The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-31
DRUNINEERS AT 'TONKA.
Pleasant Outing Closes the U. q. II.
Convention.


Convention.
The grand council of United Commercial
Travellers closed its session IN TINS city yes
terday with an outing at Lake Minnetonka
The convention, viewed as whole, has been
a decided success, considered as TO the mum.
hers in attendance. and as to the amount or
work accomplished. The last day of the con-
vention has been given up to the ceremonies
of initiation and the trip to the lake.
The forenoon had been spent with the goat,
thirty-two neophytes receiving the grana
bumpers degree 1t had been expected tnat
twice this number of candidates would put
in an appearance, but when the time came 10
undergo the ordeal the rest of the men found
it convenient to be elsewhere. However. the
business proceeded according to the usuaI
custom, and the new men were properly re-
ceived. This part of the days work fully
prepared the members of the coGicii loi IIS
afternoons rest and recreation.
At $3.50 the first special train pulled out
from the Milwaukee depot carrying load OF
300 travelling men and their ladies, and nj
teen minutes later a second train Followed
the first. likewise loaded to the platforms;
The entire delegation numbered about l,UQo
people, and 1t was the widest crowd, except.
ing crowd Of college students, that mas Hied
train In Minnesota. The men fairly let
themselves loose. They were out for run, ana
were bound to have it. Train men and every
one else came in for share of joshing by the
leaders, and storytelling and singing OF songs
helped pass the time of the ride to MIME
tonka Many OF the travellers had never seen
this beauty spot Of Minnesota peIore, ahe
their exolamations of surprise at Delng lanoeo
In the park about Hotel st. Louis were many.
Mine Host J. K Hall had laid himself out
to receive his first guests, the travelling men,
In royal style. He had been notified to ex-
pect 800 people, and acted accordingly. His
supplies for the occasion, going upon the
usual assumption that travelling men are
particular about their dinners. had been
brought together from all over the country
Minneapolis markets had been called upon,
and he had even gone so far as Kentucky. not
for the juices for which that state Is famous,
but for his spring chicken. He had brought
from Louisville 600 spring chickens ana each
chicken was good for two men.
1t was nearly o'clock when the last OF
the special trains reached the lake, and soon
the party was scattered over the GROUNDS
about the hotel, drinking in the lavish beau
ties of nature. In order to fully accommodate
the crowd, the banquet had been advertlseo
to begin at $50, and 1t was not long alter
that hour when the large dining room doors
were thrown open. stampede was made FOR
the DOORS Tables had been placed the entire
length Of the room, enough to seat 40O guests
at a time The dinner was served In courses,
and it was about o'clock when the first
diners left the room. For more than an hour
q hungry mob stood on the outside waiting
their turn, and during this period pande-
monium reigned. The jam was so great
that women tainted, and singing and 1eering
were INDUCED in. At length the doors opened
for the second tables, and mad rush was
made for seats.
ira concert was in progress.
The supper over, the guests crowded to the
Office and parlors and dancing was begun.
Soon the pavilion at the lake front was opened
and outdoor dancing We'd with that in the
dining room of the hotel. The crowd was i'm
mense so great that notice was officially
Given that none but members of the U. q. I.
should be allowed to remain in the room,
and many young fellows and their girls
from town were obliged to beat retreat.
The music was excellent the floors good and
ali the conditions were favorable for pleas
tlre except the crowded condition OF the
room. Nevertheless a programme OF ten
numbers was carried out, and all enjoyed the
evening There was no attempt on the part
of the ''drummers'' their better halves
TO make splurge in dress or otherwise, but
It was a noticeable fact that a large per-
centage of the travelling men had brought
with them good-looking wives or sweethearts.
They pride themselves on their ability to
fudge of feminine beauty.
The banquet served as an informal opening
of the St Louis hotel. The hotel is in hne
condition. and the treatment Of such a crowd
by the hotel shows its capacity. No less than
seventy-fve colored gentlemen had been Sc
cured to serve the tables sufficient in num-
ber as one gentleman remarked, to Tree
Cuba" A dozen cooks were needed to pre-
pare the food.
The pleasures Of the evening for the COM
nercial travellers closed with the pulling out
of the last special train to Minneapolis, and
thus ended the annual convention of the U. 9.
T. in Minneapolis.