The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-03

she appeared every one in the hall gave
three cheers for her.
AS it would not do to serve the ban
Uuet to few stragglers at a time the
first arrivals We're kept waiting out
side until the regiment could be gath
cred. AS fast as they could be gather
ed in the crowded lower corridors they
We're conducted by committeeman to
the corridor leading to the banquet
hall. 1t was a half hour from the time
the van guard arrived until the doors
We're opened. and in the meantime the
outside corridor became crowded with
hungry soldiers. They had been riding
on trains for nearly four days, had
been standing in line and parading for
several hours, and they were ready for
something to eat.
At last the doors were thrown open.
Two men stood at the entrance to stay
the crowd, and others counted off the
soldiers and allotted them to their
places. But they came faster than they
could be counted. Those near the door
tried to hold the others back but those
down the corridor could not understand
the reason of the delay and pushed
three men through space intended for
only one to pass. General Funston came
in with Governor Stanley toward the
last.
1t required several minutes for them
all to get in, but every man remained
standing until the corridor had been
emptied and each man was at his place.
Even after that stragglers who had be-
come Dl1XeQ with the crowd or VINO naQ
been looking for their friends, came
stringing in for Is minutes.
When they were once seated the eat
ables began to disappear rapidly. Little
was said, but every man devoted him
self to what was before him. 1t had
been impossible to seat the soldiers as
had been expected, but they were al
lowed to seat themselves as they pleas
ed. At the table Immediately in front
of the orchestra stand sat General Fun
ston, Governor Stanley, Chief Justice
Doster, General Hudson, General Met
calf and a few others.
Messages, telegraphic and otherwise
intended for the soldiers were sent into
the banquet hall Gen. Hudson an
nounced them and they were distribu-
ted. One old man who had not had an
opportunity to see his boy, sent in
word that he had to leave on a train in
a few minutes and wanted to see his
son. The boy jumped up from the ta-
BILE and made for the door. Meanwhile
the father had been brought inside. The
two greeted each other warmly, and
then the boy disappeared outside with
his father. Seeing his loved ones was
more important to him just then than
being banqueted.
Only about two-thirds of the boys
who came in on the trains attended the
banquet Many of them went with
their friends as soon as the exercises
were over. Others had baggage which
they had to look after preparatory to
leaving for their homes. Plates were
laid for $50, but there were less than
900 soldiers in the hall. AS fast as they
finished eating they left the hall in
squads to find the friends from whom
they had been separated for Is months
and to make preparations for going
home.
There were no speeches-the soldiers
We're not there to listen to any long
winded 'ftOasts,' but everything passed
off very pleasantly. The entire affair
reflected great credit upon the Grocers'
and Butchers association, which in
augurated it and prepared the entire
affair, and upon the ladies who had it
in charge.