North Carolina Newspapers

7he News Has the Largest Circulation of Any Afternoon Paper Published in the two Carolina : i : : t ,. ... mi: 4 o'clock Edition H '4 o'clock Edition THE ONLY EVENING ASSOCIATED PBE81 NEWSPAPER IN CHARLOTTS. ESTABLISHED 1888. CHARLOTTE, N. C.. FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 1908. PRICE 5 CENTS Negroes Warned To Leave Stat& Of Tennessee The eror China Taken To MEWS, Of Death Chamber Alleged Night Riders Re ported to Have Warned Many Negroes to Flee State Number of Fam ilies Do as Ordered, Home of One .of Those Warned Burned by Mid night Band Would Rid Section of All Negroes A Full Story. ': Associated Press. N'iishville, Tenu.. Nov. 13. As a ..-Milt of operations of a gang "of .Nii.ui itiuers in Henrietta vicinity, Chatham county, this state near ill-; Montgomery conty line, a number .'!. negro families have left the state. Within the last two weeks warn ".:i;s have been sent out that this M'.;i'u of the country would be; i'i.i . f negroes. !M Wiliiams was warned to leave ;j!.iiuT a month ago and did so. Scleral nights ago a band visited h. former home of Williams and u:!H.l his house and stable. Many sh-'ts were fired about the place. All of the tenants on the farm of !vi. trMSton nave moved awav on .Liimiit of threats. Henrv Lvans. colored, is said to luive been called upon by a hand of ,.n nun and to nave lost no time in sit-tting away. FOUNDERS DAY AT Y. M. C. A. Rev. W. M. Hunter Wiil be Speaker at Meeting for Wen. Th? meeting for men to be held Sun .'wy afternoon at 5 o'clock at the Young Mtu's Christian Association promises :.i he a must interesting one. The spec inl interest is because of the fact that Sunday will be founder's Day. Just 34 r:n ago the local Young Men's Christian Association was organized, ;n-l within six months after organiza !ie Rev. W. M. Hunter was elect '.1 i.nM.Vt!!. The Association is toe "iuaie Si- '.nvinc this early a life-long .ii'.w.i -a U e. nsbociafion cis a speaker at the meering. Mr. Hunter-has chos en for the t-ubject of his address. "The ''('iinfge of Daniel."' Mr. Ii;;;:-er is ;;t present the pastor "i h- first A. R. p. Church, of Littl? R"i k. Ark., and v.-ill spend a few days in he city visiting relatives. Tiie meeting will be open for all men, whether eunnmed with the Y. M. C. A. or not. Special music will also be provide.-!. The nieviiiig will take place iu Han- ita Hall. HEARING POSTPONED. D'g Suit Between Rockingham Power Company Stockriders for Control. A hearing before Jiidirp Welilv he- 'ween the two warrina' factions of the) '."'kmsUiMi! power Company was' to nave ! eeii held yesterday, but, by agreement, whs postponed until De ' ihber :ji il. w hen the matter will come ;M m chambers at Laurinburg. . 'm is an action in which the fight J- between the North Carolina stoc-k-"i'.!"rs of the comnanv. headed by "" McRa. & Co., of Wilmington. ;tI ;!,,. .(,rthern stockholders; for me -'j'Hn.i ;n .ajs u.m 10.000 company. A Horse Badly Hurt. A hfirse hitched to a small wagon mi aiu-e street, before the home of :"" !.. r;. Johnston, became entangled in He- lines this morning and fell to J"'' ground. He was evidently hurt. A Mm,:! whir.- hoy came to his aid after ' nm.' and rgot his head free, thus pre 'iitsng the animal's breaking his neck, -vet,!! colored men passed by on the " aer side but the little boy stood man- :'." '' Hie prostrate animal until a r':7 """'"'r wagon came along and two ""'1'"'1 men in it got off and cut the "I'tless ofT tilt, hnivn He was badly '"'used and bleeding. Baptists Of Virginia (. ajam.md. A'a.. Nov. 13. Between and Tun delegates and almost an 'i iai number of visitors have come "' i' limoiid for the annual convention .. ";e Baptist (Jeneral Association of 'ovn.ia. !,!" ' finv-ution has its forinal open- in tl. First Baptist church this i";i,-ig an i the sessions will continue 11 A ednc-saiay. . , : ! i'i'iition to the usual routine of TS-h1!'.' U hf blo"Sht before the as- .iM-i e wji oe a number of ad- on education, and the plans I, ouing a exeat P.;ntict nioU onH college in Richmond will be fonunission entrusted with the 't raising H $00,000 endowment ' ' !"' the pronesed college will re--ratitying progress. Schooner ' Ashore A associated "Press.