Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-05-22
B0ARS' NEST CLUB
LOSES HAPPY HOME

thorn" and there are no birds in
last years nests" These trite say
ings are recalled because they are
peculiarly appropriate to the occa-
sion. AS a Journal reporter stood
on the corner In front of Bush's
bank Saturday and watched the men
tearing the roof off the old Red Cross
building, he heard behind him q sob,
and looking around to discover the
source of this evidence of woe he
was astonished to find a rather port
ly. slightly gray-haired gentleman,
who resembled Ed Hirsch, but whose
face was partly concealed by a very
moist handkerchief. Moved by pity
The Journal man asked the stranger
his trouble and offered TO do any
thing for him he could to assauge his
woe; even offered to buy him a drink
and as every knows, that Is going
some--for a reporter.
''I'll tell you" said the aged one.
That old building, for me, is full
of tender memories. Many years
ago a millionaire's club was started
in hte upper story of that building,
and there some of my happiest hours
were spent, in fact, most of my time
was spent there, but like a lost um-
brella, they are gone forever. 4 re-
member well when it was started,
and how we all contributed with
generous hearts and loving hands to
furnish II with all the comforts of
home. All the members had
plenty of money and no pains or any
thing else was spared TO make IL an
ideal club room. John Q. Wilson
contributed table. IL wasn't an
tlque oak, as l remember, but any
way Il was antique. w. +. Boothby
with tears in his voice presented the
club two chairs, the bottoms of which
we're partly laced with rawhide, and
also a cane bottom one, sagged clear
through I'm the center. j. II. Blgin
also contributed a couple of chairs
which he took from the family wood
shed, where his wife had placed them
In cold storage. Henry Stapleton do
mated a venerable stand, little
shaky in its legs but still Il would
stand" Billy Claggett (the spend
thrift OF the outfit brought In n
soap box filled with sawdust for a
spittoon; John Gray supplied dozen
packs OF cards. or rather discards,
from the saloons, and Ed Hirsch
brought n tin cup and n couple Of
| uIOhtn kldhntn Nudl Hhu At bht AimN
ornamented the tables In the old
Chemeketa hotel. Col. Page came In
later, but as ne one time offered to
nay the rent he was cut off from
active membership. but was still al
lowed the privileges OF the club as
an honorary member To show how
keenly he felt this honor the Col.
donated the club a picture of Lydia
Il DlnIhnUn md "A 0nmAWhot
motto. done In old gold worsted that
read God Bless Our Home" SO you
see we we're Just as happy and com
Portable as boys in play house.
Dues we're SO cents a month, and
due all the time. as the landlord
charged us SO n month for the use
OF the rooms. forgot TO mention
that Uncle Tom Davidson was also
n prominent member. and he donated
a speech and a poem on 'brotherly
love-; the latter had an honored place
on the wall.
THE jealous ones about town used
TO call our club names. One was the
Bull Pen,' another the Saints Rest,
and one even more disrespectful than
all nicknamed Il the 'Boars' Nest.
However, that's a side Issue.
"Clagget, who was reckless with
his money, subscribed and paid for
The Journal for one week, which was
the clubs library, and he also got a
clerk In store 10 print some signs
win marking-pot brush such az
II you can't pay don't play II you
don't pay dues quit Pay for your
cigars before you smoke, and several
other cheerful little things like that
There We all gathered every day
playing cards, smoking our pipes,
talking science, literature, art, and
taxes. and damning the assessor. only
leaving long enough to so to ouI
meals.
II remember once when John Gray
and Billy Claggett nearly got bounced
for gambling. for IL was against the
rules. They playe da rubber OF pin
ochle IL best I'm 21 for a nickel and
Gray won. The only trouble we
ever had was about the rent, for
everybody objected 20 paying dues
because he had donated furniture
but somehow we managed 10 keep
going. Those we're great old times.
said the mOurnful one; happy times
but the old home Is gone and the
club will meet no more forever"
Which is why the reporter remark
ed there is never a rose without q
thorn. and there are no birds In last
years nests" The old birds had Ia
the cOOD "