The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-13
WAS THE BIGGEST ONE.
The Largest Banquet Ever Seen in
Kansas
WAS The DRUMMERS FEAST

When They Are On Duty.
There were nine long tables in Hamil-
ton hall last Saturday night On them
we're laid nearly six hundred plates for
the Kansas drummsrs and their friends
and there were less than one hundred
vacant chairs.
It was the closing feature of the most
successful and pleasant meeting the
travelling men of Kansas ever had ana
was what is known in Kansas as "dry
banquet There was not drop OF any
thing intoxicating anywhere in sight
Half of the number were ladies, and
charming ladies they were. They looked
even better, if possible, than they dld al
the ball, and that is saying great deal
indeed It was as handsome and well
dressed throuo as ever assembled in To-
peka, and really the largest banquet
Kansas ever had.
The menu was particularly good one.
The menu was as follows:
Cold Tongue. Cold Ham,
Boned Turkey.
Olives. Redishes.
Tomatoes, Chicken Salad,
French Dressing Saratoga Chips
Strawberries. MerHngues.
Chocolate Cake. White Cake.
Macaroons.
Cheese. Coffee. Crackers.
Sailed Almonds. Fruits
For an hour they Toasted and laughed
and talked, and it was 1890 before the
toasts began.
Grand Councillor W. F. TuttIe is an
excellent POSTMASTER. he Sc ems to
know how it is done He made the
usual apology for his appearances and
insisted that the greatness had been
thrust upon him.
Supreme Councillor A. ]. Dowd of
Chicago responded first to the toast,
why are we Councilors?" Mr.. David
was full of good things about the travel
ing men. and let them bubble out in an
easy manner That's d way AIr Dowd
has and 1t makes him popular.
Mr. Kimbail, grand conductor was
next introduced, and said among other
things:
ave are proud to say that we are
Kansans, that We live here, own property
here, and educate our children here.
We do not belong to that class of val
lures that swoop down on Kansas when
crops are good, but are ever ready to
desert her when the hot winds scorch the
SOIL"
In introducing o. E. Comsiock of
Hutchinson. Mr.. futile said: 81 shall
next introduce a man whose nationality
you will all recognize from this story of
national brilliancy: He went into a post
office in a country town recently and
said to the postmaster, 'Ay 3ank ma, Ay
got lettar here fer ma What's your
name? asked the postmaster 'Ay tank
ma 20 fin heem on lettar,' said he This
gentleman is known among the boys as
haute Nelson, and will talk about our
order"
Gay tank" said Mr.. Comstock. as he
arose TO his smooth faced six feet. SAY
tank eet poota hard on ma to have to
make Won spach ven Ay don know vat
Ay goin' say.
an lot Teller coined in dere an das ees
vat ca said: Vas order you belong tor
Ay toll tam Ay bane belong to Salvation
Army an PrOhibeeshun party, an day
said Coon long nit oos' Ay tank das
bane mebbe bald stool but Ay go long.
Day goin' 'neeshate ma, da say. Da
stan me on ma hade cen corner an go
down town after dem sometang. A bane
gone long tame an den da stan ma on
ma feet an day say, da blud he run to
das hade. den why hs not run to das
feet, now" Ay say Ay bane 'sprised at
das eggnorance. Ma feet ez not boiler,
and dan da sa somtang foney an day
laff"
MIR. Comstock then finished his speech
in the language of the Kansan though
he was afraid his selection was a case of
the office seeking the man and that it
had found a chump. The audience
didn't seem to think SO, however, for it
applauded heartily.
Mr. Cutler of Lawrence, who hoped
every member Of the U. c. T. would get
to heaven responded to the toast "Our
Customers"
1t was the pleasure and honor of Mr..
X. s Groin of Concordia council to re-
spond to that prolific toast, Tho La
dies" and he did amid applause that
had the true ring of appreciation fro m
the men. He spoke of the travelling
Iealeslady.
''She is lady" he said, "and we help
'ner when we meet her. We make her
way as pleasant as we can, but it is a
position woman is entirely united for.
He also spoke of the wives and sweet
hearts, and said:
some malicious person has said that
ne have sweetheart in every town. IF
1t Is fact, am sure we love them all
ana NE certainly never have TWO sweet
hearts In the same town"
There was an attempt to encore Mr
Groin, but he would not respond.
w. ]. Kendrick of Wichita responded
TO "The Head of the House."
In responding to the toast, "ATv First
Trip" & B. Burnell of the CLAY Center
council went back some thirty years.
when l came out of the army" he
SAID, u concluded that I was too lazy to
De physician, too honest to be a LAWYER.
not crafty enough to be politician. and
not good enough to be a preacher, and I
.aardiy knew what I should do to be
saved. l finally concluded I would be a
travelling man.
AT that time there were not many
commercial travellers. was introduced
70 the head of a New York firm. He
was Baptist deacon who contributed
~ q.