- . -n-w lork. Nov 13. The schooner V. - lyiai K, from Savannah frt- o'K, is renorted - n-rmnnA nn :;"" Shoal. A wreckin '-r assisjance. trig has Contest For Offices In Federation of Labor By Associated Press. Denver, Colo., Nov 13. Rumors of contests for official honors in the American Federation of Labor are beginning to be heard, although the election of officers does not take place until the latter part of next week. No one is mentioned as the oppon ent of Mr. Gompers for re-election but there is a report that Thomas L. Lewis, who succeeded John Mitch ell as president of the United Mine uorkers of America, will oppose Mr. Mitchell for the position of second vice president of the- Federation. Junior Order to Have Thanksgiving Service. Special to The News. Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 13. In answer fto a call by State Councilor Brewer, of the Junior Order of American Mechan ics, the three councils of the order in this city wil probably join in a suitable una appropriate inanksgivmg Day service, to be held in the lodge rooms of the order. This is one of the great est strongholds of the order in this state and the membership is increasing at a rapid rate. Texas .Lumbermen Meet. 'Houston. Texas, Nov. 13. The large crowd of visitors already in Houston for the fall carnival was increased this morning by the arrival of several hun dred prominent lumbermen, come to attend the annual session of the Texas Hoo-Hoo and Lumbermen's Club. The lumbermen will remain in the city two days. Several business sessions are scheduled but tne greater part of the time has been left open for the enjoy ment of the carnival parades and other festivities. There will be an important meet ing of the members of the intermediate department of the Boys Club of the Young Men's Christian Association to night at 8 o'clock. All members of this 'department nre urged to be pres ent. " Tar Heels' s to Size JJie Game Charlotte Alumni of The University Believe Rich mond Game Will Be Better Than is Gener ally Expected. In spite of the. advance information sent jut from certain quartets that the University of Virginia would "wallop" Carolina in the game at Richmond, Va., on Thanksgiving Day there is a feel ing oi" confidence among "down bomei - s" there will be no "walloping" at all.' On the other hand Tar Heels in every part ot the state believe if there is any walloping done- Carolina will come in for her share of it. North Carolina has he-ni materially handicapped, novivrr, in the loss of Captain Thomas, a Charlotte boy, who was hurt in a practice game at Chapel F, yesterday afternoon. - Captain lhon.. ? will be -out of the Virginia game and his absence ' from '"the line will be felt, but the boys who have played with him for two seasons will go into the game with the same deter mination to win ?s though their ea tain wr.s holding down his -usual posi tion. From indication Charlotte and this immoderate section of the state will, as usual, send a full aggregation to Richmond to se the game.- Both the Seaboard and Southern railroads will operate special trains from Charlotte to Richmond and as the round trip fare 'is only $5 a good many alumni and their friends will take," the trip. Both specials will leave Charlotte the night before Thanksgiving at about S o'clock, and will arrive in Richmond the following morning ,for breakfast. Returning the trains will leave Rich mond ;fte:- the theatres close and wiil reach Charlotte the next morning about ten o'clock. Both trains will carry pullmans. Funeral of Mrc. Stone. The funeral of Mrs. Mabel 'Clark Stone.. wife'of Mr. Euward Stone.whose deatlr occurred last night at half past 8 o'clock at her home No. 1119 South Caldwell street, was held from the house this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. The services were conducted by Rev. A.-L. Coburn. The pallbearers were: Messrs. W. W. Cole, H. C. Fite, J. R. Fanlkner. J. H. Nevin and L. R. Mc Call. . . , , Mrs. Stone is survived by her hus band and a child, two weeks old; also her father, Mr. W. S. Clark, and three brothers and three siters. Messrs. J. P. Stowe, A. Morris Mcr Donald and Lieutenant Oliver H. Dock erv TJ S. A., left yesterday for Man- gum to spend a few days in the hunt- in? fields. ' ' i Rev. Frank Dudley Jones, pastor of Westminster Presoyterian church, in Dilworth, was cabled td Aiken, S. C, vesterdav owins to the critical -illness of Mrs. Jones mother, Mrs. Wyman. THE TARIFF OK T I 08AGG0 UNDER DiSGUSSIO By Associated Press. By