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VOL. XXVIII. No. 15.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, April 15,1899.
THE BANQUET AT WASHINGTON,
The social function of the Piano Manufacturers' National Associ-
ation held in the Arlington at the Capital of the
Nation. Speeches by distinguished guests
and association members.
After the menu had been
discussed at length, President
Miller, acting as toast-master,
said:
PRESIDENT MILLER:—Gen tie-
T H E banquet hall
* of the Arlington
at Washington pre-
sented a remarkable
and inspiring sight
L
on Wednesday evening,
the occasion of the ban-
quet of the National Pia-
no Manufacturers' Association. The whole
effect might be likened unto a beautiful
glen, as the tables and walls were cov-
ered with trees and vines, presenting
almost a woodland effect. The tables were
half hidden with ferns, while here and
there were sunbursts of tulips of the red,
white and blue colors, and American
beauty and Dewey roses. Colored electric
lights were distributed throughout the
trees and vines so that the whole made a
beautiful symphony— a banquet poem.
With such a setting the quotation from
Carlyle, which appeared on the menu card,
was singularly appropriate:
"See deep enough, and you see music;
the heart of nature being everywhere
music, if you can only reach it."
menu
Cape Cod Specials
Sherry
Clear Turtle Soup
Chablis
Filet of Sole, Tartar Sauce
Potatoes Parisienne
Young Lamb, roasted
Mint Sauce
Green Peas
Claret
Sweetbreads, en Coquille a la Parisienne
LALLA ROOKH PUNCH
Ruddy Ducks, broiled
Currant Jelly
Pommery Sec
Fresh Asparagus
Hominy Cakes
Veuve Clicquot
Cheffonade Salad
Neapolitaine Ice Cream
Strawberries
Fancy Cakes
Coffee
Cigars
men : I have felt to-night as if I
were a younger man; the sur-
roundings here this evening—
with the memories of this won-
derful city — the inspiration
which conies from the presence
of the guests who have honored us to-night
with their presence and in view of the
pleasures of this day in meeting gentlemen
of the trade from various sections of the
country—these things might possibly in-
duce me to undertake something which I
might afterwards regret—the making of an
additional speech when I have already
done so much talking to-day. So I rather
feel that I should profit by the experience
which comes to us as we grow older and
should confine myself to the function
which properly belongs to a presiding
officer—leaving it for others to do the talk-
ing and to say to you perhaps many things
in a much better way than I could say
them.
But I cannot help extending first of all a
most cordial welcome to the guests of the
association who have honored us to-night
with their presence and to the guests of our
members whom we are so glad to have
with us.
There has been some little disappoint-
ment in connection with some of the speak-
ers whom we had expected to have with us
but who, from various causes, have been
prevented from coming. We should all
have been proud to have with us President
McKinley (applause) but other engage-
ments prevented his coming. We had
hoped to have with us Vice-President
Hobart (applause) but his health would
not permit him to attend. We have, how-
ever, letters from both of these distin-
guished gentlemen; and I will ask our
secretary to read them.
The secretary read the following letter
from the President of the United States:—
$2.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir:—I beg to \LBk^<^{Oflj|>».*rTe recei
of your courteous letter dflfltjer-'i£>tn y^tant wit^
enclosures, the contents of"fohich have 'been.mare
fully noted.
I
• •*.***_ ^O**^
Owing to engagements arread^rfi
the President regrets that he will b_tT uitaTHe to be
present at the banquet of your association in Wash-
ington on the evening of April 12th.
Assuring you that the very kind invitation ex-
tended to him is appreciated, believe me,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Geo. B. Cortelyou,
Assistant Secretary to the President.
Mr. Calvin Whitney, Norwalk, Ohio.
The secretary also read the following
letter from the Vice-President of the
United States:—
Vice-President's Chamber,
Washington, March 31,1899.
Robert C. Kammerer, Esq.,
New York City, N. Y.
Mr. Garret A. Hobart regrets that the state of
his health is such that he cannot accept the kind
invitation of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association of America for Wednesday, April the
twelfth, at half-past seven o'clock.
PRESIDENT MILLER:—One of the pleasant
features of our dinner to-night is that we
have with us representatives from the as-
sociations of other cities—among them a
representative of the Piano Trade Associ-
ation of Philadelphia which has an envi-
able reputation for the good work it is
doing and the good fellowship which it
seems to have engendered. We are highly
pleased that the association has sent to us
as a delegate a gentleman from whom we
have heard before. We were more than
pleased with what that gentleman had to
say to us in Boston; and it is, therefore,
with very great pleasure that I introduce
to you Mr. James G. Ramsdell of Phila-
delphia.
VASRINGTON