The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-08
What Ed Howe Thought Of
Santa Fe Luncheon.
Tells of Its Thrills in the
AtchisOn Globe.
BEST EVER ATTENDED
Veteran Writer Is Enthusiastic
Over Party
Other Items of General Inter-
est in Traffic World.


Ed Howe in Atchison Globe: On Tues
day, attended a buffet-luncheon given
by the Santa Fe Railway company, at
it's new Office building, to the editors
of Kansas. 1 arrived at the building
about noon. Those Of you who have
long known me as busy man Il have
always been particularly busy about
noon) would have laughed had you seen
me at II o'clock last Tuesday, as I
walked through the capitol grounds
toward the Santa F'e office building:
six women were following me. They
were Mrs. Frank p MacLennan and
her daughter Mary, Mrs. w j. Bailey,
Mrs Charley Scott, Miss Nellie Webb,
and Adelaide Miss Webb had been ex-
cused for the day by her associates,
and given her first vacation during
the ten years she has been on the
Globe Mr.. MacLennan met
us later at the luncheon. But couldn't
help thinking how shiftless l was; GO
ing to a buffet-luncheon at noon, with
six women following me. Mrs. Scott
is the wife of the congressman who
went down in the late Uprising of the
People; Mrs. Bailey is the wife of
former governor who went down in a
previous Uprising. I have always
trained with the Standpats. Two
things impressed me at the Luncheon:
1. That it was the finest affair 1 ever
room. and every particle of the walls
and ceilings had been hidden with
green stuff brought from California.
The columns were also hidden in green,
and the great room was brilliantly IL
Illuminated with electric lights. Along
one side Of the room ran counter;
also decorated. There were many little
tables scattered throughout the room.
The guests we're expected to go to the
counter, fill their plates, and return
- ko11 nh vUnr Vxn
on by Fred Harvey girls. The lunch
was prepared by chefs from Fred Har-
Vey's hundreds of kitchens, for Fred
Hravey runs the famous Santa Fe dill
ing cars, and operates the famous
Santa F'e dining stations and hotels
from Chicago to San Francisco. This
is not a perfunctory notice, but a mem
tion of really remarkable affair.
There was not only an abundance OF
everything, but the food provided was
new, dainty; really remarkable in ev-
cry way. No oyster cocktails at this
affair. There has never been served,
in New York or elsewhere, q finer
luncheon. There was quiet good taste
in every feature. A fine orchestra play
ed throughout the luncheon; not
piano. violin and cornet, but real
orchestra, Of ten men, And two not
able singers appeared on the program.
1t happened that three OF the Santa
Fe officials in charge of the luncheon
were formerly of Atchfson men, and
old friends of mine; Frank FARRELL, f.
l.. Vandegrift and W.R- Smith. was
30 much pleased with everything that
I sat down at one of the tables, and
demanded that the six women 1 had
brought with me. wait on me. This
they did. I had some trouble keeping
their chairs at the two tables Mr..
farrell had given us so Mr.. FARRELL
sent w. r. Smith, general attorney of
the Santa Fe, to keep people out of the
chairs, and let me enjoy myself thor
oughly. The second thing that
attracted my particular attention was
that F. Dumont Smith made the best
speech / have ever heard in my life.
I have long known Of the man, and
heard that he was a good talker, but
had never seen him until he appeared
on the platform. wish Dumont Smith
could appear before that tiresome
Gridiron club, in Washington. Dumont
Smith is the wittiest and best speaker
I have ever heard, anywhere. All the
speeches were good: and the guests
newspaper men and their wives, ex-
cept few Santa F'e people, were bright
and well dressed.
All men are liars; am trying to over
come the habit. Therefore, 1 state that
received no great ovation about the
play at the luncheon. Most of those
who spoke to me about it said II was
too sad. But Albert T. Reid, the ar
tist-publisher, introduced me to ONE
lady who said she liked it very much;
no stingers. 1 never catch a name
when I am introduced, so that I do
not know now this fine woman's name.
but shall write to Mr.. Reid, and find
out.
Speaking Of society, Adelaide, the
farmers daughter, had a real taste Of
1t in Topeka. While 1 was at Mr..
Capper's luncheon, she attended g. big
reception to the wives Of former gov
errors. And what's more, an auto
mobile stopped for her at the National
Ea1 17ra& erkr H.
driver called for her at the counter,
and a servant was sent after her. Then
she entered the automobile, which was
occupied by party of ladies, and
sailed away. She attended the big
Santa Fe affair; she attended the Com
mercial club banquet and old Bill White
sat beside her, and said funny things.
A man stood on chair, and called
out: wv. A. jackson is called for Mr..
White said: THAT used to be a good
trick, but the best people don't do it
now" CIV. A. Jackson is from Atchi-
son, but Adelaide and I didn't say a
word). Old Bill wanted a pin with
which to fasten his little bouquet to
his coat. Adelaide didn't have one.
I'm glad to meet a woman" old Bill
said, who hasn't a pin; that's sign
she has all her buttons on" We didn' t
know when to begin, so old Bill took
a drink. AT banquet" he said, its
always proper to drink ice water. -
(Note-Tm not certain that Bill Morgan
didn't say this at the Capper luncheon. )
When We were taking our seats, an Of
ficious negro waiter appeared, and
wanted us to sit elsewhere. That's al
right" old Bill said; hes not Mayor
Billiard or Governor Stubs. Let's stay
where we are" And we did.
Old Bill and were arranging to sing
'sLarboard Watch" when the speaking
began; he having agreed to take the
second part. I have always thought
can sing the first part of +Larboard
Watch as well as any man in Amer
lea.
I, recall that old Bill expressed sur.
prise that Rev. c. NJ. Sheldon. author
of "In His Steps" didn't open the ban
quet with prayer. which is the usua
thing in Topeka. but shall reserve ole
Bills best remarks for the magazine