Associated Press. Washington,' D. C, Nov. 13. Tobac- "Hamm. Westphalia, Germany, Nov. co and articles manufactured from ti03Re'scue operations to reach the bacco, coming under schedule F. of the Dingley tariff law, are being consider ed today at a public hearing before the House Committee on Ways and .Means'108- uf life, have -not yet been com- which has in hand the work of pre paring a readjustment of the tariff law for presentation to the special ses sion of congress to be "calKid next March. Total importa ti.ms of unmanufactur ed tobacco foi- the year 1907 were valu ed at $29,96Q,183, yielding the govern ment a revai, rof $26,123,037, .which tii7idiifes"th'e -Importance of this arti cle in considering any readjustment of the tariff. The . exports amounted to $33,377,39X. Don't Want Change. Hearing on the tobacco schedule was completed at the morning session, none of the 10 representatives of tobacco growers of New England. Florida and Georgia desiring a change in the tariff on tobacco leaf. ft is not expected that any change in the present rates of duty on tobacco or manufacturers of tobacco will be recommended by committee. Fine Progress on 8-Story Building. Special to The News. Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 13.The exca vation work is about completed . and material is being placed on the ground lor the handsome 8-story office building to be erected by Mr. H. Clay Grubb on the site of the old burned Marion House, corner of -Main and Inniss streets. When completed this will be one of the handsomest buildings in the Carolinas. Salisbury Choral Socie ty Giyes Concert Special to The News. Salisbury, N. C, Nov '13. The Salis bury Charal Society, under the direc tion of Prof. Nelson V. Taylor, a noted local musician, gave its first public con cert in the auditorium of the graded school last night to an appreciative au dience. - The society, is composed of the best local talent. The proceeds of last night's entertainment will be added to the school library fund. LAND TRANSFERS. Charlotte Real Estate Changes Hands at Good Prices. Mr. A. M. McDonald has sold to Mr. K. R. Trotter a building lot on Eliza beth avenue, adjoining the new resi dence of Mr. N. J. Weeks. The deal was negotiated by Morris E. Trotter. A man cannot serve two masters any more than woman can serve style and comfort. ' Steals Keys From Post master And Robs Qmce Special to The News. Salisbury. N. C, Nov. 13.-Yesterday morning Postmaster C. E. Fesperman, of East Spencer, upon , arising, discov ered that his sleeping apartments had been entered through a window and the pockets of his trousers robbed of a watch and keys. Investigation revealed the fact that the robber used the keys to enter" the store of Mr. Fespermari nearby, in which the- East Spencer postoffice is located, and had made off with two dol lars in cash, a quantity of stamps and some merchandise. There is no clue to the identity of the thief, although officers were at work today on the case. BEGINNING TO SPEED AGAIN ! men entombed in the Radbod Mine, where the explosion of fire-damp oc curred yesterday, with result in a great pleted. The authorities estimate that there are still 36t) miners below the ground, but no' hope is entertained that they : can be saved. The mines are being walled in, in an endeavor to choke the fire. Thirty more dead bodies were brought up from ftS,' ehaft this morn ing.. ' ' The scenes witnessed are pitiful in the extreme. The wives of the imprisoned miners are demanding why the authorities keep their husbands below ground and several of the women have become in sane and been taken to the asylum. j There is danger of further explosions in the mine from the extensive stores of dynamite at the bottom of tne pit. Mrs. Reid's Condi tion Is Critical By Associated Press. Denver, Colo., Nov. 13. Weakened by disease and drugs Mrs, Allen F. Read, who threatened the life of Mrs. Genevive Chandler Phipps with dynamite Monday, may never live to undergo the experiences of the prison cell or madhouse, as a consequence of her daring attempt at extortion. The latest information reaching Hie Chief of Police is that Mrs. Read's condition was extremely critical. A message came from her husband in whose care Airs. Read was placed bv order of the Chief. DAVICSON-WAK FOREST. Plan on Foot for Annual Thanksgiv ing Game Here Between These Two Teanic. - On