Connecticut western news., 1913-01-23
BEST BANQUET EVER
Governor Baldwin was There, and
 Wasn't a Hitch.


 eclipsed all previous efforts. The pres ence of the Governor of the state, Simeon E. Baldwin, as guest ot honor, naturally invested the affair with un- usual interest, but every effort had been made on the part of all the committees, to have the banquet, in all it's details. more complete and more attractive than ever before, and no chance was given for the captious critic and the chronic fault. finder to pick a flaw. The feast served by Landlord Baker was fully up to his high standard from soup to ci- gars the service was prompt and eni- clent the seating arrangements far sC- perior to that of previous years, afford ient seating the singing of the glee club was, as usual, valuable and appre- ciated feature /; the music by the Bee man and Hatch orchestra, of Hartford was in keeping with the fine reputation of that high-cl class musical organization j; the decorations of the double dining rooms were elaborate and striking and consisted of festoonery and futtering bunting and draperies of flags. the cen tral portion of the alcove, over the Governors chair being filled ill with a large transparency electrically illum- mated, containing the seal and arms of the state, painted in colors, the hand work of Artist Sleighter. The seal was draped in bunting and the whole design had for it's background large Ameri can flag, artistically looped up in grace ful folds. On the opposite side of the room was life size portrait Of Governor Baldwin in a large frame surrounded with flags
 The entire reception committee were at the depot to receive the guests, on a. rival of the 6:45 trains from the east and had been asked to escort the Governor to the hotel and to the table. Those who arrived from the east were Executive Secretary E. s. Thomas and Public Utilities Commissioner R. T. Higgins ;; from the south came Gov. Baldwin Secretary Valentine, of the State Busi- ness Mems Association ; MT. Charles Dickerson, the Bridgeport entertainer, and others. They were escorted to the hotel, where, by that time, the guests were assembling in numbers from every direction. After retiring to hls room and dressing for the supper the Govern or appeared in the hotel lobby and min gled with the crowd, holding an infor- mal reception and converslng affably with the many who were introduced to him. Executive Secretary Thomas was greeted by many friends whom he had met in the legislature and elsewhere MT. Thomas, by the way was enter tained while here, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. G. Adam.
 The absence of Messrs. Phil Troup of New Haven, John Carr of Waterbury, and W. H. Seeley of Boston was regret ted, those gentlemen being unavoidably prevented from being present.
 Shortly before 8:30 the guests were summoned to the banquet rooms-the two dining rooms of the hotel having been thrown into one. and by the sys- tematic and perfect-working seating scheme of the committee there was not the slightest delay or confusion among the guests in finding the places assigned to them. The orchestra played inspir- ing music during the march, and when, after the other guests had taken their places, the occupants of the speakers table walked in, headed by Governor Baldwin on the arm of Judge Roraback, the orchestra struck up Hail to the Chief and the 130 guests received them with most enthusiastic demonstration of applause, all remaining standing un- til the signal was given, to be seated then the feast was on, Tn earnest. And a splendid feast.it was. The large corps of waitresses served the courses expe- ditiously and without confusion, and Miss Julia Sweeney of the regular din- ing room staff, is proud of the distinc tion of having been assigned to the speakers table and the honor of serv- ing the Governor and the other distin. gu1Shed guests there.
 The menu was as follows:
 Bluepoints, Cocktail Sauce
 Celery
 Cream of Tomato Croutons
 Olives Chow Chow
 Salmon Steak, Maitre d'EIotel Cucumbers Pommes Parisienne
 Sweetbreads and Mushrooms
 Roast of chicken with Virginia ham
 Eggplant Chilled Sweets
 Tomato and lettuce salad
 Ice cream la Garfield Assorted Cakes Branded Cheese Toasted Biscuit
 Coffee
 Cigars
 During the feast the orchestra dis coursed variety of music and the Glee Club interspersed the festivities with numerous popular songs which were