Democrats from all over the country were invited to a grand reunion. This reunion, we learn from the newspapers of those days, was the most famous yet given by the Manhattan Club. In one account we read how, though "eminently Democratic" as the Club was, the throng on that notable evening was by no means democratic in appearance, if that meant "the great unwashed," but was composed of "gentlemen in full evening costume, including the par excellence swallowtail coat, white choker, and light kid gloves." The imposing rooms were, it is recorded, most splendidly decorated, the national colors festooning the columns of the reception-rooms, draping the walls and outlining the doors, gorgeous candelabra flashing down their lustre from every ceiling. One reporter waxed critical concerning the curtains, which, he informs us, were of gauze spangled in every hue,— a trifle theatrical, he thought, and "in the 'Black Crook' style," then the vogue. While he was not fond of so much red in the club-house furnishings, he reluctantly admitted that it had a most brilliant effect. Leading Democrats from all over the Union are described as strolling up the winding stairway, arm in arm, in those same swallowtails, chokers, and light kids, pausing to inspect the portraits of John Van Buren and Chancellor Roberts,-evidently hung upon the wall of the stairway,making their way by the band playing democratic airs in the upper hall to the adjacent parlor, where, at nine, began the speeches. Mr. Augustus Schell, then President of the Club, took his place as master of ceremonies on a carpeted dais at the end of the room, near a table decorated with one of the huge, stiff bouquets of that period, to welcome the visitors. Reading the report of his speech to-day, it is easy to supply the date of the fulfilment of his prophecy that events were moving rapidly and logically towards the rise of Democracy again to power. Speeches through which sound the echoes of the guns of the Civil War, replete with political references which fall dead to-day, then followed,-Amasa J. Parker, Senator Bayard, Judge John McHenry, Mr. Fitch of Nevada, Mr. Smith of Vermont, the orators,—and two hundred letters, full of the rising leaven of Democracy, were read from leading Democrats of every State, unable for various reasons to be present. References to affairs in Louisiana made the roof of "No. 96" echo with Democratic cheering. After the supper-pronounced "very fine”—certain gentlemen, catching sight of S. S. ("Sunset") Cox, fell upon him with cries of "Speech! Speech!" but to no avail. Chief in that throng of Democrats of '74 moved Samuel J. Tilden, the man in whom many New York Democrats saw the coming triumph of Democracy. Near by was the delightful John Hunter, and not far away the equally charming William C. Wickham; while mingling in the throng were General Elijah Ward, Congressman Robert B. Roosevelt, ex-Senator Ben Stark, Smith M. Weed, General Duryea, Judge J. J. Freedman, Judge Kilbreth, and John T. Hoffman. Some eight days later, probably as an outcome of the reunion, a committee was appointed to draft a circular to be sent to prominent Democrats throughout the United States, inviting them to become out-of-town members of the Manhattan Club. The next considerable political reception was given, December 29, 1874, to Tilden and Wickham, at that time the hope of the Democratic Party, and respectively Governor and Mayor-elect of New York. The affair was much talked of, and on the night in question gas-jets blazed out the monograms of the guests to the public. Mr. Augustus Schell having resigned as president, it was Mr. August Belmont who presided over this reception, pro |