The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-20
SHELDON THERE.
Author of "In His Steps. Talks
to Kansas Writers.
Helps to Make Fourth Annual
Banquet a Success.
"a DAY IN LONDON. .
Poor Accommodations in the
House of Commons.
Other Interesting Features OF
the Event.

About sixty members and their
friends attended the fourth annuai
banquet of the Kansas Authors club
which was given at the rooms OF the
Z. w. C. A. last night. The guests
were seated along one long table at
the head of which sat former Senator
George P. Morehouse of Council
Grove. who acted in the capacity OF
POSTMASTER. Eugene F. Ware. who
was to have acted in this position. was
unable to be present and the duty
reverted to Mr.. Morehouse as vice
president of the club.
After an hour or so had been spent
In a social session in which the d1f-
ferent members were made acquainted
with each other, the guests arranged
themselves around the big banquet
table where tempting delicacies were
served. Unlike many banquets the
menu last night allotted each guest
enough to satisfy even the hugest
appetite.
In addition to Mr.. Ware, Judge Silas
Porter and Senator Fred Dumont
Smith were unable to attend, the for
mer on account of sickness which has
confined him to his home for several
days, and the latter owing to a large
lawsuit in Wichita. Mr.. Smith sent
letter of apology in which he advised
the Authors club to refund any money
which had been received through adj
vertising him as speaker and he
would stand good for the amount.
One of most interesting toasts on the
whole programme was that OF Dr.
Charles NJ. Sheldon, the preacher au-
thor, whose works have enjoyed cir
culation far beyond that of any living
author. DR.. Sheldon's subject was "A
Day in London DR.. Sheldon read a
little sketch of a day which he had
spent during his sojourn in London
last summer in the interests of the
temperance campaign. He dwelt most
1y upon the house of commons, where
he spent the greater part OF the day,
and his description of the meeting
place of the lower house of parliament
was especially interesting. This house
is a poor place according to DR.. Shell
don. There is an insufhciency OF light;
there are no desks for the members to
write upon and they must use their
silk hats or other makeshif for this
purpose. The speaker also dWelt upon
the different attitudes of the leading
London dailies to the cause of temper
ance. A meeting hall built by the dis
inherited son of a millionaire brewer
and dedicated to the temperance cause
wass described by Dr. Sheldon. zs 4
Mrs. B. B. Smythe recited ar original
poem entitled Woman in Science"
The poem was witty offering and
struck popular chord Mrs. Snythe
insisted that ever since Eve had tasted
the apple in the Garden of Eden and
had tempted Adam to do likewise, that
woman had natural craving for
science and could not desist delving in
It's different branches. However, she
believed that the most popular science
for woman is domestic science, and
that not very many of the sex are hap
by until they can receive the degree
IN. r. s.
Rev. S. s.. Estey, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church, delivered a short
address on George Eliot, the Teach
err" In the opinion of DR.. Estey,
George Eliot was a big Drained, COM
prehensiye woman who wrote for the
benefit of the cultured few and not for
the thoughtless many. He pointed out
the many teachings brought out so
strongly in her writings and especially
her emphasis of the sanctity of mar
riage. He regretted however that her
books lacked the religious phase as she
was q pronounced atheist in her relig-
ious conceptions.
Prof. W. L, Burdick of Kansas uni
versity responded to the toast, 1.-The
Kingdom of Literature" Prof Rurdick
delivered one of the best addresses on
this subject ever heard in Topeka He
made a plea for the standard MASTER
pieces Of literature instead of the mod
ern tendency towards fiction. The
works of ancient Greeks and Romans
were pointed out by Mr. Burdick as be-
ing sadly neglected as we'll as the Bible
which Prof. Burdick declared the
greatest piece of literature
Mrs. r. II. Morehouse sang Tosti's
''Serenade' and responded to an encore
Rev. John D. Knox offered an invoca-
ton. DR.. H. w. Roby, secretary of the
club, read a poem entitled 1.-THE Temple
of Liberty which was commemorative
of George Washington. Homer Hoch