The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-02
Rotary Club Dinner
Annual Entertainment Com
plimentary to the Ladies.
Address by DR.. w. D.
Melton, President of
University of South
Carolina

An annual event in the Rotary
Club calendar is Ladies Day, and
the Sumter Rotary Club. which was
organized just about one year ago,
observed its first Ladies Day with
a dinner at the Claremont Hotel
Monday evening. The Rotarians.
the ladies and few guests assem-
bled at the Claremont Hotel at
$50 and at S:45 dinner was served.
The tables, which completely filled
the dining room, were artistically
decorated with yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS and yellow shaded candles.
presented a gala and attractive
scene as the dinner party filed into
the room to the strains of an in
spring farch by Girard's orchestra,
which, during the evening, render
ed a pleasing musical program.
Following the clubs customary
silent blessing. with all standing,
America was sung by the entire
company. Between the courses Of
the dinner the party was entertain
ed with humorous reading and
solo by Mr.. D. L. Pierce, and de-
lightfui vocal solos by Mrs. Jno. D.
Lee and Miss Pauline Haynsworth
and several Rotary songs by the
club; the singing being led by Mr..
Pierce, whose ability as song
leader is admired and appreciated
by all Sumter people.
The only "stunt" and this was
entirely irnpromptu on the part. of
President S. H. Edmunds. who sum-
moned all members who failed to
bring wife or sweetheart to stand
before him and show cause why he
should not be adjudged in contempt
for neglect to abide by the rules
of the club. The summons was a
complete surprise to the guilty Ro-
tarians, as well as to the rest of
the company. and when they We're
lined up before the president their
faces were a ludicrous study of
complex and conflicting emotions.
The penalty, imposed was that
each Of the culprits should receive
and pledge himself faithfully to
deliver to the lady whom he should
have brought to the dinner a box OF
candy similar to those placed as q
favor at the place Of each OF the
ladies present. After complying
with the order to sins.a Rotary sons
the culprits were dismissed and
the banquet proceeded.
The climax of the evenings en-
tertainment came when President
Edmunds introduced DR.. W. D
Melton, president Of the University
OF South Carolina, the speaker o:
the evening. DR.. Melton's addres:
was comparatively brief, but it wa:
full Of wisdom and thought-in
spring observations, as an egg i:
Of meat: The central, idea of hi:
talk was the statement that the
greatest undeveIoped power of the
universe is the human soul. Ht
declared that the Outstanding weak
ness Of the hour is ignorance, anc
from this ignorance springs all o.
practically all the ills from which
our government and our industrial
system suffer. He cited some O
the striking and outstandingsfact
that study of our school system
reveals. and from these facts de
! duced the incontrovertible conclu
sion that our country needs ant
must have more education ant
better education. He stressed tn
, point that education Of the sou
was even more essential to civi'
health and prosperity than mere
technical or mental education. Hi:
address, while In serious vein aat
dealing primarily with problems o
! the grayest moment, was inter
spersed with apt and humorou
anecdotes that brought frequen
smiles to the faces Of his audienc'
and at the same time drove hom'
and clinched the conclusions tha
Ills dlSo ulHSul oCsC1oPSo.
The dinner was altogether a mos
enjoyable and successful event. ans
| for this result the entertainment
committee OF which George L
Kicker is chairman. and Manage
Pratt of the Claremont Hotel, ar
Jointly deserving of credit. Th'
entertainment committee left moth
! ing undene to make the dinner al
artistic and delightful entertain
! ment-the banquet caps, the plac
cards, the favors and the ar
rangement Of the tables-all con
itributed TO the completeness Of tn
entertainment and each detail wa
in keeping with we'll designe'
whole
The program was asAfollows:
March-Girard's Orchestra.
AMERICA.
Welcome to Ladies - Franci
Noise.
/ Solo-AIrs. John D. Lee; Accom-
PIANIST, Clifton Noise.
Reading-D. L. Pierce.
Solo-Miss Pauline Haynsworth
iaccompanist, Miss Marguerite Nc
| Leod.
solo-D. L. Pierce; accompanies
Miss Sadie Minis.
Address-Dr. D. w. Melton
, President, University of South Car
olina.
! The delightful menu prepared