Rock Island Argus., 1899-02-14

nerLsome Short Speeches Are Thrown
In.
Woodmen head office employees and
their friends were finely entertained at
Y. NJ. G. A. auditorium last evening
by the John Watson troupe of profes-
sionals, engaged to appear for this
special occasion by Head Clerk G. W.
Hawes and General Attorney j. q.
johnson. who provided the event as
an evidence of good Will toward and
appreciation of the office attaches.
The hall was filled with those in whose
honor the affair was given, their rela-
tives and friends. Prior to the
opening of the program, MIR. johnson
made short address in which he
spoke of the entertainment as having
been arranged by Maj. Halves and him
self as an evidence of gratitude to-
ward the employees for many acts of
good will, and n uniform disposition
to 90 beyond what was expected of
them in being thoughtful and oblig-
ing. I'VE are like one big neigh bor-
hood down ut the Woodmen office, "
said Mr.. Johnson. "A kindred feel
ing has made Us kind to each other,
he has got to fight the whole
crowd. For some time the
major and myself have been anxious to
arrange for something somewhat out
of the ordinary, if possible, to show
our own good will toward those who
constitute our neighborhood friends
down there. We are never lacking in
vocal music ut the head office. In
fact we are so frequently regaleG with
vocal melody by the more happy
hearted of our crowd that to attempt
anything in that line would be to
take chances on offering you some
thing that might not approach in ar
tistic merit what you are likely to
hear any day at headquarters. So
we hit upon this idea of an instru-
mental program which is about to be
presented, and which we have invited
you and your friends here to enjoy"
The program of the evening
was then given 1t included
clarinet solo by John Watson, who
proved a master of that instrument,
indulging in classic variations which
filled his hearers with rapture, and
proved a surprise to those who had
not before imagined it was possible to
get such wonderful sweetness of ex-
preston out of this single instrument;
piano selections of high order by E.
A. Patchen, whom the audience mar
veled was rival of Paderwiski,
and humorous recitations by the
graceful impersonator, Miss Ag-
mes Reid. Each of the entertaih-
ers, special artist, appeared several
times, and the frequent encores, to
which cheerful response was made,
spoke the audiences rare apprecia-
ton. f1G'
/ Words OF Good Cheer.
In an intermission in the program
Mr.. johnson introduced Rev. &. F..
Taylor, who made n few apt remarks,
speaking of the beauties of Woodcraft,
comparing its strong and enduring
teachings in honor, in patriotism, in
love of home and in modern ideas, to
the hardy lessons learned from the
real woodmen of the north, where he
had found, in his younger years in
the logging camps, men beneath
whose rough, hardy exterior were
clothed souls of honor hearts that
beat with patriotic ardor, and love of
those bound Ey the tenderest i'm
pulses and obligations. DR.. Taylor
closed with an eloquent benediction
on the order and those in any way
connected with its direction and en-
ploy.
Millard +. Stevens, chief bookkeeper
in the head office, was then introduced,
and made a neat address on the part
of the employees, speaking their ap-
probation of the entertainment pro-
vided in honor of themselves and
friends they were privileged to invite.
Such an evening, both in the nature
of the entertainment and in the spirit
responsible for it, would afford an in
spiration to all attaches to endeavor
to serve more faithfully in the future
the chiefs of the order who had thus
placed them under deep obligation,
and the great society which it was
always n source of pride to serve.
Rev. c. o. McCulloch, pastor of the
First NJ f. church, made brief re-
slider who had but glimpse of the
orders teachings. its methods of do
ing things. and of those connected
with its management which con-
nection he paid General Attorney
johnson \ handsome compliment
and vet he had learned in those small
opportunities to Judge enough to awak
en- in him desire to know more OF the
society and of those to whose hands
its affairs were intrusted. DIR. Nc
Culloch's remarks were 50 happy and
so well directed that there was consid-
cradle regret found that he did not
talk longer.
After the concluding numbers on
the program had been rendered the
audience dispersed, all complimenting
Messrs. Hawes and Jol n son for hav-
ing provided SO pleasant an even
ing
Directors NJ. Quackenbush. j. W.
White. j. N Reece. and b. ID. Smith