Evening star., 1932-12-01
TESTIMONIAL FETE
HAS FINE PROGRAM
Lavish Entertainment and
Dancing PIanned-Hogan
to Read Tribute.
" YALTER PERRY JOHNSON
Az old Barney to you-is
through with the Wash
irntn,, nnrn nnn Club |, q

Az Old Barney to you-is
Y through with the Wash
ington Base Ball Club he
served SO faithfully through Is
years, but with Capital fandom he
Is not the forgotten man"
Tonight hundreds of followers
of the fortunes of the Nationals,
men and women, old and young,
will pay homage to the most re-
vered character of the national
pastime in a glowing public testi-
monial dinner to Walter at the
Shoreham Hotel.
Instead of farewell to the man who
as pitcher through 81 years and man
ager through five more brought fame to
the only MAJOR league ball CLUB with
which he e.er was affiliated, the infor-
mai function starting at 7:30 o'clock
has been planned as a godspeed to
Walter in the future. In every way the
testimonial dinner sponsored pv more
than $50 representative citizens of the
Capital is to be festive affair.
A s a token of the high regard they
"A have Tor johnson the fans are to
present a parchment engrossed
with tribute written by Frank j.
Hogan, internationally famous lawyer,
who will be toastmaster of the big base
ball party. The text Of the tribute
follows:
ITO Walter johnson:
"A quarter of a century has passed
into history since you came to Us from
the Iand where the ghosts of blfialoes
still dream. Had you been an ordinary
man Of your profession. you would have
heard our applause in your hours of
triumph and have witnessed our merci-
less thumbs down in defeat-and
passed into oblivion. But there was, and
there Is, nothing ordinary about you.
For more than 25 years you have
Lived in the glare of pitiless publicity.
And lived stainlessly.
Loyalty, fidelity. straightforwardness
calm Judgment, aiertness and patience
these have ever been your character
ktics
In victory. modest and generous
In defeat. undeunted, undismayed.
I'VE nave seen you when the tri-
umphSnS shouts of multitudeS swelled
into a roar end it seemed the very
skies with acclametion rang. Ana we
have been with you in tie hour of
sorrow and shared your grief.
You have been an example and an
inspiration to American boyhood.
Greater praise can be sounded Of no
man.
And SO at the end of quarter of a
century
THE citizens of the Nations Capital
salute you"
A PROGRAM of many numbers has
"A been provided for the entertain
ment Of the diners. Stage stars,
concert Singers and radio entertainers
have freely offered their services for the
greetest triumph, that In the last game
Of the 1924 wo-ld ceries that brought
victory over the Giants and Washing
tons first world championship in base
ball, will be exh bited.
But thereIl be no flood of speeches.
Other than Toastmaster Hogan's ad-
dress as he presents the parchment and
Johnson's brief acceptance response the
entertainment will be left to the pro-
fessionals. Among these will be Nick
Altrock and Al Schacht, Johnson's old
pals in base ball. and the national
pastime's greatest comedy team.
There1l be plenty of music. too, by
Barnees Orchestra and dancing from
IL until in the morning following the
dinner A musical feature will be the
'Walter Johneon March" composed
eSpecisllv bv Barnee, director of the
Shcrcham r1usicians.
From 7:21 o'c'~c,- when the ruests
ass~mh'e until 2 v-hc1 the dancing
ends. the te-tir1on:"l dinner premises
to be gala affair. the grea est tribute
ever paid sportsman who ever has
been a credit to his profession and to
Washington.