The San Francisco call., 1897-09-10
THREW Dull
Care ASIDE
Letter Carriers Pass a Day
Of Unalloyed Pleas
ure.
They Visited the Park, Cliff
House. Preside and Other
Points of Interest.
In the Evening All Sat Down to
Bountiful Repast at Odd
Fellows Hall.

At 9 o'clock yesterday morning the dele
gates to the Letter arriers' Convention
lined up in front of the Mint with look
OF solemnity on their faces which would
have done them justice had they been
about to attend the funeral of one OF their
most beloved member The business on
hand was not funeral. however, nor
were the melancholy looks due to any
sudden disaster. But the gentlemen were
about 10 have their pictures taken and
were making most pathetic attempts to
"look pleasant" The photographer put
the black cloth over his head and made
brief survey of his victims, but one glance
sufficed to show him that II they retained
that strained, hardened look the result
would be anything but complimentary.
With a second admo milton to 'look nat
urar he disappe ared behind the deadly
machine, and again he saw that to press
the button would be madness.
At this critical juncture wagon used
for collec ting N all assed down the street
and the effect was magical. For one brief
moment each face resumed its pleasant
aspect, and in an ecstacy OF Joy the pho
tographer pressed the button and-but
the camera did the rest.
AS soon as this trying ordeal was done
with the mail men and mem bers of the
ladies' auxiliary ensconsed themselves in
carriages with view TO seeing the town
and painting everything in the vicinity of
the Cliff House a fiery hue.
TwenIy-eight conveyances were pressed
in service and placed in mmand OF
Joseph McGill, as grand marshal. Mr..
McGlll made brief survey OF his ranks,
and was Just a bout to order the start " hen
he was checked by cry of dismay. The
fat men had made the discovery that
their bus was in the rear of the procession
while the feather-weigh hts were given the
first place. In an awed and softened tone
Mr.. McGiil explained to the delegation
of corpulent ones that the first carriage
was filled with 'atives of the
press, who must always have first place.
but that they might fall in second if they
chose. This arrangement proved satis-
factory and with blare of bugles the
start was made. Every body got out of
the way and all along the route they were
greeted with cheers and words OF welcome,
which were almost drowned in their own
glad songs.
The drive included trip through the
Presidio. luncheon at the Cliff House, re-
turning by way OF Golden Gate Park and
6 stop at the olympic Club, where
the delegates enjoyed the hospitality of
the club.
w
Cliff House Marshal McGill carefully
walked along and counted them, to make
sure none h ad met mishap, and was sur
prised at finding only twenty.seven. After
half an hour of anxious waiting he was
about to send out a search party, when a
team of horses was discovered toilng
YEARLY along the road, and the lat mems
bus finally hove in sight.
at the Cliff the visitors scattered around
and en- loved Mr.. Wilkins genial hospital
itv, and when the start for home was
made at o'clock all were reluctant to
leave, but their regrets were soon lost
sight of when the marvellous beauties of
Golden Gate Park we're unfolded before
them.
At the Olympic Club quarters the rooms
were thrown open ano the visitors amused
them selves in testing the gymnasium ap-
paratus, viewing the pictures or strolIlng
through the rooms.
In the evening all enjoyed boun te Gus
repast in the banquet-room of Odd Eel
lows Hall. L e room was prettily deco
rated in the Nationl colors and festooned
with ivy, and on the long tables covers
were laid for 800. Frank E. Smith as
POSTMASTER was replete with merry tests
and timely remarks, which added rnuch
to the enjoy ment of the occasion.
Some disappointment was felt. however,
at the unavoidable absence of James H.
Budd, James D. Phelan and Postmaster
Montague.
The following toasts were ably respond
ed to: California; Hon. James G.
Mcguire; recitation, Julius Kahn; The
Postoffice," d. S. Richardson; THE
Press Wells Drury; The National
Association" Jonn n. Parsons; EARLY
California" General William IL. l..
Barnes; civil Service" J. Richard Freud;
"Our Friends" Richard l. Whelan: lie
islative Committee" Charles III. Cutler;
Mutual Benef. Association" Charles
O'Brien.
The committee to whom the credit for
the success of the affair is due consists of:
H. F. Logan, Conrad Trieber. j. S. Sulli-
van, B. Z. Wig ginton and r. M. Roche.