account of the Virginia Military Institute cancelling the game on Thanksginving Day at Lynchburg wtth Davidson College it is very likely that Davidson Collge and Wake Forest will play here on this date. Wake Forest is just re-entering football, after being out since 1S93, and of course does not have a very strong team this year, but it is expected that, in a year or two they will get back in their old form and as in the days past have one of the strongest teams' in " the South. A movement is on foot to have the Davidson-Wake Forest game an annual event in Charlotte, as there' is no big football game now held on Thanksgiv ing Day between Richmond and At lanta and it-is believed that -a large crowd will assemble in Charlotte wuo cannot get. to those places. People turn out in large numbers to Thanksgiving games who will not go to games at any other time during the season. PERSONAL. Mr.. H. W., Clifford, of Statesville, was in the city today. Mr. J. A. Martin, of Hickory, was here today. Mr. Joe Cooper, of Lonisburg, was here today. . ' Mr. W. E. Moore, of Forest City, was in the city today. Mr. T. V. Fry, of Hickory, was here today. Mr. C. M. Hughes, of Washington, D. C, was at the Central today. - Mr. Jas. R. A. Wilson, of Greensboro, was in the. city today. Mr. E. P. Green, of Davidson, was here today. . - Messrs. Julian Wodard and J. A. Kelly, of Asheville, were in 'the city today, stopping at the Selwyn. THREE HUNDRED r MM STILL. ENTOMBED RTflLlf SHOT NEAR RALEIGH Special to The News. Raleigh, N. C, Nov. 13. James Tur ner, a well known farmer youth, 1 years old. fatally shot a negro hoy at Garner, this county, this morning in a quarrel. ' ' Turner was not arrested, At. Wendell, Ed. Perry fatally wound ed another negro in a drunken quar rel. Perry escaped. The Southern detective ., Bureau is chartered to organize and train a corps of detectives for service in North Caro lina, with headquarters at Wilmington. Capital is $5,000, by S. JL Renfrow and others. W.'E. Bell, of Monroe, was brought to the penitentiary today to serve a four" years sentence for embezzlement of $1,200 from the Singer Sewing Ma chine Compfny. He was in charge of a. Monroe officer. He has a wife and three children. . FOURTEEN JiVILL EXHIBIT. " This Number of Firms Will Have Space at Municipal Convention. Fourteen dealers and manufacturers of municipal machinery and appliances have signified their intention of having an exhibit here during the session oi the convention of municipal officials, which will be held here on the 17th and 18th. These are as follows: The Thomas B. Whitted Company, Charlotte, engineering contractors. The Neptune Meter Company, of New York. Water and s meters. The Edison Portland Cement Compa ny. New York. Hersey Manufacturing " Company, South Boston. Mass; Pittsburg Meter Company,' Pittsburg', Pa. Water and gas meters. W. M. Toy tc Company. Sidney, Ohio. Street scrapers. 4 Virginia Bridge and Iron Company, Roanoke. Va. ' - Lynchburg Foundry Company. Carey Roofing Company. Southern Machinery and Equipment Company. Lynchburg. Va. The Thompson Leter Company, Brooklyn, N. Y. ' - Stone & Barriuger, Charlotte, office supplies and . filing systems. Dr. Lyerly Accepts Call To Iredell Churches Special to The News. Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 13.Rev. Dr. J. M. Lyerly, of Crescent, this county, has been secured as pastor of the Re formed church at Mt. Tabor, Hedrick's Grove, Jerusalem and Bueck's. (Dr. Lyerly is one of the leading divines in the Reformed church in North Caro lina. He was the candidate on. the recent state Republican ticket "for superin tendent of public instruction. LOOKS LIKE SNOW. Temperature Remained Stationary Throughout the Day. The weather observer does not pre dict snow in his forecast today, but from every indication the clouds point that way. .The temperature has re mained practically stationary through out ' the day and unless the mercury goes up people of Charlotte' will not be surprised to see the ground, covered with snow before tomorrow morning. The temperature this morning at o o'clock was 36 degrees. . Tliere will be a meeting of Char lotte Chapter R. A. M. in the Pied mont building tonight at 8-o'clock. All Chapter Masons are invited. A girl regards her life as a failure if she has net succeeded iu making a fool of at least one man. Plan Mammoth War eh 6 us e By Associated Press. " New Orleans, La., Nov. 13. Although the convention of the Farmers' Edu cational and Co-Operative Union and the thhei" business" interests of New Orleans, will hold joint sessions and put a plan for a mammoth warehouse in New Orleans 'into definite shape. TRYON STREET STEWARDS. Chosen for Next Year at Last Quarter ly Meeting. At the' fourth quarterly meeting for JTryon Street Methodist church Wed nesday night the" following stewards were elected for the ensuing year: Messrs. D. H. Anderson, J. R. Ivey, A. H. Wearn, M. F. Kirby. E. A. Cole. J. G. Freeland, li.