The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-06
AROUND THE BANQUET TABLE.
The Commercial Traveller as He Enjoys the
Feast and OratOry.


The Commercial Traveller as He Enjoys the
Feast and OratOry.
more elaborate banquet than that to
which the travellers" and their friends set
down yesterday afternoon was never given
in Indianapolis. 1t was fitting finale to
the annual meeting of the association.
TOmlinsOn Hall, the banqueting place, had
undergone complete transformation since
the night before. The decorations elabor
ate for the ball, had been rearranged and,
if possible, made more attractive.
The stage was q veritable gar
den of living plants, banked against
q back-wall of evergreen. Evergreen
draperies hung from the galleries at every
point, and suspended from the chandelier
In the center of the hall was magnificent
bouquet of cut flowers of the choicest kind.
Above the stage there remained on the
national colors that inscription: Indiana
Commercial Travelers-WelcOme to ALL"
Twenty tables each half the length of the
room, occupied all the space in the hall.
At each were fifty plates, making a total of
just 1O00 The long tables were elegant in
their dressing. At intervals of every few
feet were huge bouquets of cut flowers, and
beside every plate was floral favor.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the galleries
were opened to the public, and from them
hundreds of citizens viewed the attractive
scene below. Of the many pretty appear
ances TOmlinsOn Hall has been made to as
sume within the last two years, certainly
none revealed the auditorium as it appeared
from the galleries, with its elaborate dec
orations and loaded tables awaiting the
banqueterS.
A few minutes after o'clock the doors to
the banquet hall were thrown open. The
orchestra on the stage, half hidden among
the green plants, began to play,
So many people with tickets made
the waiting long and tedious, and it was
not until nearly o'clock that all having
admission tickets were inside the hall. Of
fifty vacant, making a gathering around
the festive board of $50 people. Probably
One-third of those present were ladies.
Well distribu through the hall, they lent
beauty and enchantment to the picture. IL
Illuminating retectOrs were placed in the
galleries, and were turned upon the BAN
queters as soon as they were seated. The
room was made radiant with all the cOlors
of the rainbow, and the music by the or
chestra added to the attractiveness of the
scene.
The Rev. X. V. Hunter, pastor of the Sew
enth Presbyterian Church, invoked the
Divine blessing upon the gathering, and
then the astronomical programme was
gone through. 1t was satisfactory to those
with the sharpest appetite. The menu was
III six courses, and each course furnished
much that pleased all Thomas Taggart,
the caterer who prepared the spread" was
congratulated on every hand for the excel
lent manner in which he managed this feat
ure of the annual reunion. There were no
mellOwing influences in the way of old wines
from deep cellars, but as the feast pro-
crossed, minds began to sharpen, and by 5
o'clock, a flow of ideas was in order. The
orchestra played a fine selection, and the
banqueters pushed forward their plates,
leaned back in their chairs. and turned
their ears toward William e. Van Arsdel,
of Indianapolis, the toast master of the Oc-
casion. After few words of warm well
come to all those present. he introduced
Mr. L. j. Cook, of Indianapolis, who re-
sponded to the toast. The Commercial
Traveller" Mr.. Cook received hearty re-
glory. however insignificant it. might
the things written and said of him, as
on the manner in which he performed his
arduous duties, and the courage and push
with which he cOnquers trials and emer-
gencies he encounters. But few people
realized the important part the commercial
travellers performed in carrying on all the
vast commercial interests of the country.
They connected the importer, jobber and
manufacturer with the retail merchant.
They carried on not only an interstate but
an International commerce. He believed
that in every walk of life politeness and
| gentility were the winning factors. Com
~
| courteous and pleasant in their address to
| all whom they met. Though the field was
open to all, the demand for good statesmen
was greater than the supply. THE travel
| ing salesman" continued he, lis the ally of
| commercial enterprise, which i'll all ages
| has advanced civilization and elevated
man. Trained in his profession, learned in
| the study of human nature, well posted in
general and business information, he be-
| comes, rs "A rule. we'll balanced man, and
| man of sense and discretion; at least, un-
| der the same circumstances, i do not believe
| he would have written the Lord Sackville
letter. One of the strong characteristics
| of the commercial traveller is his hberality.
In all things he manifests charity. The in
| quiry with him is not so much what a man
| believes, but does he believe it.v
The lines of a travelling mans friendship,
| he said, eneircle men of every creed and
shade of opinion. The fraternity was the
outgrowth of commerce. and had gone hand
in hand with il in the grand march OF
| civilization. THE fraternity said he
was born In the land of the midnight sun
laway up in the northernmost part OF