The Washington herald., 1912-02-29
GLAD HAND GIVEN
TO BERT WILLIAMS
Colored Comedian Guest at Banquet.
Members of Race Praise
Him.

Things are usually pretty quiet along
newspaper row after midnight. and it's
seldom that Gray's cafe has a festive
atmosphere very early in the morning.
Policeman ]. C. Holmes. OF the First
precFact. who patrols E street. between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. after
the graveyards yawn. was vending his
way along. about 12:3o this morning. max
ing sure no one had tried 70 steal the
Munsey Building. when his ears caught
the strains OF "Everybody's Doin' II
Now" The Barber Shop Chord" THE
Mysterious Rag" and other turkey-trot
harmony.
Policeman Holmes, who always did
have a good ear for music, at first thought
a rehearsal was being held in the lobby
OF the theater. This clew went wrong.
but a few more steps brought him In
front Of the place OF mirth. A pianist
and fiddler were doing a duet. some one
was making a speech, and now and then
there were shouts OF Three cheers for
Bert
Reason for FeStIvity.
No one had to tell Policeman Holmes
what Il was all about. They were giving
a banquet in honor of Bert Williams,
who got through work with the ''Follies"
at II p. m.. and gave the rest Of his even
ing over to his gay hosts. Pretty soon.
the police reporters, who some time leave
central office, came along. and Police
man Holmes told them about II. The
reporters sent up their cards and Mr..
williams secretary came down the steps
and, greeted the news-chasers.
He had an spologetic tone and said he
was awfully sorry that some late guests
had to have the press table. The come
dian's secretary, however, was glad to
enlighten them. He said that so far
this evening, the banquet has been
very delightful affair and the music most
appropriate.
Now, / want to tell you about those
handsome speeches continued the pri-
vate. secretary. You can say for Mr..
Williams that all of the speakers have
been unstinted in their praise Of Mr..
williams by making such a pronounced
success of his work on the stage"
The POSTMASTER was Lieut. Walter A.
Pinchback. Judge Robert H. Terrell
made the address of welcome. and Hon.
william II. Lewis, Assistant United
States Attorney General, spoke on
Good fellowship" Hon. John c. Dancy
responded to 'Our guest" According to
the private secretary. Mr.. Williams was
very happy in his talk" and gave ex-
preston to the deep appreciation he felt
for the compliment so generously ex-
tended him by the citizens Of the ma
tons Capital.
Among the other speakers were W.
Calvin Chase. editor of the Bee; r. w.
Tyler, Auditor for the Navy Department:
Prof. Roscoe c. Bruce, assistant superin-
tendent Of public schools; Lieut. Thomas
Clark, and Almond Scott.
Around the Board.
Those present were James A. Cobb,
John c. Nalle, George jackson. Walter
Miller. william Curry. F. E. Parks.
George Young. ]. Henry Lewis. Marcellus
syphax. Charles Curry. Percival Bruce,
Fred Crusoe. Frank Cheek. Theodore
jackson. Leonard Hughes. Daniel Mon
roe, George d. Johnson, DIR. Charles s.
Harrison, James Walker. DR.. W. II.
Howard, DR.. W. c. Mcneil. Thomas
Beckett, Benjamin L. Gaskins. william
clifford. A. c. Newman. August Savoy.
John Downing, Bert A. Rose. Thomas
Sayers, Ford Dabney John Plummer.
Thomas l. Jones, William Sanford. DR..
A NJ Curtis, DR.. Z. d. Williston, WILL
lam Gaskins. William Burrill. r. II. Har-
rison, DR.. Phil B. Brooks, DR.. A. f.
Gaskins, DIR. Henry W. Freeman. W. 7.
DR.. C. Sumner wormley. DIR.
Ralph B. Stewart, A Lincoln Brown,
Lester A. Walton, dramatic critic of the,
New York Age; Mr.. Tucker, Frank Will
hms. Andrew Newman. and Sumner
Chfslorn