The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-16
How The Souuenir Habit 5 ls Affect ng Banquets

in bronze, were given to the guests q the banquet Moreover. . number of solid ef-karat gold medals were struck for distribution to the forsign dipio- mats and special envcys from foreign countries who attsnded the Hndson- Fulton Celebration. and heavy solid all. yer medals for the Hudson-F Fulton aides. guests, Ac.
 The methods of one big manufacturing house. which now makes speciality Of banquet souvenirs, may be taken as typical of all those now engaged in tryInk to set some of the rich harvest which the souvenir custom provides every year. This firm has representa- iives in every important city in the country. whose task 1t Is to keep watch out for all announcements of To- cal banausts. As soon as . represen- fative gets wind of q big affair he at once hunts up the committee in charge of the afrangements and starts tn to talk souvenirs to them. s&
 Manufacturers of the latter aim al- ways to provide souvenirs appfopriatr to each occasion. Originality is thesr by their artists and designers Is of- ten amasing. For instance, at bix banquet given here recently by con vsntion of the shoe manufacturers each guest rot . miniature pair of shoes. IT. hronse, suitable for psper-weiRht or match safe. At another. to which hun ireds of men in the typewriter bus siness sat down. the souvenir for each guest was length of ribbon. locking exactly like that used on typewritsrs upon which the menu of the dinner was printed. At the top of each rih- bon was a metal pendant with pte- ture of . typewriter on it.
 Souvenir makers keep on hand At all times a large quantity of typical designs which they can show 10 pros pective banquet givers. In order thsf the latter may adopt whatever design they like. and suggest and deviatons from 1t that occur to them as suitable
 To give a further idea of how the souvenir makers "go about it," It may he we'll to take the case of banouets given by State associations. Suppose that the Ohio Society Of New York ds- cidea to get together. As soon as the souvenir agent hears of the word Onio. the buckeye" emblem of that State at once suggests Itself to him. Sam. pies of the previous applications of the buckeye are shown to the commit tee in the form of scarfpins. belt buc- kles cigar holders. and q hundred other useful and ornamental things. 1T the banqueters hall from Texas. the lone star will enter. ten to one. fntn the design of the souvenir. And so on.
 Another class of organization that Frequently foregathers at banquets ts the college fraternity. Souvenir makers arc ready for frat" members at all times with ash trays or some such things useful to young men. on which the various combinations of Greek let- ters may be printed at short notice. al. so some college shield. if the diners wish.
 Male diners are not the only ones tn make a speciality of providing keep. sakes suitable for women. Among these are more or less valuable hatpins. buckles and brooches of varied and in- teresting designs. Occasionally. at a banquet where men only are present. each guest receives two souvenirs fp- stead of one. the second one befnR something fo rhim to take home to his wife.
 There is no limit to the eiaborateness of souvenirs. Those of the very best class of workmanship are gifts well worth while, that diners are only too proud to preserve. Often such souve- mfrs are wrapped up quite like ''bought' jewels and inciosed in handaome mo- rocco feather cases.
 Banquet souvenirs are disttnctiy Ann | erican. Abroad i they are praoticans l unknown, But unlike speeches. tht I other great American after-dlnner GUS. | tom, they can never be too frequent foi the pleasure of each and every guest.