Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-15
HAD MANY VISITORS.
Nearly Three Thousand People Come 10
on tbe Several Excursions.
ALL HAD HAPPY DAY.
Many spent the Day shopping,
While others Devoted Their Time
TO visiting Places of Interest,"
To Run Another Series Next Month.

Our country cousins swarmed in on us
yesterday. though they did not catch US
unawares, as we were expecting them.
and had prepared ourselves 70 receive
them accordingly.
Nearly three thousand people, all from
the rural districts OF Virginia, spent the
day In our midst, combining business with
pleasure, and on the whole the time spent
here was profitable TO them and profitable
to our merchants, while 1t enabled the
"cty folks and country folks" TO be-
come better acquainted with each other.
Excursions under the auspices Of the
Association for the Development Of Rich
mond Trade were run over the Norfolk
and Western railroad from Farmville and
intermediate points, over the Chesapeake
and Ohio from Charlottesville and inter-
mediate points, Fort Monroe and interme-
date points, and Howardsville DANES
River Division) and intermediate points.
Ten coaches each came in from Char
lottesville and Farmville, and eight from
Howardsville. These together brought
about twenty-five hundred persons, While
about six hundred came In on the train
from Fort Monroe. Many OF those who
came on the excursion from Oxford We'd
nesday had remained over, and they help
ed TO swell the crowd.
SCENES on BROAD STREET.
From what could be learned the eXcur-
sions were even a greater success than
those of last month. both as to numbers
and results. Broad street was crowded all
day with the visitors. and all
n
age OF some sort under their arms. II
was a big. good-natured crowd. and none
Of them were heard to complain Of the
weather. They had plenty of time, no
doubt to do that at home, and hadn't
come here to waste words on such an or
binary topic of conversation, or to make
people mad by asking If II was hot enough
for them. AS long as IT didn't rain they
were happy. and as no announcement had
been made that the rOof-garden would
open for the first time that night, no one
feared that the elements would be unpro-
pitious AS II was, old Sol shOne down
on his rural friends with as beaming a
countenance az he ever looked upon them
at noon in a corn-field on July day.
BEST CLASS OF PEOPLE.
The excursionlsts were composed Of the
best class of country people those who
~
the term, and had probably visited Rich
mond more than once before to do their
shopping but never at as low rate as
offered them by the association. The or
binary term, "hayseed," could not be ap-
Piled 10 any of them, and none OF them
seemed to be afraid OF the cars. Indeed
as most Of them spent the greater portion
Of their time on Broad street, they had
no need 10 be.
PLEASED WITH THE TRIP.
The morning hours were spent mostly
in shopping, while in the afternoon the
visitors enjoyed themselves in looking
over the city and resting in the parks.
Nearly all Of them expressed themselves
as being greatly pleased with the trip
and the manner in which they had been
treated. They seemed to think the idea
OF running excursions here every month
or so was a good one. and that the coun-
try people would avail themselves Of the
opportunity afforded them TO visit the city
at such low rate OF fare.
The threatening weather Of Wednesday,
they said. had kept many from coming
on this excursion, as at some places II
had rained during the entire night.
Among those who came from Farmville
were a number OF the students OF the
state Normal School. Mrs. p. w. McKin-
ney and daughter also awaited themselves
Of the trip, and at Burkeville a delegation
from the Southside Female Institute join
ed the party. which was further increased
by President James Cannon, Jr., Of the
Blackstone Female Institute, and a num-
Der of his pupils.
ANOTHER SERIES IN JUNE.
II is the intention OF the Association for
the Development Of Richmond Trade 10
run another series Of excursions here In
June, some time between the 10th and
18th meeting Of the Executive Com
mittee will be held Monday night to con-
slider the matter.
II is said that probably nine tenths OF
the excursionists from North Carolina
were merchants, thus showing that the
wholesale trade here also comes i'm FOR
some Of the benefits of the work Of the
| association.