New-York tribune., 1917-08-30

New York City last night gave its
farewell dinner in honor of its 10000
fighting Guardsmen, who are about 10
leave for the front. where there are
few banouets and few celebrations.
To-day the 10000 will take their for
nal leave Of their hosts of last night.
Around their mess tables at their en-
campments and in their armories the
BOYS who will soon be fighting for their
country across the seas showed them
selves hale and in condition to dispose
of a spread such as New York, the
scene of many a feast. seldom wit
nesses.
Attack Food Vigorously
The thirty thousand pairs of knives
and forks began their business clatter
in the different troop encampments all
over greater New York at $3.50 last
evening The attack on the food which
Father Knickerbocker spread before
his BOYS was characterized by mill
tary organization of trained troops and
the vigor Of the young and strong men
who have been brought up in a country
where there is plenty 10 eat.
The engagement lasted for an hour
and a half before the soldiers who
boasted the greatest endurance admit
ted that they had enough for the time
bcing. enough TO last them till bright
and early this morning. when the bug!e
sounds for mess. There were naturally
no slackers at that party, consisting as
il did of men who recruited themselves
into the army of the state, now an
army of the nation.
The battle was just about tie.
Honors might be said to have been
even. 1t is no small job to eat up. a
$4,000 banquet, consisting OF solid
food with no fancy embroidery. 1t
was called a banquet; in reality 1t was
a regular meal. There was no mas
ouerading OF pretty dishes under a
camou1age of menu rhetoric. When
the turkey hove in sight 1t was real
turkey. There was not thing on the
boards that was "just as good as II
was the genuine article.
Second and Third Helpin's
Honors were about even in the en-
gagement. for there was not enough
left for Mr.. Hoover TO get excited over,
but the banquet was arranged by New
York city's restaurant and hotel eX-
perts, who gagged the capacity OF each
encampment with a nicety due TO long
experience.
There was enough for second and
third helpings, and when the coffee and
cigarettes and cigars were distributed
every man in uniform was satisfied 10
take life easy for few minutes and
talk optimistically about the Giants
and Yankees, and even say good word
for the Superbas.
Shortly after : o'clock the honor
guests began to arrive at the armories
in automobiles The goddesses of
Broadway descended on the encamp-
ments with their fun making. For two
hours following stars in the theatrical
districts were scarce.
They were singing, playing, telling
funny stories. dancing and having the
time Of their lives performing for the
most appreclatlve audiences with which
an actor was ever blessed. The impro-
vision Of stage arrangements and the
good humor OF the audiences added 10
the success Of the evening.
In the open air encampments the
actors and singers performed their bit
on soapboxes and camp platforms, the
spotlghts being furnished by the lamps
Of the colonel's car. Each encampment
also contributed It's own actor or singer,
now in khaki, who hereafter will be
able 10 say truthfully that he appeared
with De Wolf Hopper, Raymond Hitch
cock. William Fields, Elsie Janis and
other stars.
5000 Dine in Van Cortlandt
In each Of the encampments the COM
pany units sat n their own tables. In
Van Cortlandt Park. where more than
5000 men and officers dincd. the tables
we're arranged N the street Of each
company, with the officers tables ad
joining. Except for the bill Of fare
and the flowers on the tables there was
no special dressing for the occasion.
The entertainment under the aus