The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-16
Washington NEWS GOSSIP

the center OF which were draped the
Stars and Stripes and the West Viz
ginta state nag. The whole arrange.
ment was a delight to 1.-THE eye. There
was nothing apparently omitted to
stage the scene with impressive arts
try, and the whole was q surprise and
or less OF an experiment, and It was
revelation to all. for II must be con.
coded that this first banquet was more
foubtful how largeFa response to II
would come from the members Of the
society. which is an organization OF
but several months growth. Albeit,
but 11s Of the $50 members sub.
scribed for tickets in time to partici.
pate. the support of the members was
within six Of the expected number. and
fully up to the capacity OF the splen.
did catering service contracted for.
Now that the initial dinner was such
q glowing success, the talk OF all who
were there, the next banquet when 1t
is given Is certain to be something
that no West Yirginian in Washington
will care to miss.
The program Of toasts was a hap.
PLY arranged one. No better choice
for toastmaster OF a West Virginia
dinner could be made than United
States Senator W. E. Chiffon. He Is
a postmaster of that exacting Job. A
ready and gifted speaker. possessed
OF a sparkling wit, knowing his native
state and her people. with a fund OF
apt anecdote In prose and verse ready
at his command, he kept the speech.
making ball rolling, and was largely
responsible for the popular success OF
what he characterized as his "vaude.
Williams" Senator Chiffon was never
happier than he was Saturday night.
He was at his best, inspirded by the
presence Of such a notable assem-.
blage OF his home people" and by the
cordial appreciation and response with
which they greeted him and responded
to his decidedly successful and deeply
interested efforts to make the affair
the fine success that 1t proved to be.
There was regret that the Grand
Old Mar OF West Virgin,2," Hon.
Henry Gassaway Davis could not be
present. He had promised to break
his rule OF retiring at 10 O'Clock. to
which he ascribes his good health at
the great age of ninety.six, and con.
scented to head the list OF speakers.
But when the time came, he found
That he could not p%rudently attend. a
Keen disappointment to him, for he
. looked forward with almost
youthful anticipations to being on
nand and mingling with the people
from the state for which he has done
80 mGcn aud for which his great heart
Is 1lied with genuine love and afec.
uon. However. he sent a letter. filled
win hne sentiments which stirred Inc
ioyal sons and daughters deeply.. II
was also occasion for genuine regret
that United States Nathan Goff cg,ld
not De ETesent, either, for similar
reasons, his physician forbiding him
formal dinners and going out nights
socially or otherwise for the present,
congressman W. G. Brown was NOT
there. either. He. too, is one Of thc
grippe victims. But Mrs. Brown was
present, and urged by Senator Chill.
tan she took the place on the pro.
gram that had been allotted In her
popular husband. Mrs. Brown, who
was Miss lzetta lowell, an actress of
extraordinary talent who, in The last
three years of her professional life,
was the popular star Of the Poll Play.
ers mere, and known and admired by
all Washington. is a woman of great
charm and fine tact. She responded
to the toast in a way which won the
hearts Of oil right of. They gave her
q rousiils welcome as a Wost Virgin.
ian and stood to drink to her when
she mad done. Another absentee WINS
Congressman Avis, who was nre.
vented from attending by important
legal business at Wheeling.
However, there was plenty doing in
the speechmaking line to bring the
banquet up to l o'clock, Sunday morn.
ing, AID had It not been Sunday. IL
would doubtless have continued
longer than that, as the diners were
certainly enjoying themselves. Hon,
John W. Davis responded to "The
President OF the United States" His
was a beautiful tribute, scholarly OF
diction. high.grade as to humor. and
ELOQUENT with natrinffc a,timant. =.