Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-18
NIGHT AT THE CLUB
First Annual Banquet Largely At
tended and Greatly
Enjoyed.
WITTY SPEECHES AND MUSIC
Program Carried Out After a Fine
Feast-What Was Said
and Done.
WITTY SPEECHES AND MUSIC

Feast-What Was Said
and Done.
Rock Island Club members held A
social just among themselves at their
elegant club house last evening that
Will go down in history as one of the
memorable occasions of that organ
ization. Fully one hundred and fifty
gentlemen responded to the summons
of the entertainment committee,
Col. {. w. Durham. j. +. Darby and
Abe ROsenfield, and it is hardly nee
essary to state that no one was sorry
that he was numbered among those
present. The affair was announced
as the first annual banquet for the
club membership. From till 10
luncheon was served in the reception
and dining rooms, where tables were
nicely arranged by Steward T. H.
Wey, whose corps of walters was
kept on the move until the formal
program was announced in the bill
lard parlurs-which had been ar
ranged for the purposes of the occa-
sion.
gotten up an unique invitation in
which the names of those on the set
part of the program were builded
upon to a considerable extent, Chaun-
cey Depew Medill being toastmaster,
Patrick Henry Banding orator, Long
fellow Tennyson Connolly poet. Ban
croft Maclay Mitchell historian and
De Reske Mario Colligani chorister.
The instrumental part of the enter
tainmcnt was furnished by Bleuer's
orchestra under the efficient direction
of Prof {. f. Toennigcs, who did him
self and those assisting him proud i'm
the array of excellent selections
given.
Orator Comes First.
After Toastmaster Medill had call
ed the asSemblagc 10 order and eN-
planned what they were there for
to observe the first of what he hoped
would be regular annual affairs in
the years to follow-he introduced l..
{. Handing, who delivered a beauti-
full Grafton. taking for his
text the inscription written in the
temple of Apollo. Know Thyself."
from which he drew TN inspiring les
son, full of bright thoughts and wis
dom along the line Of the pursuit of
success and happiness.
Il. ID. Connolly recited an original
poem in which he firmly established
himself as poet-laureate OF the club.
introducing i'm clever rythm the~fea-
lures and names of some of the more
familiar members around the. club
house.
Phil MitcheH's historical effort was
nicely conceived, treating of the club
and its accomplishments from it's in
ception to date. not only in it's own
behalf, having acquired the magnifi-
cent house and grounds, but to the
extent in which it had fulfilled its
mission in the community, socially
as far as the enjoyment of its mem
bers is concerned. and in a public
spirited way in Identification with all
movements looking to the uPbuilding
of the city.
Visit From Prince Henry.
Il Love You. Dear, and Only You
from the Burgomaster, and Carrie
were sung by j. NJ. Colligan, with
orchestral Accompaniment after which
one of the real treats of the evening
came in the Introduction of Col.
Durham. who had the first of a num-
Der of toasts that followed the set
program. The toast Nas of his own
choosing and he termed it ''Medill's !
Dream" an imaginary story of a visit |
of Prince Henry to this city for the |
purpose of cementing the relations
between the Rock Island Club and |
the German empire. The colonel |
told, in his inimitable style. of the |
coming of the prince, his reception
ana the gorgeous procession escort |
ing him from the depot to the club
house, in which the names of prac-
ticalIy the entire club membership |
were employed, given in divisions, |
all attired in ludicrous> cos tune. The |
visit. concluded with a. reception at |
the club to his royal highness, and |
the colonel referred to
that had been carried /
on by cable between the emperor and /
Mr.. MedilI. Then the president of
the club woke up. 1t was a talk that /
was extremely witty and original
Next there was a selection by the
after which +. w. Bahnsen
to the toast The Social
Side of the Club in which he told
Of social advantages afforded by MEM
bership in the club and of the ac-
of the club for the
furtherance of public interests. clos
ing with pretty poem appropriate
to- the sentiments he gave expression
to.
Tells About Committees Curves
j. +. Darby responded for the enter
tainmcnt committee. giving a very
happy talk on the part the committee
had taken i'm preparation for the
evenings entertainment, diyulgine
some of the proceedings of the COM
mittcc meetings. and explaining how