The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-15
HAD A JOLLY time
Kansas Authors Club Enjoys an
Evening at Banquet.
Second Annual Dinner Is Voted
a Success.
THEY'RE A TESTY LOT.
Authors on Programme Stay
Away, Offering No Explanation.
Their Places Are Happily Filled
by YJluls85rs.
THEY'RE A TESTY LOT.

All sorts and conditions OF authors
and their friends to the number of a
hundred, among whom were as many
women as men, participated in an cpl
curean and literary jubilee last night
at the Y w. c. A. rooms. 1t was the
occasion Of the second annual banquet
OF the Kansas Authors club and was
most enjoyable affair from the begin
ming to Che end. There was an infor-
mai reception before the feast when in
PRODUCTIONS were general. And afterfthe
spread which was most Gclectable
there was an effervezce1ce of post
prandial delights in the way Of brilliant
addresses. delivery of poems, and the
rendition Of musical numbers
Real authors as rule are q dull sort
for the hoi pclloi to congregate with.
They are generally most self con
scious lot OF individuals who seem to
ever realize that their words of wisdom
and Wit oft times alleged, have a mar
Eet value and they are always lOath to
disseminate them IN "a prOmlscuOus way.
But there was not a duh moment at the
AFFAIR last evening. This was due per
haps TO The fact that many of the real
authors of KaIsas, who had promised
70 grace the banquet with their pres
ence and display The beauties of their
nimble minds, stayed away. These in
cIuded w. T. Morgan, Of Hutchinson,
who obtained enough ideas on a trip
abroad 10 write a book Governor r.
Nv. Hoch, an author as yet in embryo,
he having announced his intention to
pass his declining days in counting the
muse of literature; J. Elmer House,
who recently dug with some success
eat the Grass Roots" Ewing Herbert.
of HfaWatha. country editor; David
Overmyer. a writer of legal briefs, and
q. A. MCNeal, author of divers editor
aals for the edificatiOn OF farmers. All
of these gentlemen had promised to be
present. said the president. and had
been assigned to toasts. Mr. Morgan
and Mr.. Herbert deigned to
send regrets. The others were
not heard from until three OF them were
called up by phone a few minutes be
fore the festivities began for the pur-
pose of finding out what was delaying
them and the responses in each case
we've simply that they could not come.
But perhaps after all they were not
missed.
Under ordinary circumstances and
with ordinary persons the sudden refusal
of six out of nine speakers to fulfill
their promises would mean that the in
teresting part of a banquet would be
failure. But authors or WOuld-be auth
ors are not ordinary individuals. They
are used to surmobnting all sorts of
difficulties. They gre frequently Gem
PEELED to murder figures of speech and
rules of rhetoric to express a thought,
They are wont to indulge in all sorts of
licenses and liberties, poetical and 9th
erWise, and they always have ideas. So
when the regrets were received from
Mr.. Herbert and Mr.. Morgan, DR.. Henry
w. ROby, president of the club, and
POSTMASTER at the banquet, and the
members OF the committee having the
affair in charge. took the liberty Of ask
ing others to substitute at short notice
for the two who sent word that they
could not come. Then the idea Oc-
Cured that others on the programme
might fail by the Wayside at the elev-
enth hour, so the services of others were
secured. it being thought better to have
a programme a tTifie too long rather
than one q good deal-t9o. short And
IN view of the fact that four of the
speakers, who live right here in town,
did fail to appear, this idea was good
one ard were it not for the fact that
q programme of the speakers, who did
not come was printed in the menu card,
no one present would have thought that
the programme given was not the or
iginal one. so smoothly was it present
ed, and SO delightful and interesting
were all of the numbers
1t had been announced that the fes-
tivities were to begin at Z O'Clock and
by that hour about 100 men and women,
quite a few of them members of the
Authors club, but the great majority
being friends Of the members and rep
reseDting the social professional and
business interests of the city were hold
ing sweet converse in the Y. W. c. A.
parlors.
terested in literature. whether as au-
thors or students, there could be no
doubt During the wait OF an hour be-
fore the banquet began and which was
incident to the failure Of some Of the
prominent speakers to put in an appear
ance, the party split UP in little groups,
where authors and their books were dis
Cussed. One young lady mystifed her
friends trifie by telling them Of the
delights she experienced I'm Wondering
over Sanskrit tones. Another started
% dissertation on esoteric cults which
became little vague as 1T progressed.
whispers were heard on all sides.
e'P1ease point out a real author to me %
and there was great cIaning of necks
and looks Of dism6y in the efforts to
md one. A would be humorist suggest
ed that there were q number Of men
present who might lay claim to being
authors in view of the fact that they
have written many life and fire insur-
ance policies.
When the company was finally seated
at the banquet tables a pleasing scene
was presented There was one long ia
bic running nearly the length Of the
room and at either end were two small
er tables. StreWn on the tables were
carnations and ferns which were given
to the women. who in their gay gowns
and multi-colored furbelows. set Off by
the eombre attire OF the men. made a
brilliant picture. A flne repast was
provided and was served promptly and
ia a most dainty fashion. Following
was the menu:
waters Oyster Soup Olives
Roast Beef and Brown Sauce
Potato Croquettes Rolls
Dreamed Peas
Pineapple and Celery Salad
Cheese Straws. Pickles
Caramel Ice Cream Assorted Cakes
Coffee.
p S.-The oyster soup became con
gsaled during the delay and was served
as scalloped oysters
after the tables had been cleared Prof
Harvey Worrau and Mrs. Worrau play
cd q couple Of duets on. the plano. Sc
fectfonN from "u Trovatore' and quick
step. Neck and Neck which were