The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-17
HOMAGE TO NEWSPAPERMEN
Blue Earth County Publishers Gathered
al the Festive Board Last
Evening.
From Saturdays Daily.

lnOSt enJOyaDle aHalf. me men IN
question, who gave the banquet and
participated in the toasts, were the
editors of Blue Earth county. This
was in the nature of n compliment
tary affair for Colonel George w.
Neff, veteran editor of The Lake
Crystal Union. and Honorable James
E. Brown, the retired journalist of
Amboy.
About eighteen scribes sat down
to a delicious feast in the cafe
shortly after six o'clock. Rev. Emery
of Amboy said grace when the fol
lowing menu was served:
Caviar Canape
Cream of Barley Soup
Young Onions Radishes
Roast Tenderloin of Beef
.,n" Brown Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
II Asparagus on Toast
Sliced Totatoes, Mayonnaise Dressing
Strawberry Shortcake with Cream
Coffee *. Waters
Cigars
The Editors Present.
The table was beautifully decorat-
ed with red carnations and young
ferns Seated about the table were
the following:
H. c. Hotaling, Blue Earth County
Enterprise.
Colonel George w. Nef, Lake
Crystal Union.
I Honorable James e. Brown, re-
tired, AmbOy Herald.
r. Fl. Griffin, Good Thunder Her
ald.
e. r. Miller. .AmbOy Herald.
NJ. H. Caller, Vernon Center News.
August Blissenbach, Mankato Post.
John D. Duane, Mankato Ledger.
Joseph E. Reynolds, Mankato
Free Press.
Charlie r. Butler. Mankato Free
Press. .. 49,.
|. N. Tompkins, Mankato Free
Press.
John C. Wise, Jr., Mankato Re-
view.
c.. r. Wise, Mankato, Review.
f. Franciscus, Mankato Review.
f. F. Soaring.
III. w. Haislett, Butterfield Advo-
cate.
Mr. Hinchon, Madelia Times Mes
senger ."
Arvid Erickson, Mankato Free
Press. ...~
Colonel Neff introduced.
Immediately following the ban
Hot N
and in his characteristic humorous
way. called on Colonel Neff for a
short talk Mr.. Neff, said Editor
Hotaling, began newspaper work
when the prairie schooner was in
vogue. and although he was now
advanced in years, his pulse was all
right and he was able to attend the
banquet.
Editor Neff then thanked the edi-
tors for the honor bestowed on him.
AT first, he said, he wanted to stay
away. but he was pleased to be in
such good company. Although old,
he was young, and has known prac-
tically nothing but newspaper and
lob work. He came here in 81, and
remembered the Wises of the tie
view and their early work.
His first methods in securing a
nosition here were interesting. After
his credentials had been passed, he
was shown to the type cases where
he learned to set type. He started
on condition that if he did not sat
isfv his employers, he was to re-
sign at once. The employer, how
ever. concluded to keep him. He
also recalled his experiences with
the Free Press in it's early stages.
AT one time Colonel Neff was con-
nected with this paper, when he sold
it to General Baker, who in turn
sold 1t to Mr.. Hunt.
uono Time in Lake Crystal.
He then moved to Lake Crystal
and he has been there for over
twenty years. During that time ne
has suffered one fire when the en-
tire printing shop was burned 10
the ground. Mr.. Wise helped MN
ont at that time, for which he has
eyer since been grateful. His clos
ing remark was taken up with an
other expression of appreciation 10
the editors of Blue Earth county,
and for their favors shown him.
Toastmaster Hotaling then intro.
duced Hon. James Brown. He said
that Editor Brown was in Canada
about eighty years ago and that he
came to this country about the same
time that Editor Neff began his
newspaper career. One of the char.
acteristics of Mr.. Brown, he said,
was his optimism. There was no
more optimistic person than Editor