New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Sphinx Club
Reviews Past
At I'D Feast
Marvellous Growth of cad"
Business Is Emphasized
at Reunion of Experts
at the Waldorf Astoria
Blind Founder Honored
Watch Is Presented to +. J.
Gibson; Hedges and New
comb Cleveland Speak

The silver anniversary of the Sphinx
Club was celebrated last night at the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel. About 400 ad
vertising men gathered in the grand
ballroom, partook of the organizations
172d dinner and listened to reminis-
cences of early days as related by the
clubs founders.
Frederick James Gibson, of the
Bronx Home News, who is still actively
engaged in newspaper work, though
blind, was presented with a specially
designed watch, which enables one to
tell the time by touch. Collin Arm
strong made the presentation speech,
and Mr.. Gibson, as founder of the
Sphinx Club, made a brief address,
telling of the first meetings and of the
steady growth OF the organization.
Oscar Tschirky, of the Waldorf, was
presented with duplicate of the silver
loving cup which the Sphinx Club gave
him, but which was stolen about year
ago The names of all the members of
the club are engraved on the cup. Oscar
made brief speech in reply.
Job Hedges Witty
Job E. Hedges upheld his reputation
as one of New Yorks chief after din
ner wits in introducing the guests OF
:he evening. Newcomb Cleveland, one
of the early members of the club, told
of the struggles of the first two or
three years, and pointed out the great
changes that have taken place in ad
vertising methods since that time.
He said in those days there were
practically only three classes of adver-
tising. Now advertising is general in
zations and entire communities. George
II. Daniels, of the New York Central
Railroad one of the early members,
should be given credit for being the
first to advertise scenery, Mr.. Cleve-
land said. The speaker took up the
question of government advertising
and said more of it should be done
The government pamphlets that are
now being issued. while they are ex-
cellent. are not reaching the public
for which they are intended, he said,
owing to lack of advertising. He made
strong plea for acquainting the nation
with the opportunities of foreign trade
through government advertising and
advocated a secretary of international
trade development, a post for which he
considered Mr.. Hoover best fitted.
S1,O00,0OO Month
Charles AUSTIN Bates, IN n talk on
the changes in advertising since the
founding of the Sphinx Club, said that
when the organization was founded a
business of S1,000,00O year was con
sidercd remarkable for an advertising
agency, but recently he heard of a con
Germ that is doing that much business
every month. Firms used to think they
were doing a great deal when they
spent $4,000 to $4,000 year, Mr.
Bates said. He quoted instances tc
show the enormous sums that are now
spent in securing certain kinds of pub.
licity.
r. T. R. Huntsman, president of the
Sphinx Club, acted as toastmeaster
The chief entertainment of the even.
ing was provided by the Sphinx Clubs
own minstrsls, with Harry Hoyt Coco
as interlocutor, and members of the
club in blackface and smart minstrel
costumes giving jokes and song par.
odies that dealt with advertising mat.
ters in general and club matters in par
tlcular.