The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-01
Mysterious Stranger of the Sat-
urday Night Club.
Senator Is Accorded an Ovation
by the Guests.
GIVEN A LOVING CUP.
He Is Treated to Surprise After
Identity Is Revealed.
Occasion One of Most Enjoyable
in History of Organization.
Usual Extras for Benefit of
the Speakers.
GIVEN A LOVING CUP.

The banquet on the National roof
garden last night given to the Saturday
Night club and its friends by the Mys-
) FERROUS Stranger has passed. with the
old year, into the annals of time, but
the memory OF the last night in the
year of 1908 will Inger in the memory
of those present on the National roof
garden and its taste will be sweet in
the mouths, even as it's fancies will
tighten the heart during the dullest day
of the new year and its brilliance lift
the thoughts above the vexations of
cares to come
There were 106 guests at the tables.
and all had sat for two hours enjoying
a spread worthy of Lucullus and music
Ffrom the singers of the glee club of the
Topeka Colored Institute that brought
to mind the cotton fields of the south
and Stephen Fosters Suwanee River,
when at 10 o'clock President l.. l..
Kiene of the club called the banqueters
to order and at the end of a witty
speech, illustrated by cartoons at the
expense of King Edward, President
Roosevelt, Uncle Joe Cannon, judge
Dana Governor Hoch Senator J. L.
Bristow, and Governor Stubs. all men
who didn't, introduced the man VINO
did give the banquet, the Mysterious
Stranger-U. s Senator Charles Gurus
of Topeka. The president of the cup
presented the host of the evening IN
the following words:
Now we are face to face with the
solution of this momentous question
The Mysterious Stranger IS IN IacI no
stranger at all He is man with
vs-l7oI1 every one of you can claim an
intimate and friendly acquaintance. ne
stands high in the public esteenn Ioi
many times he has Snatcheu tne ieto -
--rea+lT as if was about to be placed on
+ba brow of his opponent mat ne u
brave goes without saying Tor no OIe
hut a brave man would dare TO 90 "lla e
he has done tonight, knowing tnat SUI to,l
a hauoJet as this would StlIluidle -
tlo,1sand other constituents to denano
siroiIar recognition at his nanuS. Du'
that is his affair, not ours OtneIs H 1
held out fair promises OF MhaC -
-o,,ld do II remained for him 70 De as
e1SerNtf1e Man who Did. therefore IN
+,.o5rre to you our host, senator
Charles Curtis. - +1,o
When Senator Curtis was leo 10 Ine
eaesker's chair the guests burst INTO
P.haar and arose as one man, each
saizinr- a napkin. and the Junior seAa-
- IS surrounded by waving banners
of white and overwhelrneetd oy ne 'p
D1arse and enthusiasm of his rrleIlos-
Then like the Romans OF oiQ' the
Saturday Nighters poured hoatlon
from their glasses of pure water 70 tIle
deities of magic Mlrth ana Wohoiou9
wit and lofty E1oquence and the night
was on.
Gun Is Presented to Curtis.
John T. Switzer secured the floor
before the chairman had recovered
from the reception accorded MN anu
proceeded to unburden his mlnd as
follows: "I am glad that our most mas
turned out to be SO distinguished
nublic servant as the Topeka senator
with the aI1uring handshake- 1 am
glad that the expense of this banquet
is to be liquidated by the princely
salary that rolls in to him from the
coffers of the great American people. |
From the days of John Brown to the
N1r. dn9I
Stubs and Bristow.. is a long cry, but
the club has gone through it all, and |
Fortified by this feast, Will be ready
for still worse to come.
Long after you are dead, Mr.. Host, |
and a stately tombstone has been
erected over your grave, your noble |
benefaction tonight will be remem-
bered, and when you are comfortably
couched on the marble pilasters of |
paradise you will see this aggregation |
seated before you holding chicken |
bone in one hand and their stomachs |
in the other. The words speak are |
the last born of the last gasp of a |
dying appetite"
Mr.. Switzer then suggested in a |
most delicate way the host make this
banquet a yearly event. then as an |
afterthought changed the wish to a |
seni-annual custom. You have to !
give it to Mr. Switzer, he is wise with |
He then undid the fastenings of a |
large box which was placed on the |
table beside him and taking therefrom |
a most handsome silver loving cup |
presented Il to the host with the words !
1--WE present you with this cup and |
add 70 it our pledges of support to |
your reelection to the United States |
senate, provided always, Stubs or |
some one else does not give this club |
a better spread between now and the /
period at which your terms expires"
Senator Curtis. the giver of sur |
prises, was surprised. He was more |
than that. He was overcome. Here J
was an event not on the programme of
his own banquet. His voice was
broken by emotion and as he muir
INJURED rather than spoke: 'I have
often enjoyed your hospitality. 1t is
an honor as well as pleasure to have |
YOU for my guests this evening. I |
Will keep this token as long as I live,
nv friends, and cherish it as I do our
But precious as it is, 1T is
so rich as that. Cup of silver and /
hearts of gold
Loving Cup Is Passed.
At the beginning of the banquet a
l