The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-28
Birmingham Bids Banker Bon Voyage Amid Song and Laughter-Is a
 Splendid Success
HARDING DELIVERS INFORMAL SPEECH;
 APPRECIATES HONOR
Banquet Unprecedented In Recent History of Birmingham-Many Clever Speeches, Including That of Private John" Allen,
 Delivered
By HUGH w. RoBERTs


 Wit and cIoquencc. song and laugh ser-n continuous joy tempered by regret to he lastine-featured ban quet lust evening of which w. F. G. Harding was the guest of honor, and other members of the Birmingham Newspaper club, the hosts.
 The banqueters were exceedingly happy in their determination wns carried out-to refrain from cIoy- ing the appetite with oft repeated and fulsome compliment. Mir. Harding wns praised for what he has done, and for what he has displayed n willingness to do. He wns praised. too. for hIs pressed purpose to continue to fight the battle for Birmingham. He was comriimented handsomely in virtue of the great honor which the President hns conferred upon him. Regret was expressed in that he was "doOmed- to leave eBirmingham-for n period.
 Bid Him Bon Voyage"
 But this was not the keynote of the banquet. The banqueters had gathered >.o bid him bon voyage" and the idea obtaining that some of these days he would return home, permitted the accep- Stance of the wh, lesome advice of the Persian tent maker:
 Unborn tomorrow and dead vesterday- Why fret of them if today be sweet' |, So the occasion was one of joy-of | beauty, of wit. and humor and laughter; of music and song and color aud the wine of fife. There was no room for tears. There was just eaaush regrot to restrain the more terlperamenta within the bounds of dignity.
 Sentiment of Diners This idea was expressed in the very beginning by the toastmaster, E. NN ! Barrett, editor of The Age-Herald. when alter his introducticl by the president of the club, he said:
 MT. President Stanley, I thank you This toaStnaster will do hls best to III deserve the honor and with the CO., II operation of those about this beard we |S shall. make it a festive occasion. Mir. Harding, ycur friends are M gathered about this evening to wish l you bon voyage.
 You so forth from us selected to serve vour country in treat national undertaking. We of your home know ! you. We have supreme confidence in your Judgment, your ability and your determination
 'We feel that when your seivice to your country is performed you will re- turn to us with the glory of wcrk well done.
 So now we snail feed you we'll We shall serve wine to you and drink with you. We shall sing to you and talk anout you. We shall ever tell you some new stories. We are here to make merry with you. But first let us have food.''
 Continuous Round of Joy
 There Was continuous round of joy The banqueters were IT, among the num- Der being men who lad carved their way to success in the various fields Of indus try. They were good fellows, hail fel- lows well met. Tho cafe of thc Birming- ham Newspaper club. the most bvautitul in the south. was artisticalIy decorated with a lavish profusion of American Beauty roses. The mus:c of the crches- tra was at times weird and then sensu- ously beautiful, ard then wild as if en- talied with the spirit of reckless. dev- lish age. The speeches of the programme kvere not of the dry, canned or made o order' variety. They contained an es- sencr of snap q delicious spirit of mis- lhief ur [ mol sci of broad huinor capa- ple of convusing banquet board. There was cloquenee ccmplimented by T cessa- ton of laughter. q disarpeurrpce of kmilcs there were tender expressions which wrought ii moment of silence.
 There has never been another such ban 1uc, fin tho recent history of Birmingham There have been affairs of more lavish nature perhaps There have been affairs ,f more serious nature. There have been entertainments where joviality al Uni Ru
 
 <com<fuued nm Dare Nfmel