Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1917-06-30
COMMUNITY BANQUET
Successful Gathering Friday Night for the
Purpose of Boosting the Coming
Chautauqua.

The Community Banquet which was
held in the Kleemann House last Friday
night, June 22nd, was rightly advertised
as Monster Banquet" 1t was indeed
monster both as regards attendance,
provision and program
The toastmaster, Mr.. r. II. McCul-
lagh, rose to his feet Immediately after
the crowd had done its best to deyour
the sumptuous repast that had been pro-
vided by Mr.. and Mrs, Virgil Beatty and
announced that there were present one
hundred and two guests. Mr.. McCul-
| lagh proved himselfan apt chairman and
was happy in his remarks as the program
proceeded Several of. the numbers on
the program were given by our Custer
girls home for vacation. Miss Ruby
Olds struck the keynote of the evening
on the piano, and gave a very pleasing
and classical selection, which was gen
erously appauded aud encored, to which
she responded with another equally
good selection. All the artists of the
evening were enthusiastically applauded
and encored, but not all responded, or
the hour of dispersal would have been
even later than 1870, at which hour
America" was sung and very happy
crowd departed for their own domciles.
Others who took part in the program
of music can only be named for as the
Secretary said in thanking them, words
fail to do full justice to the five mum bers
which were given. Miss Jewell sang a
couple of short, sweet and breezy songs
which were fully appreciated. Miss
Fitch gave reading that was more than
up-to-date, it was up-to-the-minute. The
patriotism which it expressed was in
keeping with the spirit of the occasion
and was delivered in Miss Fitch's usual
elegant style. Miss Wander Stein was in
her usual happy mood when she sang in
fine style pretty song which was vocf-
erously applauded, and when with Mr..
Lane she went Maying' the audience
broke loose and were only appeased by
a repitltion of that act which we are as
sured will be completed In the near fut-
ure. Not many could have showed the
audience how fully they could enjoy a
missing sheet of music. Mr. Hanson's
violin solo was the last of the musical
numbers and all enjoyed listening to him
make the violin talk.
We have reserved telling about the
chorus until we had mentioned all other
musical numbers, not because we think
1t least, but rather to emphasize its i'm
portance. Custer has fine array of
musical talent and they are all always at
the service of the community. IT was
certainly thing that all Obstetrics ought
to be proud of, that such host of well
trained singers should give their time
and talent as did these singers on Friday
night. The chorus was by request
repititioD of the one which was 80 well
received on Decoration Day, and few
cities of much larger population could
boast such an accomplishment as the one
witnessed at the banquet last Friday
night.
The speakers of the evening all proved
that they we're no povices The Ban
quet was held for two purposes-to boost
the Red Cross work and to boost the
Chautauqua that Custer is to have on
July 10th to 2lst. If we had brought
speakers from abroad they could not
better have fulfilled the purpose.
Nurse Emory, of the Sanatorium, spoke
on the Red Cross work, and her address
was both inspiring and instructive; all
who heard it regarded it as a privilege
to have received so much information
given in such pleasing manner.
Mrs. w. f. Hanley spoke on the edu
cational aspect of the Chautauqua, and
if we had any criticism to offer, it would
be that she gave the audience Just
enough to start them longing Every
one was so thoroughly enjoying her ad-
mirable address that the audience was
disappointed when she thought it was
time to say "Amen." Mrs. Hanley
I
among other things showed that Chau-
tauqua was an educational necessity and
urged al for their own sakes to be sure
| and be in attendance.
Mr.. Percy Helm was the last speaker
and in his usual breezy and bright man
ner presented the business end of the
Chautauqua and he asked everyone at
the banquet to be sure and secure at
least two of The season tickets so as to
insure a successful Chautauqua.
The Chairman in dismissing the audi-
ence said we were all grateful to the
Hotel management for providing so
grand banquet at such a reasonable
rate and added that it was good adver-
tisement for the victuals supplied by the
Kleemann House.