Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-03-02
Y. M. c. A. Banquet Last
Friday Was Brilliant
Success.
OVER 300 IN ATTENDANCE
Campfire Girls and Teachers
Wait on Father and Son
Banqueters.


at the Father and Son" banquet
missed one of the few profitable
meetings he has the pleasure of at
tending in lifetime. Any boy who
could not attend this banquet, has
missed one of the biggest things that
would help him to grow up to be q
better man and citizen. The affair
which took place last Friday night
in the high school gymnasium was
without a doubt one of the most sue
cessful up-lift movements ever held
in this city.
Preparations had been under way
for months TO make it a successful af-
fair and everyone in attendance voiced
with one accord the praise of the ban
quet and program committees.
During last week the town was can
vassed by committees of business men
selling tickets which admitted a
father and son." No man was al
lowed to take his own son, and un-
married men of manageable age
were assigned son." so practically
every male inhabitant of the city
between the ages of thirteen and
fifty we're present. On Wednesday
Of last week about two-thirds of the
three hundred tickets were sold, and
the remainder were taken care of be-
fore three o'clock Friday afternoon.
The popular slogan on the streets Fri
day was. "Got Your Son YETI as wa
exchanged by business men in passing
or finishing up telephone calls.
Probably the most worried of the
two was the "son." The natural boy
ish inquisitiveness, of wondering what
kind of a man would take him raised
havoc with lessons Tor several days
previous to the banquet Anyone would
swatch with interest the bunch of boys
assembled in the lobby of the high
school building Friday evening. As
each time the door opened admitting
a group of men who were TO be the
fathers" the eyes of every "son" was
turned with eager interest upon the
newcomers, and no man had much
trouble in finding his boy. Some
knew their boys in advance, others had
the fun of picking him out among a
hundred Of happy faces that all looked
alike to the average man. Gradually
however the commotion ceased in the
lower halls as each man found his boy
and made for the auditorium. Here
yells and a general social time was
enjoyed by the assembly. Those who
succeeded in getting placed early had
the privilege Of watching the new
comers, man and boy enter the room.
Amusing it was, as some older gentle
men Of short stature would enter fol-
lowed by a youth head and shoulders
taller, or an extremely well built man
followed meekly by a boy of small
stature who was trying to appear at
his best, in spite of the fact his face
shone from the scrubbing his mother
had given it, his collar was too tight
and he didn't feel right with his hair
combed.
At seven forty-five supper was an
nounced and two by two, man on the
left and boy on the right, the long
row entered the gymnasium and filled
the long rows of tables laid to re-
ceive the guests.
The Rev. J. w. Priest in few
appropriate words pronounced the in
vocation and the banqueters settled
TO enjoy the menu, which was SER
we'd by the Miner restaurant and was
up to their usual high standard Of
excellence.
Following the final course President
Crooks-of Alma College took the floor
and succeeded in raising his voice
above the din of knives and forks, to
perform the duties of toastmaster.
In his jovial but earnest way Mr..
Crooks first introduced our own Mr..
Chas. G. Rhodes, secretary Of the
Alma school board Mr.. Rhodes was
assigned the subject of Qualities i
Admire in Young Man." Mr..
Rhodes talk was to the point. Every
boy should have benefited by it. He
explained in a clear, concise way just
how a boy appears to the average
business man. The chances the right
kind of boy has in making good in
this world, and pointed out the quail
tiles necessary for the boy to develop
to be recognized by the business men.
The response was given by high
school senior, Robert +. Adams, who
gave as good a comeback" to Mr..
Rhodes speech as was possible to
make. Mr. Adams has "real stuff"
in him, was heard around the tables
after his talk, on "The Kind of Man
Admire" He portrayed to the man
that he was a little more than just
man. He was an example" and
should appear to the boy as an ex-
ample worth following.
The high school Glee club next
rendered an excellent selection, ma
lures Lullaby" after which Pres.
Crooks after recalling all the mean"
things he knew about, introduced his
brother-in-law, who was no less than
the Rev. Paul r. Hickok of Washing
ton, ID. c. Rev. Hickok's address was
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