Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-02-10
X. p. BANQUET.
Brilliant Social Event of the Season.
The Supper, the nusic, the
TOasts, the Dancing.

night was brilliant and most success
fal affair in every way would be but
common praise. It deserves higher tri-
butte. The organization and manage
ment to every detail brought enjoy.
ment to the guests and reflected credit
on the committees and on the order in
this city.
The threatening weather and bad
roads prevented the coming of a few
from the country, but those near enough
and in town did not think of these in
conveniences. The guests arrived at
from $50 to z o'clock. After laying aside
their wraps they assembled in the opera
house room. At about quarter past
seven the couples formed in line and
marched into the lodge room which had
been converted into an elegant dining
hall. To the time of music from the
orchestra the guests marched to the
tables and were seated. Under the glow
OF the electric lights, the beautiful cos
tunes of the ladies, the animated faces
OF the expectant guests, the futtering
here and there of the walters, most an
imated and beautiful scene was pre-
sented. There were nearly one humid
red and fifty plates laid. The capacity
OF the room was we'll tested. Beside
each plate was beautiful boquet and
program with X. P. design upon it.
The supper was most elegant and salts
tying and was served without confus-
ion but with dispatch.
The feature of the evening. the toasts,
now followed. r. c. Rice presided as
POSTMASTER and won laurels by the arm
full. His remarks were appropriate,
bristled with wit, were polished, and
were delivered with the ease and grace
for which Bob is becoming noted. He
first alluded to the object of the meeting
saying if it was only the devastation of
eatables we would not be above the In
dian savage, but that we could do more
than rudely eat, we could enjoy listen
ing to our orators. He therefore intro
duced the noted extemporaneous speak
er, f. E. Brainard, who would tell why
we were here. Mr.. Brainard unrolied
his manuscript, refreshed his lips with IL
glass of water and proceeded to read his
speech. He reviewed slightly the his
tory OF Pythianism and of Audubon
lodge, spoke of woman's large share in
affairs and of the probability of woman
suffrage prevailing soon when we would
all say we had favored it all the while.
The address was good and we'll received.
Toastmaster Rice being so much
pleased with the performance of Mr..
Brainard ventured to call another speak
err, whom he said would prove interest
ing If not instructive, an orator and a
ladies man, e. F. Dickinson, who would
speak on our better half. Mr.. Dick
inson in happy and quiet way delivered
some of the best hits of the evening. He
mixed humor and philosophy and pleased
the audience. He claims to have a grow
ing sensitiveness concerning the subject
of his fractional incompleteness. He
never understood why married life is
likened to marine voyage where there
is nearly always pathetic scenes of sick
ness. His attention had recently been
called to bill introduced in the Vir-
GINA legislature which would tax bach
elors. THE grand Old Dominion that
had so often re-echoed with Patrick
Henry's glorious sentiment, give me
liberty or give me DEATH Ye Gods!
Prevent statesman Kelly from obtaining
the thought He paid woman beauti-
full tribute and showed that the great
story upon which the order of knights
of Pythias is founded shows her as the
cause of it's enactment.
Mr.. Rice was surprised at the speech
of Mr.. Dickinson and told good story
OF an Irishman at sea, who was astonished
to see there was so much in his friend.
Mr.. Rice then happily introduced Mrs.
j. F. Russell who spoke on "secret socie-
ties from woman's standpoint" She
started out to prove by argument and
demonstration that she could not make
speech. OF course she knew nothing
of the secret workings of the X. P. lodge,
therefore could give no opinion, but she
did know about the Columbian Club and
considered it the greatest secret order
of the times. She discussed woman's
power of arriving at conclusions after
the evidence was all in and made talk
most sparkling and entertaining.
The quartet failed to materlaze and
Mr. Rice sized them up gracefully and
appropriately. L. d. Phelps was then
called out to speak on fads. He was
described as one who makes long trips
to learn of the latest fads. Mr.. Phelps
was inclined to treat his selection as a
joke and to make the joke more CON-
plete cut his speech pretty short. Mr..
Rice said this convinced him that he
who knows the most about a subject