Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 255, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1911 — A Stag Party At “Doe’s” Makes One Glad He’s Alive. [ARTICLE]

A Stag Party At “Doe’s” Makes One Glad He’s Alive.

One time Henry "Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: x “When thou are worn and hard beset With troubles that thou wodst forGo to the woods and hills, No sorrow dims the sweet look that \ nature wears.” It is worked differently in Rensselaer and when the good fellows of town commence to feel a little restless from long .apathy in a social way, they pull off a “stag” party on 6. R. Nichols. “Doc” was going along quietiy, unmindful of the fleeting years that have turned what hair they left him a silver hue, and a little thing like a birthday is regarded by him as a smhll affair. But Mrs. Nichols and the live wires did not overtook It and to ward off suspicion they pulled off . the stunt a day ahead of time. It just took the wind, out of “Doc” worser than it he had been skinned in a steer trade, When a couple of dozen fellows walked in on him Friday night. "Doc” is a pesky keen critter to see through a thing, however, and he saw that everyone had “seven-up” in their minds and then he found that his wife had a half dozen card tablee and a lot of extra chairs on the back porch and a half dozen women in the kitchen getting a lunch ready and he just up and acknowledged that he was darned glad he was 67 years .old and he didn’t care who knew it. Before you could say “Jack Robinson” the number had swelled to thirty-five and every one knew or though he knew something about seven-up. In a jiffy the contest was on and it waxed furious for about three hours. Then a reckoning was taken and it was found that Charley Blue was t r he best of the bunch and Dr. Hemphill, the poorest. Charley was presented with a pair of silk socks, the kind a fellow Wears in the spring of the year when he can turn his trousers up three tiers and hold up his foot like a girl does her finger when she gets an engagement ring. Dr. Hemphill received a deck pt cards to practice up with. L V; ' ‘ ' The best part of the performance then took place and the guests forgot everything about socks and victory and defeat and “fell to” a splendid lunch consisting of scalloped oysters, chicken sandwiches, pickles, coffee, pumpkin pie and cheese. The pie was like mother used to make and about half of the guests got it ali over their ears in their eagerness to come in for a second serving. Jess Nichols moaned like sixty when he went to get up from the table and said he could teil for certain that be would go Bonn and dream a whole novel before morning. The break away came just as Friday passed Into history and “Doc’s” birthday dawned as brightly as the clear sky brilliantly studded with stars which greeted the departing guests. Now, we think that’s a real nice finish and yet we are willing to try to bear it every time “Doc” has a birthday or any other basis for a “stag.” Oh, yes, the guests took a dandy new rocking chair, the “grandfather” kind, to “Doc.” Manager Taylor, of the Lowell opera house, accompanied Our Stock Co on its rounds this week, owing to a split the company had with Ralph Gano, who went to Chicago Sunday and failed to return. The company had been operating on a salary basis and not enough business was done to meet the salaries. After Mr Cano's disappearance the members of the company decided to run during the week on the co-operative basis and Mr. Taylor accompanied them as manager. It was decided to disband, however, at the end of the week and to return to Chicago and undertake to effect a new organization. If possible Mi 4 . Gordon, last year’s manager, will be procured to direct the affairs of the company, and they may return, and resume weekly visits after two or three weeks. Many of the .nW bets of the company are very talented and the performances have been high class but, the business not very encouraging. Miss Forrester is an excellent leading lady and Edward Wynn and George Flint are both splendid leads, while James Rolfe is good .tn alt character parts. Under the management of Mr. Gordon the company should be able to do a paying business in the towns of the old circuit.