The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-01-19
YOUNG MEN EAT.
Chatting Dish Party at the Pres
byterian Church.
Cartoonist Bowman, of the Minneapolis
Tribune. Gives Pleasing Enter.
tainment.

The chatting dish party given to the
young men at the Presbyterian church
Monday, by Rey. Lee w, Beattie,
assisted by a number of ladies, was
grand success. Mr.. Beattie had issued
1874 invitations and about 140 were
present The guests entertained each
other in the basement while the ladies
were engaged in making the lecture
room look beautiful. When everything
was arranged and all had been assigned
to tables, the gentlemen were invited
upstairs. There large number of
tables awaited them, all beautifully
decorated and elegantly appointed, and
each bearing a chatting dish at one
corner. There was profusion of cut
flowers. candlabra, etc, and the
general effect was very pretty. The
lecture room and small rooms adjoin-
ing were filled, and large number of
ladies looked down upon and evidently
enjoyed the scene from the gallery.
Each table was presided over by two
ladies, who attended to the chatting
dish and served the eight young men at
the table, while other younger ladies
waited on those having charge of the
tables. In this way everything went
along smoothly and the chatting dishes
were prepared without delay. The re-
freshments consisted of Welsh rarebit,
coffee and olives, and were served in a
very dainty manner
Following. the refreshments, a
musical program was carried out
Miss May Brett gave piano solo, Miss
Griffith vocal solo, and Mrs. FL. |.
Parry and Miss Olson a duet. Each
did so well that all of the numbers
were encored.
One of the principal features of the
evening was the appearance for the
first time before Mankato audience of
r. G. Bowman, cartoonist of the Min
neapolis Tribune. He did some rapid
and skillful crayon work, starting in
with "The Dog" and winding up with
the man whose hair was made to grow
and curl by hair restorer. Mr.. Bow
man did some very clever work. and
entertained the audience with side re
marks while he brought out his
pictures. He also read few selections
from his book of poems, ''Freckles and
Tan" to the delight of his hearers, who
called him back again and again. Mr..
Bowman stated that his book has had
greater sale in Mankato in proportion
to the population than in any other
part of the United States.
Rev. Beattie closed the program with
some remarks explanatory of the
motive for the gathering. He referred
to the need of more good fellowship in
the churches and the extending of a
welcoming hand to the young men.
He invited all present to meet Monday
evening next at 7:30 o'clock, when the
Young Mems league will be reorgan
lied. He also complimented the ladies
on their excellent services and the as
sistance which they had rendered
B. c. Taylor. on behalf of the gentle
men present, cordially thanked Mr..
Beattie and the ladies for the warm
welcome and pleasing entertainment
which had been afforded. He said
that he had put some thoughts into the
form of verse, which he would read.
They were as follows:
Here to the chatting dish and the alcohol lamp,
The dreams and the Nightmares and the ter
rible cramp;
But we young men, we mustn't complain
Nor speak in their presence of probable pain.
For the ladies might never do this again,
And what would we do for church sup
pers then?
For to us who are single and alone in the strife,
A good church supper is the boon of our life.
So here's to the ladies' o whose hospitable ranks
We now offer heart and stomach.felt thanks !;
And while I'm about it might intimate
That its barely possible at some future date,
If you ii give your help in preparing you a
feast,
We may ask you to come to it. hope so at
least
The matter of giving a return party
will be considered by the gentlemen
next Monday night.