The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-25
HAD 4 JOLLY TIME
Visiting Merchants Entertained
at Mammoth Banquet.
Lafayette Young of Iowa the
Guest of Honor.
MANY GOOD SPEECHES
After Dinner Orators Are Heard
at Their Pest.
Governor w. r. Stubs Discuss.
es the Square Deal.
Entertainers Help to Make the
Event Memorable.

At o'clock last night the doors OF
the big Audit~-ium were thrown open
and in a half hour almost 1000 mer-
chants from over the state of Kansas
sat down to an deliberately decorated
and prepared banquet table set for
them by their hosts the Topeka Job
bers' and Manufacturers association.
The banquet last night was the crown
ing event of Merchants Week in To-
peka and was undoubtedly the great
est banquet of its kind in the history
of the state of Kansas. Never before
have 1000 prosperous well to do mer-
chants from all over this state gath
cred together in such a love feast and
never before have they beheld such a
banquet as was served them last night.
The Auditorium was decorated in
the same color scheme which prevailed
all over the city-red, white and blue.
The banquet tables extended all over
the first floor of the big building and
there were enough there to seat the
1000 people last night and some besides.
Upon the platform We're situated the
tables for the honored guests and
speakers and the officials of the job
bers' and Manufacturers association.
These tables with their little American
flags sticking out of every bun and
their masses of flowers presented a rare
appearance-one that has never been
known before in the history of the
Auditorium.
And Kansas Is A Great State"-this
was the lettering of mammoth motto
hung just above the top of the big pipe
organ last night. The decorations over
the city for Merchants Week have
been proclaiming the advantages of
Topeka but this one motto hung across
-. - I3A t,aI To 81 nil H.
ed the hearts of the visitors and made
them feel as though it was great
Kansas banquet and not a banquet in
Topeka. "Oh, I don't believe L have
ever seen anything that impressed me
more than that motto up there" ex-
claimed Lafayette Young, the honored
guest from Iowa while he was doing
his part in putting away the banquet
last night. There is motto that will
stand before these people all evening
and one that will make them proud"
And Mr.. Young was right.
Given a Musical Treat.
Before the people had settled down
TO their places at the tables and before
the army of pretty lassies and ladies'
from the Ladies' Guild of the Episcopal
church had started on their journey out
among the banqueters last night a
musical treat rarely heard in this city
was given to the visitors. Ten organ
numbers were given by that artist
Mrs. ARA Clark and they were of the
kind that appeal to the average listen
er. My Old Kentucky Home,'' Home
Sweet Home" popular airs and all
were played on this mammoth organ
the best in the United States between
st. Louis and Salt Lake City. Halls
orchestra, augmented to fifteen pieces,
played when Mrs. Clark was not play
ing and the Ladies' Quartette, consist
ing of Mrs Parkhurst, Mrs Ferry,
Nfrr md
beautifully at odd times. Every num-
her received tremendous applause and
the musicians went into the matter
with as much enjoyment and spirit as
the audience cheered.
At about 7:45 the signal was given
and the active part of the banquet
commenced. 1t was a great feast to
say the least. The following menu will
tell the story:
Sliced Oranges
New Radishes New Onions
Spanish olives
Dill Pickles Sweet Pickles
Sweet Relish
Roast Cold Chicken
Veal Loaf Sliced Banquet Ham
Combination Salad
Potato Salad
Cottage Cheese Brick Cheese
Cream Cheese
French Rolls Boston Brown Bread
Lemon Cake Orange Cake
Chocolate Cake
Vanilla Ice Cream
Coffee Topeka Spring Water
Cigars
and the manner in which
It was served by the young ladies
and their elders was even better than
the menu. They were kind and
courteous and as one of the visiting
merchants said last night: Gee
one of those pretty girls just kept
that coffee pot and that meat and all
at my elbow all the time. Every time
I would go a little low OH anything
she came around again and I was too
full to move when the POSTMASTER
called for order"
One of the best things in connection
wit hthe banquet was the fact that
everything on the menu was Made
in Topeka"
The Ball Is Opened.
At 9 O'Clock Toastmaster l.. L.
Kiene arose and tapping his gavel on
the table called the vast audience to-
gether and informed them that in