Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-01-20
NEWsBOY ENJOYS BANQUET.
Entertained at Party Given by Ben
Bear i'm Minneapolis.

a number of friends at dinner. AS
the friends gathered it was discov-
cred that they numbered thirteen.
One of the number concluded that
thirteen was an unlucky number,
and it was decided to add one more
to the party, and the following from
the Minneapolis Journal of Friday
tells the story.
Harold Segal, IL years old, his un-
sold papers under arm, his teeth
chatter, looked out from a shelter
ing corner at Hennepin avenue and
Sixth street last night and faced
dignified looking man in fur coat,
who bowed and said:
"My boy, will you not come and
dine with me?"
His Troubles Fold Their Tents.
The wind that wound around the
Lumber Exchange beat back his
words of wonderment but the lads
eyes spoke acceptance. Hurriedly
walked the man and Harold trotted
at his side and soon they passed into
wonderland where music swelled
and glasses clinked, and men and
women "all dressed up" as Harold
expressed it, sat at tables, and trays
filled with appetizing food were car
ried past by smiling servitors. Down
a big. long room they went, clear to
the end 1t was a Fifth street cafe
that Harold entered.
Harold Is presented"
Around table sat a company of
men.
What is your name,' asked the
man who had invited him and Har
old told him.
Mr.. John S. Tucker, president of the
Minnehaha State bank" the man
said, and Harold blushed and
scratched his feet on the floor and
dropped his eyes. A hearty hand
shake treasured him. Then he was
introduced in all formality to j. w.
| G. Anderson, cashier of the State
bank of Shelly, Mimi. c. A. Adams,
cashier of the First National Lans-
| ford, N D.; H. G. Miller, cashier of
the First State bank, Ryder, n. D..
S. NJ Miller, cashier of the First
State bank, Benedict, n. D.: H. o.
Paulson, cashier of the Farmers
State bank, Drake, N. D.; o. l.. Gull
bro, cashier of the Millers and
Traders State bank, Minneapolis,
and Alex Bear, assistant cashier OF
the same bank; G. w. LaI4one and F.
G. Norton, cashier and assistant
cashier of the Minnehaha State bank {;
]. Roserschweig, merchant of
Benedict, n. d., and last of all to
BENJAMIN Bear, a DEBORAH, Iowa,
business man, with business interests
in the northwest, who was giving the
party
| Guest Is Puzzled.
All the while Harold wondered
who the man was that took him off
the corner and was introducing him.
But today, in the after recollection
of a glorious time, he said he knew
him.
HE was H. A. Willoughby, and !
think he owns the First National
bank down in the big new building,
Harold said.
Never was there a lad who bore
himself so we'll under such unexpect-
ed circumstances, for promptly Har-
old asked to be excused so he could
wash his face and hands. When he
came back his hair was parted
straight as a die and his face shone.
Then came the walters, lifting sill
yer covers off steaming dishes, ana
one leaned over to take Harold's or
der.
Some roast meat and some of
those long buns and some olives and
celery and chocolate nut sundae
and a glass of milk
! His breath gave out.
do you have to pick 1t all out al
once, he asked appealingly, but the
waiter assured him that he need not
and that if he thought of anything
more later he could have 1t.
.Laid IntOr That Dinner.
"At first they were all talking 70
me Harold said, but after while
they didn't talk to me any more anu
7 was glad because was hungry and
7 ate a whole lot. Then they were
all talking to themselves and all TO-
petber about bonds, and mortgages
and money, and all that kind OF
1 stuff. I didn't understand 1t and sc
II lust kept still, and laid into thai
dinner. =,
after while big fat man smii
led at me and asked me if | went tt
school. and | told him yes, | go &c
1.-The Harrison school, and he salo
.maybe thew were keeping me out iat.
land | could be excused any time
WANTED to. But i kept on eating fo'
la while yet
The Reason Revealed.
After a while / got up and the!
lair shook hands with me and salI
trhey hoped we would meet again an,
la lot of nice things to me. l nevsl
KNEW what it was all about ana wa
E,fraid to ask. The finger bowl kih'
Eof mixed me up, but | watched VIVA
Ethe fat man did and then l put IN.
fingers in Just like MIN and wipe'
Them on the napkin.
when | was going out l got on
IN what il was about and lheard TN
fat man say to Mr.. N1lloughDy' VINO
I think, owns the First Natlohs'
BANK, | heard him say:
: You fixed it fine, Wllloughpy
because my wife is superstitious, an.
, il she knew l ate at a table WITH i
che would be scared to death. :,
In the neighborhood of 1907 Slxt'
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