The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-16

The New York Times.
 BanQuets came one after the other durink the gay days of the Hudson Fulton Cele bration, and it 10 safe to cay that at every one of them each guest found beside his or her plate a souvenir of the occasion. For uowa- days no banquet is complete without souvenira Half dozen years ago they were practically unknown as adtunets to banquets. At the present tine committee in charge of big dinner that omits souvenirs to the guests fs . peculiar committee Indeed.
 In fact, such . commit tee. as soon as 1t gets busy on its preparations. has three iterns to look after which are moro important than all others. First comes the catering, then the inviting. then the question of souvenirs So widesprsad has the suuvenir custom at banQusts become that jewelsrs and manufacturers of novelties who . few years back did nothing whatever in this line, now 6nd h one of the most important branches of their work.
 To give some idea of the magnttude of the banquet souvenir business one must realize what lovers of banquets the American people are. most especial. iy those of them in New York It is safe to gay that no night passes with out at least one big banquet at some one of the great hotels which make . spectalty of providing them--hotels such a the Astor the Waldorf. kc. It is likewise safe to say that each one of these banquets is attended on an aver age Of geo people. Some. of course. are much larger. Banquets at which 1000 people sit down occur over and over again during the year. And . few nights ago. there was given ct the Hotel Astor the biggest feast in the history of New York--the official ban quet of the Hudson Fulton Committee to the distinguished guest gathered hero for the two weeks celebration. The number of people at this monster feasf was 2,20Q. and beside the plate of each was costly and beautiful souvenir in the shape of q bronze medal
 But, for purposes of statistics. the average of 200 guests to banquet may be taken. Allowing one banquet in New York for every evening of the year, the total number of guests In a year would be 73.eoo. The price of souvenirs ranges all the way from 50 cents to N. Putting their average cost at S2--a popular price with bananet eommittees--the total cost or New Yofk's banquet souvenirs in one year Is Sl4s,ooo. Say $15o,00o in round num- bers. that gives an hiking of the i'm. portRnce that these trinketg have sud- denly assumed in the last six years.
 A short description of the souvenir distributed to the guests at the great Hudson-Fulto banquet will serve to give some Idea of what excellent work is now being done in this line. owing to the amazing growth of the new GUS tom. The design for tho medal was made by Emil Fuchs. . weil-known ar- tist, who had already designed com memorative medals for notable occa- sions abroad. also for the Hispanic and American Numisnatic societies in this city. The obverse side of the medal shows the Half Moon. with, Henry Hudson and group of six sailors watching the heayfng of the lead In the background appears some typical Hudson River scenery. also the-seal of the Hudson Fulton Celebration Com. mittee, and astrolable, jackstan. and a sextant.
 The reverse commentaries Robert Fulton. It shows three female ngures The central figure has In her lap a model of the Ciermont. and represents tha genius of steam navigation. The figure on her right represents Com merce, while that Of the left. represents ing History, holds a pen and scroll In the back ground Is @ portrait Of Full, ton. after Vests painting. surrounded | by n wreath. At the bottom of the de l sirn are the words: "First use Q steam in navigation on the Hudsoi ! River, 1So7."
 nf these souvenir medals s.soo mad