The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-02
CHARITY OFFERED
BY THE SCRIbES
TO BOYCOTT[RS
At the Banquet of Newspaper
Men Last Evening, Start
ling Phase of Situation
Brought to Light.
'POSSUM CLUB GIVEN
BIRTH At THE FEAST
J. B. Gordon Thought Affair a
Masquerade and Came Dis
guised as '.Wayne County
On Temperance Map"

When Chairman Raymond Swing.
brilliantly adorned in his Sunday suit,
strolled into the festive feed room of
the Westcott hotel last evening. pre-
pared to preside at the banquet of the
local newspaper writer's, he was as
tonished to find none of his fellow
workers present. But he knew that
the call of the '.soup nuts would be
irresistible to the scribes so he sat
down at the head of the table to await
their coming. To pass away the time
he whitfield almonds, which nestled in
cute little basket, opposite the olive
collection.
Shortly his eyes opened wide with
astonishment. A Palladium reporter
strolled in minus his shoes. He was
followed by a collection of news gath
erers, each separated from some piece
of ordinary wearing apparel-one with
out a vest; another without a coat; q
third without a collar, and SO on down
the line.
The Chair Gets Peeved.
When the last of this peculiar as
sortment of human beings had been
seated, Chairman Swing, an angry
flush on his face, arose and inquired
angrfly: Gentlemen. il you can be so
classified, what does this mean? This
affair was supposed to be q swell feed
By your attire you evidently labored
under the impression that 1t was =
bean grab. Somebody come across
with an explanation or I'll have the
house pinched."
After this stinging rebuke Ed Warfel
arose, minus his coat, and offered the
following explanation. 'Mr. Chair
man. we all realized that this affair
was to be perfectly swell and all that,
and the outfits We appear in are not
worn for the purpose Of mockery. We
appear in these abbreviated costumes
from sheer necessity.
"HOw's that" rOared the chair.
Charity for eoyeotters.
"All Of u.s." continued Warfel, ignor-
ing the interruption, have country
relatives. Since the establishment of
the rural boycott against the mer-
chants of Richmond, they have been
unable to secure enough clothing to
keep the cold out of their marrowA
Out of pity we have all parted with
sections, also cross-sections. of our
limited supplies of wearing apparel and
have shipped said sections and cross
sections to our suffering rural kim
folk
After hearing this touching recital
and explanation, the Chair. tears
streaming down his face, remarked.
Charity covereth a multitude of sins =
Birth Of Possum Club.
While the newspaper writer's were
busily engaged in the organization of
the 'Possum Club. walters bore to the
groaning table course after coursS,
fresh from the skillet operated by
Landlord Gay. The Charter members
Gordon. Kenneth Craig. and Ed Warfel
of the Item; Roy Compton. Charles
Morgan. Carl Bernhardt, willard Jes-
sup and w. R: Poundstone of the Pal
ladium; Charles Neal Of the News. and
Demas Coe, Richmond correspondent
for the Indianapolis News and Cincin-
natl Enquirer. BY unanimous vote
Mr.. Coe, the dean of the corps, was
chosen president Of the new orEanizA-
tion and Raymond Swing was elected
secretary-treasurer The latter title
was tackled on just for joke. Two
former well known and respected
newspaper men, Isaac Jenkinson and
Daniel Surface, were elected honorary
members. as were also Miss Elizabeth
r.. Thomas and Miss Jessie Landwer.
society editors respectively of the Pal
ladium and Item.
Like Map Of County.
Mr. Gordon was late in arriving at
the feast When he did appear his
makeup created a sensation. He was
clothed entirely in black. even wear
ing black mask and gloves. An up
roar ensued. After quiet was restored
President Coe demanded icily: Mr..
Gordon what means this disguise."
Il ask your pardon. gentlemen. but
thought this was to be q masquerade
and came disguised as Wayne Coun-
ty on the Temperance Map"
At the close Of the feast there was .
great pounding ON the doors Of the
festive hall-then crash, followed by
the dramatic entrance OF club menu
Der disguised as prominent Cam
bridge City attorney He was hotly
pursued by two other club members.
impers0nating the town marshal Of
Cambridge City and well known and
cOmbative Cambridge City divine. The
marshal was armed with tin star and
. mace. The minister had two