The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-17

ezra AendalI, who Is In Topeka today
t. .54r4ose OF alta etcLIns sEs
many dollars into the Crawford box of
ice as possible, and then to please and
entertain the former possessors of those
dollars inside the theater. is the only
living person who still holds and recog-
nfzes his membership in the Throat
Latch club of Topeka.
There are other members but some
are dead and those who are living do
not boast that they belong to the or
ganization, but Kendall never forgets to
refer to the club whenever he visits To-
peka.
Years ago, before Kendall arose to the
position he now holds on the comedy
stage, he was playing in a farce enti-
tied "a Pair of Kids He played 1t
for some Is seasons and the theater
managers used to expect Kendall in the
farce every season just as regularly as
they expected New Years.
In his role in the farce. Kendall was
required to make uD with a false string
of whiskers. from ear to ear. under his
CHR. Wniskers of the regular "Eben
Holden" sort that stick straight out in
front like a phalanx of bristling porcu-
pine quilts.
During the season of 18S4-5, or there
abouts, Kendall came to the Grand, as
usual, with his Pair of Kids" He wore
the same style of throat latch whiskers.
Among those who saw the performance
'
familiarly known, as ''Bilp' McCarty.
After the performance Wood and Nc
Carly decided to show their appre-
citation of the humor dispensed by Ken
name it the Throat Latch club in
honor Of the comedians whiskers. The
rules and regulation required that all
members of the club allow their whisk-
ers to grow throat latch fashion from
that time, November. until the following
May.
Wood and McCarty decided who
should be the members. They elected
DonnatuS O'Brien, a genial Irishman, to
be president of the club and provided
that as mark of distinction from the
common members that the president
should be allowed to dye his whiSkers
green if he so desired. Charles Hopkins
was elected vice president. w. W.
Gavitt was made secretary and treas
urer and Ezra Kendall was elected to
an honorary membership. (The rules OF
the club provided that all persons eject
ed to an honorary membership mus
serve a banquet to the club once a year,
The principal rule Of the club was that
every member should pay a forfeit or ali
oyster supper to all the other members
of the club. should he shave his wills.
kers before the next May.
The practical jokers Wood and Nc
Carly, furnished the full list OF mem
bership, one hundred or more, ana the
rules and regulations. to the papers and
they were printed. Then Wood and Nc
Carly were hunted by Infatuated persons
who, according to the story in the pa
pers, were to let their whiskers grow.
About the biggest joke connected with
the affair was the seriousness with
which Kendall looked upon the club. He
saw it mentioned in various newspaper
He wrote a lengthy and very fiowery
letter to the president of the club, ac-
cepted his honorary membership and
felt proud of the honor. Every year that
Kendall comes to Topeka now he will
say to some one: "a club was formed
here in my honor when l played A Pair
of Kids here in the eighties
The club is no more, except in the
mind of Kendall.
The members have gone. mccarthy
died a few weeks ago in Denver hos
pital after suffering for months with
cancer of the throat. Hopkins is in
f! Cohoes, New York.
Since the BARRIERS have raised the
price of shaves to Is cents Wood and
Kendall might start a throat latch
whisker club today and recruit some
members.
The Topeka Daily Commonwealth OF
June Is. 1876, contained a notice of the
! most one-sided game of base ball proba-
bly, on record. The score was 60 to 0.
| The following is from a. copy of the
! Commonwealth telling of the game
! Following is the score of the game of
base ball, played yesterday, between the
| Centennials of Indianola and the West
erns of this city:
WESTERNS OF TOPEKA.