The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-26
THE ]. C., It's GREAT
Travelling Men Arranged an Entertain
mbnt for the Business Men at
Mitchell Cub.
Cigars, Good Speeches and Songs Made
an Evening That Mill Long Be
Remembered.
Students Of Western Business College
Held Their Annual Banquet Last
Friday Night.
TRAVELLING MEN ENTERTAIN
TRAVELLING MEN ENTERTAIN
Had Business Men as Their Guest
at Mitchell Club Rooms Oh
Saturday Evening.

at Mitchell Club Rooms on
Saturday Evening.
That the talent Of the average
travelling man is not confined to
selling hardware, dry goods, cigars,
boots and shoes, groceries, tobaccos,
fruits, or whatever particular line he
may be engaged in was evidenced in
pretty strong terms at the smoker
given by the United Commercial
Travellers, Council of this city Satur-
day evening in the rooms Of the
Mitchell Club. An invitation had
been extended to all the business
men of the city to be present and
the resopnse was sufficiently large
as to please the hosts fully. The
first hour of the evening was devot-
ed to consuming the excellent cigars
that were passed around with a free
hand, and the indulgence in bill
lizards, cards, checkers. etc. By 9
O'Clock over 200 business and travel
ing men had assembled in the room
and an adjournment was taken to the
dance hall, where a program of great
excellence was furnished.
j. a. Keith acted as chairman Of
this part Of the evening and he
pushed along the. work in good shape.
Nichols's mandolin club was present
aud furnished several very excellent
selections on the program, respond
ing generously whenever called upon.
Ed. Leehan, secretary of the coun-
Gil, was called upon to deliver the
address of welcome and when be
faced that audience of 200 sympa-
thiZers in business matters he gave
them a talk that they will long re-
member. He said that for ten years
Mitchell has been the headquarters
for a certain number Of travelling
men, but that in the last three or
four years many angels Of commerce
had been thrown hither by reason Of
Mitchell's accessibility to the contig-
uous territory, by her splendid
churches, her excellent system of
schools and for her general --reputa-
tion as being a good town in which
to live and that the resident travel
ing men we're ready to welcome as
many who desired to come. MI.
Leehan said that he. believed.that
he voiced the sentiment Of the Jul
ell in saying that the friendship and
acquaintance that would be formed
by such a meeting will be beneficial.
"Bobbie'' Ward, was brought out
on the carpet to retail some of the
many good stories that he tells when
on the. road, when trains are late or
a long journey is to be made. Mr..
Ward has some great stories and he
emphasizes them by the manner of
telling them. Roars Of laughter and
applause greeted his efforts and they
fain would have kept him on the
rack much longer but Bob retired to
give others a chance.
Mayel ; lsby vas among the speak
ers OF the evening. and when he was
called out he referred to the time
when he was n Of the profesh.
That was away back in 1869, when
the travelling man was referred to as
simply a "bummer," and he thought
that the term IL a general way was
applicable. Mr.. Silsby said that
there has been a vast improvement
in the representative on the road,
and as a general rule the travelling
men today we're among the most con-
slant, energetic and hard working
class Of people that are engaged il
traffic. The mayor spoke highly of
the travelling men as residents and
while he was pleased lat the number
who reside here he said that there
was Don in Mitchell for three OF
four times as many.
c NJ. Blythe, who has a fine repu-
tation on the road as an elocutionist.
fully justified that reputation IN the
selection with which he richly enter
tanned his audience. The number
was Of a pathetic nature and the
manner in which he rendered it
made it thoroughly enjoyable. His
voice was attuned to the sympathy
of the selection and the applause
that followed his retirement from
the floor was a fine compliment to