Stag Roister D'Oister

Months ago in the recesses of her attic, Ruth Sutliff Phillips found a picture that she didn't understand. She called, saying she would like to donate the picture to the archives of Benton memorabilia slowly being accumulated for what we are calling the Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center. She recognized many of the men in the aging photo, but didn't understand the meaning of the insignia on the black and white photo, simply inscribed, "STAG, 4th Annual Inning, 1915."

It took months for us to figure it out, too.

Before what they called the "Great War" began, men of Benton cavorted in an annual "Stag Roister D'Oister" held in the Benton Town Hall. Classmates renewed old acquaintances; those who had moved away from home raced home for the big event held during the Christmas-New Year school holiday. It was a chance for the young men of the area who had attended school as classmates to get together for a social evening, and gave college boys a chance to get together with old school mates.

The main course for the supper was--surprise, surprise--oysters, and those attending could eat all of the product from the Chesapeake Bay their stomachs could hold. Oysters were served "as you like them," but mostly in the form of stew. The simple menu included crackers, olives and the favorite soft drink of the day, "Moxie," America's most popular soft drink up until the 1920's.

		Moxie was made in Lowell, Massachusetts, by Doctor Augustin Thompson's Moxie Nerve Food Company. It was first sold, around 1884, as a carbonated drink. Apothecary shops a few years later carried Moxie as a "nostrum," meaning it was stronger than a tonic and thus taken a spoonful at a time.
...just make it Moxie for Mine, For the strenuous life it is fine. It's a drink that they serve, Which will build up your nerve. So just make it Moxie for Mine!		Moxie was later also the first carbonated beverage to offer a sugar-free version.
The cure-all medicinal claims made on the original Moxie labels were quite incredible:		"Contains not a drop of Medicine, Poison, Stimulant or Alcohol. But is a simple sugarcane-like plant grown near the Equator and farther south, was lately accidentally discovered by Lieut. Moxie and has proved itself to be the only harmless nerve food known that can recover brain and nervous exhaustion, loss of manhood, imbecility and helplessness. It has recovered paralysis, softening of the brain, locomotor ataxia, and insanity when caused by nervous exhaustion. It gives a durable solid strength, makes you eat voraciously, takes away the tired, sleepy, listless feeling like magic, removes fatigue from mental and physical over work at once, will not interfere with action of vegetable medicines.

The Benton Euphony and Symphony Orchestra would make its once a year appearance for the Stag Roister D'Oister. The musical group did have a couple of good musicians, and some fellows who "borrowed" instruments the sound of which was best described as noise. In addition to their musical instruments, each young man was expected to bring his own "trough and shovel" (table service)

Printed programs added to enjoyment of the old Roister D'Oister suppers and the young men reveling in the "concert" by the orchestra including a long and loud period of group singing. The 1916 event included the playing of old favorites (?) including, "March of the Kaiser," "the Gushing Waters," "Three Privies," "Melody from Hong Kong," and the "Song of the Rusty Gate." The event was celebrated "without drugs, liquor or motor cars."

The 1915 Roister D'Oister. Of special note to the author is the picture of Robert E. Kline, on the left in the third row. How many men can you identify? The next photograph may help.

The year 1916 was the last year for the event, since the following year the United States was involved in the First World War, the "Great War" between the Central Powers and the Allies. About 10 million combatants were killed and 20 million wounded. The zeal for celebrating was suddenly gone.

Present for the 1916 get-together of the young men of Benton were (seated left to right) Sheldon Long, Karl Hess, Clayton Mather, George Ash, John F. McHenry, Herbert Keller and Burr Appleman.

Second row Frank Edson, Bruce Mather, Harold Yost, Polk Hartman, Frank Hosier, Harley Smith, Harry Chapin and Ward McHenry.

Back row Shirley Bobbins, Myron Savage, Claude Belles, Rupert Belles, Fred Hosier, Asahel Hess, Earl Laubach, Harry Ash, Stanton O'Brien, Lester Herr and "a visitor from out of town."