-D. Heath, T. J.'Lil lard, J. D. MqCall, J. W. Mangum, Geo. A. Page. Chas. S. Stone, R. L.. Duval, W. W. Hagood. W. M. Jordan, J. F. Misenheimer. Jno. A. McRae, B. J. Overcash. Dr. K. C. Register, Dr. H. F. Ray. C. W. Tillett. Jno. C. Wat son, J. W. Wadsworth, Dr. A. M. Whis nant, P. C. Whit lock,-Joe McLaughlin, S. H. Hilton, Fred McGinn. Dr. W. M. Roby, L. L. Caudle and J. Y. Wedding- ton. All cept the these. were re-elections, two last. Mr. E. A. Cole was re-elected Sunday school superin tendent, and M. F. Kirby district stew ard. BROKE HIS .HIP. Mr. R. R. King Seriously Fall. Hurt by a Mr. P.. Jl. King, of King wood, one of Mecklenburg's best known citizens had the misfortune to fall yesterday and break his leg, at the hip. Owing to Mr. Kings's fcxlrenie age, he being over 89 years, the injury is considered seri ous. . Mr. 'King is the father of Miss Lelia King, matron of the Y. W. C. A. Traffic Bureau May Be Added Greater Charlotte Club Hears Mr. T. L. Black Tell of Success he Has Had inColtectitig Claims of Shippers Before the- standing of the Greater Charlatte ing at the Selwyn last T. L. Black outlined the pursued and the success committees Club, mect- night, Mr. methods he he has had in the conduct of a traffic bureau in this city. The club has a special committee on 'freights and freight rates, which has under consideration recommending to the club somej kind of close connection or alliance with Mr. Black's bureau. What Mr. Black.. has done since the first of January when ho estab lished his traffic bureau is remark-! able. He stated that ho. had hand- led something like $50,000 worth of! claims against the railroads. Of this amount 90 yer cent . had either been collected or was in a way to be col lected. Ten per (rent had been found to be un-collectablo, cither because the claims were not well or for other reasons. Of the of claims he had handled founded! amounii he hadj actually collected 50' per cent. Mr. , Black had friction " with the not needed to go gle instance, and fact! Hiad takeu out. done this without, railroads. He had to court in a sin-j as a matter of ot court a mioiuer of claims which had been in litiga- tion. Mr. Black was . for a, number oi years in this cilv freight agent of the Southern Railway and . before coiujuk neie nun tj.xiieriuucu m ima . i i- ; .... 4.. n,!,,'""1- - - , branch of the road's work. He is the tariffs ot therefore .familiar with. the railroads and has also acquired an intimacy with the rules and rul ings of the state, corporation com mission, which are valuable to him in operating the institution he has established . . , . '. Several' members of the club tes tified to valuable work that Mr. Black' had done for them in collecting claims. At no little length the commit teemen present discussed ways . and meaiis for securing the services of Mr. Black for the Greater Charlotte; Club, both for the serving of raem - hers who belonged to the clubhand in the way ot. supplying informa - tion . as to " freight rates" to hew . . industries which contemplate com ing to this city. The committee profit - ed by the suggestion or bers "and took the subject ther deliberation. - " ; The ommittees were boiling over with enthusiasm . on tile subject; of securing new - members. The cam . . . - . 