The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-02
MODOCS' BIG DINNER
Forty-First Anniversary of Club Cele-
brated Last Night.

THE older they get the younger
they are!'
This seems to be the blood motto of
youth that is running thru Topeka's
famous Modoc club.
The singing and orchestra organ
ization, known in all parts of the
United States, celebrated its forty
first anniversary with a ToGsing lin
ner at the Elks'' club last night Sing
ing, after dinner speeches, prescnta-
ton talks, followed by rip-snortin
initiation, constituted a five-hour pro-
gram that never Jagged a minute.
Despite the fact that the club is
older than most its members, the
! history, the membranes, the years
of trials well punctuated with success,
still cling to the membership and
every ideal and plan of the organizers
has been carried out thru these many
years
The club performed for its own
amusement and for the amusement of
its guests last night. The guests, like
Little Tommie Tucker, who sang for
his supper, were roped into the pro-
gram, despite the protests of Mayor
House who said he had heard every
guest present speak before, and pre-
| ferred to hear the Modocs sing. But
the club wasn't stingy with it's voice
and the guests were more than
| pleased.
president L. M. Wood of the Mo-
docs, who was one of the earliest
members and who with NJ. c. Holman
/ has guided the organization thru
these four decades, was unable to be
t.present owing to Illness He sent a
written greeting. James Doncyson,
acting cleverly as postmaster told
twenty-siX stories, by actual count
during the evening, and placed every
speaker on his feet with an embar-
RAISING situation to meet.
The features of the evening were
the presentation of a hand decorated
life membership to J. G. Rodemever.
VINO has been member 33 years and
a framed autographed photograph
from Governor Capper. Mr. Rode
meyer was presented with the mem
oefshlp, engrossed and cartOoned by
jim Doncyson, by NJ. c. Holman. He
accepted it with an interesting talk
of the old days of the organization in
/ the course of which he stated proudly
/ that he was "a German but not a
russian The Capper photograph
/ was presented by Walter johnson and
! accepted by Tom Powell. The club
/ voted to send Thanksgiving boxes and
! letters to Paul Bush and A. f Sutton
who are with the army Talented
selections were given during the even
/ ing by Roy Naylor and Tom Powell
l. M. Penwell paid a beautiful tribute
/ to Major Tom" during his speech. A
/ telegram was read from S. E Busser
! of the Santa Fe who was in California
and was unable to be present as a
1 guest The Modocs will sing over the
Santa Fe reading room circuit fol-
lowing arrangements completed with
! Mr. Busser. H. c. Goodrich. man
ager of the club, reviewed the plans
of the coming season.
! The guests of the club last night
who made after dinner talks. were:
Z Governor Capper Mayor House, Mar
( co Morrow. Walter johnson. L. M
] Penwel1, Theo. Mueller, J. G. Rode
meyer, Roy Naylor and Arthur ].
| Carruth, Jr.
The membership of the club pres
ent: NJ c. Holman. director; DR.. F.
! A Rooster, magician; Elmer OLSON
pianist; Carlton Wood, leader of the
orchestra and James Doncyson, w. e.
Bulls, w. Bollinger, J. C. Lower. L.
/ +. Reynolds, George Hargreaves. J.
+. Wolf, j. H. overly, Frank A. Stew
! ems secretary, F. c. Squires, w. NJ
Lovett, Art Hargis, Z. O. Robinson
j. H, White, DR.. L. V Sans, Pau
Thorsen, c. 3. Jennings, NJ E Hard
I ing, Tom c. Powell 3. P Powell, S
j. Rice, L. E. Packard, II c. Good
rich tmanager), ]. H Solecki. Rob
ert Bell, w. T. Comstock. n. B
Thompson, E. A. Popenoe. F. Saunders,
Ivon McFarlane, Harry SamueIs, F
A Crawford, Frank Jehlik and j. r
! CoWdrey