az they walked from the entrance to the
portico of "MouDt Vernou," Senator
Tillmsn holding the arm of Representa-.
tive Osrln, Of Virgin a, aud Admiral
S,hley, accompanied by Mr.. K A.
Chester, of Washington, the building
rang With cheers After the arrival and
the party had pa,tsken of al excellent
supper prepared by the ladies, Admiral
Schley and Senator TillmsD and Hon
O, O. Carlin we're conducted to the / al
couy of the Hermitage" after which
the baud played maryland, my Mary
land" and "Dixie."
After a call for order, sounded by a
bugIe Mr.. r. W. Fuller, master OF
Alexandria Washington Lodge, intro
duced Hon. o. O Oarlin.
Representative Cirin arose and, when
the applause occasioned by his presence
had subsidized, complimented the commit
tee on the success Of their landsble un'
dertskiug. He paid graceful tribute
to the ladies for their untiri0g Efforts in
behalf of the object; he referred in
fitting way to the objects of the fair. He
then spoke of the revolutionary period,
of the civil war and of the Spanish
American war. la reference to all OF
these be said the south had played
mos, important part and had furnished
those whose rames are enrolled in the
list OF brave men-Lieut. B gley, OF
North Oirolins; Richard Pearson Hob
son, of Alabama; Joseph Wheeler, OF
Alabama, aud Admiral Schley, Of Mary
land. La regard to the latter he spoke
st leoglh, during which he said that
after the smoke of battle q. Santiago bad
died away It was found that Admiral
S:hlsy's ship, the B'ooklyD, bad been
struck oitsner than all the feet con-
biued. He referred to the treatment the
admiral had received al the hands OF the
president. 10 regard to the chic! exCcu-
tive he said the presidents son hal made
use OF & remark in regard to his father
which was RprOpos on this occasion: III
he went tona wedding, he ought to be
the bride; II be went to a funeral, he
ought to be the corpse"
10 regard to the civil war be made the
remark that the south had been con.
.luered. He then introduced Admiral
Schley ns the greatest living sailor 10 the
world.
Admiral S,hley arose aud the sp
plsuse wa, deafening. He said he was
not an orator. Sailors in the American
navy, he said, we're not supposed TO be
speakers, we are peacemskers, and II we
can not get 1t 10 any other way we fight
for it. He also said that he had tried to
think of something nice to say while
coming from Washington to this city on
the train, and thst which appealed to
him most was one of Mother G)oss's
rhymes:
As sure SIS the grass grows on the stump
chose you for my sugar lump.
he spoke of the ptominencs of his
birthplace, Frederick county, Md, hav-
ing 10 its credit Frances Scott Key,
author OF the Star SpaUgled Banner;
Gov. johnson, who nominated Wash
ington to be commsnder-in-chief OF the
American armies; Chief Justice fancy
and Others, adding that on that score
he was in pretty good company.
He closed By paying graceful tribute
TO Vrginisn's fair women.
Mr.. OaTlin then, in a few chosen re-
marks, introduced Senator Benjsmin T.
Tillmsn, of South Carolina, as the
champion of The white race in America.
The senator arose and it vas several
minutes before he could proceed. BE
said he came to Alexandra with the
distinct understanding that he could
spend his mOnsy but would not be ex.
pected to even attempt speech. He
said that Mr.. Csrlln had said thst dur
Jog the civil war the south was con
quered. He took issue with this state.
meut and said that We we're crushed and
had worn ourselves ont whipping the
other fellows. He said he was proud Of
his birthplace, hut if be had had his
choice be would have been born In Vir.
ginis. he was proud of its beautiful
womeu-and waited to repeat it--even
thoagh his wife was sitting behind him.