Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-03-13
Gift From Local
Elks to Thomas
P. Gable
ENTERTA|NS At BANQUET
Representative Citizens Gath
er Around Festal Board
and Have jolly Time.
Fill your glass up to the brim;
'Tis near the mystic 'leven;
And drink a toast to him,
Whose age Is fifty-seven.

Whose age is fifty-seven.
The foregoing stanza was the con-
Guiding verse of an anonymous origi-
nal poem which was dedicated to
Thomas p. Gable, the genial manager
Of the Hotel Claire, and was read at
banquet he gave at the Claire cafe
last night to present and prospective
brothers of Santa Fe Lodge No. AGO,
B. p. O. Ellls. 1t goes without the
saying that the injunction was re.
sponded to with right good will. Being
Elks, of course II was a strictly stag
affair.
Mr.. Gable was presented during the
course of the evening with hand
some silver loving cup of massive de-
sign as birthday token from his
fraters and friends, the presentation
speech being made in few well
chosen words by the exalted ruler Of
the local herd of Elks. The host was
not expecting anything of the kind
and was taken completely by surprise,
but he rose to the occasion gracefully
and gave voice to his appreciation of
the gift. 1t was happy little speech
which came straight from the heart.
Decorations Were Artistic.
Mr.. Gable had neatly printed invi-
tations for the affair which facetlously
informed those bidden to dine with
him that he was celebrating his es-
cape from justice for tifty-seven years.
Two half tone pictures appeared on
the invitations, one showing mein
host as he looks today, and the other
reproduced from photograph taken
when he was baby. The Elk idea
was carried out very artistically in
the decorations of the dining room
on the north wall being an elk head
and clock studded with tiny electric
lights. Crepe paper stars in vari
gated colors with electric lights in
the center formed a border along the
side walls, and red paper bells with
incandescent clappers hung cross
wise overhead. Place cards bearing
an elk head and to which were at
tached a miniature stein served as
dainty souvenirs of the occasion
At eleven o'clock the lights
were turned out with the ex
ception of those outlining the dial or
the clock and with Elks' milk all
quaffed silent toast to the absent
brothers who had been gathered tt
the fold.
Hon. James Wallace Reynolds Off
ciated in the capacity of toastmastel
and started things off in smooth flow
ing phrase He raped for erdel
with butchers cleaver adorned witt
a purple ribbon symbolic of the Elks
The meat axe it is understood wa.
later presented to the host or thu
victim, and he did not get 1t in thu
neck either. Mr.. Reynolds was grave
and gay as the changing topics war
ranted, and the toasts delivered rang
ed from the sublime to the ridiculous
with merry quips and jests to adj
spice to the occasion. incidentally {
number of songs were sung by th'
vocalists of the jolly little crowd IL
which all joined in the chorus.
Gathering a Representative One.
The guests numbered about sixt,
and were seated at long table in th,
shape of a "U" Among those gath
cred around the festal board were ,
number of the leading merchants
physicians, lawyers and followers o
other professions, including thos
holding federal and territorial posi-
tions. 1t was indeed representative
gathering which had assembled to as
sist in celebrating the birthday of on
Thomas P. Gable, alias John Doe
alias Tommy Taggart, and a few othe
pet names his joke loving friend
have conferred upon him.
Among those who made short ad
dresses were Hon.. Thomas B. Catron
Colonel George w. Prichard A. B
Renehan, Robert c. Gortner, Captain
David ]. Leahy of Las Vegas; Dr.
James A. Massie, Colonel Edmund c
Abbott, Charles +. Easley, John W
March, Alfred M. Bergere, and DR.. j
H. Sloan. Jose d. Sena and A. l
Morrison, Jr., favored the compan
with vocal solos, the former singin
two Spanish songs. A stringed OF
chestra furnished music during tn
discussion of the spread and later a
intervals while the oratory was bein
turned loose.
The first four speakers had bee
assigned special subjects as thai