Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-03
THE BANQUET.
Young Men Feast Upon Choice viands and
Plan to Elevate Their Fellows.


his strength" and thereby hangs a
tale. Rev. Peterson of the NJ. E.
church is full of philanthropic. re-
ligious and other ideas, and he
conceived the notion, as a sort of
counter irritant to the evil influences
of certain club houses and loafing
places in the town. of establishing a
gymnasium and resort where young
men might congregate free from the
temptation to drink, gamble or other
forms of debauchery, and at the same
time enjoy the association of their
fellows in pleasurable way. With
this object in view he consulted some
of the young men in town and en-
listed their services in a scheme to
give banquet at the Witter House
to such young men as they should
invite where the plan could be most
favorably discussed.
Friday night the banquet took place
and in the language of the street it
was hummer. Some thirty odd
of the leading youngm of the city
were present and the good things of
the table faded like a beautiful
mirage before those fresh young
appetites. Then followed what some
ingenious phraSe-maker has termed a
"feaSt of reason and a flow of soul. +"
Rev. Peterson unfolded bis plan in his
direct and energetic way and called
upon his associates to discuss the
proposition and lend him the aid of
their counsel. They were not back
ward in doing so, and some ten or a
dozen present voiced their sentiments
on the floor of the dining room.
The result of the banquet and
conference is that a kind of club
house, euphoniously designated as
The Twentieth Century Place, is to
be established in the Wagner building
at the corner of Center and Front
streets on the east side, to be opened
sometime next week. Three rooms
are to be occupied as reading room,
lunch room and reception room under
the charge of Miss Fannie Palmer as
directress. Here the young men of
the city can assemble for consultation
or sOciability. In fact everybody will
be welcome here. Farmers from the
cOun Try can bring their lunches here
and eat them, if they don't care to
patronize the refreShment counter,
and it will be made respecta BILE
loafing place for people who have
little time at their disposal and dom t
know where to spend it agreeably.
The idea is that this is a preliminary
experiment to the gymnasium pro-
| ject spoken of at the beginning of this
article. If this meets with the
success desired the gymnasium
will certainly be undertaken at a later
date.
The charges at the lunch counter
will be SO regulated as to make it
only Self-suppOrting, and as a sample
of the prices expected to be established
we will say that cup of coffee and
two fried cakes will be given for a
nickle, cup of beef tea, 5 cents; cup
of hot water one cent, ETC., cut of
pie and cake at the usual prices.
Children under IA years will not be
allowed in the reading room unless
accompanied by their parents.
Donations of pictures, furniture and
bricabrac to decorate the rooms, will
be gratefully received. Those wishing
to make such donations should confer
with Rev. Peterson.
The plan looks feasible and is
certainly good in purpose and we hope
| to see it meet the success it merits.
| Watch for the announcement Of The
Twentieth Century Place.
"