1 t pai n now oeiDK SU atmciy i"3uc is to secure 500 members- by Dec. 1 The meiobers of the club are working Cum, who recently arrived in this coun in dead earnest and have already e-; try as a special envoy with Prince" cured a goolv uumber of names. . " Tang. Shaoyi, was coxswain of the Yale President W. S. Lec, who enter- ( '3 varsity boat and is the only China tained the committees last, night, man in. the world who can. wear the leads the. list with seven names, and varsity "Y." He has the distinction also his record was applauded ' when of being the ,onjy Chinese member ot secretary Corwith read it out. - : the Delta Kftppa Epsilou fjeraitr, According to Report the Ruler of Chinese Empit e Can Only Live Short While- His Successor to Throne N. One Rumor is to Effect That Emperor is Dead Wu Ting Fang Com ments On News Sent Out. 1 By Associated Press. ; . " Pekin, Nov. 12. nThe Emporor of China was reported dead- at 4 o'clock this afternoon. It had, 'however, been impossible to secure official confirma tion of this announcement up to t o'clock this evening. His Majesty was transferred to the death chamber at 2 o'clock in the afterncon. At tliat hour he was istill breathing. Two emnerial edicts were issued from the palace this afternoon in quick suc cession. 'The. first makes Prince Chun, Regent of Empire, and the sec ond appoints his son, Pu Wei, Heir prc sumptive. Simultaneously with the re- ex-fmoval of the emperor fiom the winter palace to the death chamber in the loroiuden city, memoers ot urana Council assembled in the palace. The Dowager Empress was present at this meeting, and is reported to have swooned. At' half past four this after noon a palace official of high standing said the Emperor was still alive. All government officers are deserted. The palace is crowded with -officials. Refused Meaical Aid. Prince Chun is a brother' of tu3 Emperor. His name is Tsai-Feng and lie succeeded to the title of his father Prince Chun, in 1S91. The last illness of the Emperor as sumed a serious aspect a fortnight ago. It' was then declared he was suffering from grave intestinal complaint; He -has persistently refused to accept west ern medical attendance although med ical men attached to legations here have stood ready to give their sevice. Wu Ting Fang Comment. Washington, Nov. -13. The Asso ciated Press despatches gave first news of the death of the Emperor. When they were shown to Minister Wu Ting Fang, the minister comment ed: . . - "But reports of his death, havo been received - before? - He added, however, that while he had not been notified, such notification .was not" to be expected immediately- after death, on account of the coiuoioiion which would follow the demise of the Em peror. The Minister - explained that the Emperor's death at this time" would not interfere with the policy of reform which had -.-been adopted, and partially put into practice by the Chinese government. Wu explained that as the Emperor had no direct descendants the infant . son of the brother of the Emperor would prob ably be called to the throne. No Definite - Information. . . Pekin, Nov. 13 This rumor if, true would explain two edicts issued late this afternoon regarding the. regeucv tor tne umpire, rorejgn reSifients of Peking are confused by the sudden developments of today ami various reports and rumors emmatea from the palace. - It is absolutely impossible to ob faiu any confirmation officially of the reported death of the Emperor and" coudition of the Dowrager Empress. Edicts of today bear the najne. or Kuang-Hsu which indicates he was still alive at the hour members of lhe grand council were in conference at the paace. This was at two 0-ciock in the afternoon-. The second ict ordors. tnat the . Hu Wei, son. nf wi,, n..m .a. child five Years old, be trained in the palace for; suc cession to the throne. This makes him heir presumptive. Peking, Nov. 13.It is reported that 1th,-. HriwrifPi- pmnrfisa IS.alSO di'inK. D. K.E.FratMen Ho I d Banquet New York, N. Y-, Nov. 13. Nine, hun dred members of the Delta Kappa Eps ilou' fraternity are to gather about the banquet board ot the Waldorf-Astoria tonight as a fitting climax to the big convention of the society which had its beginning in New Haven last Wed- nesday and was coninue in Hartford i yesterday. The banquet promises to be one' of ; the most ist notable affairs of its kindihat has taken place in the metropolis in a i, . T t- FT . i". a .ions urn?, "oiiantis x - . i aiiy i ui " "iiir , cinnati; brother of President-elect Taft, the memv is to act as toastmaster and among under fur-, the notable speakers will be Secretary " ' jof the Navy. JVIetcalf, Senator Bever-" idge, of. Indiana; .Senator Bi-andegee. of Connecticut, aid ex-Governor Black, cf New York. It is also expected that Hon. Cum' Men Yow. Yale. '84. will.' attend and contribute to the toasts. . v.-;'-" v - -