The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-31
DRU1IaIERs at 'TGNKA.
Pheasant Outing Closes the U. G. II.
Convention,

The grand council of United Commercial
Travellers closed its session IN this city yes
terday with an outing at Lake Mlnnetonka
The convention, viewed as whole, has been
decided success, considered as to the num-
bers in attendance, and as to the amount Of
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 grand
bumpers degree. 1t had been expected that
twice this number of candidates would put
in an appearance, but when the time came 10
undergo the ordeal the rest OF the men 1ound
It convenient to be elsewhere. However, the
business proceeded according to the usual
custom and the new men were properly re.
ceived. This part of the days work fully
prepared the members Of the council Tor the
afternoons rest and recreation.
At $50 the first special train pulled out
from the Milwaukee depot, carrying load OF
500 travelling men and their ladies, and III,
teen minutes later second train foiloweo
the first likewise loaded to the platforms:
The entire delegation numbered about l,Ooo
people, and it was the widest crowd, except,
ing crowd of college students, tnat mas Hiieu
q train in Minnesota The men Ialrly le.
themselves loose. They were out for fun, and
were bound to have 1t. Train men and every
one else came in for share of 1oshing by the
leaders, and storytelling and singing OF songs
helped pass the time OF the ride TO Mlnne-
tonka Many of the travellers had never seen
this beauty spot Of Minnesota before ana
their exclamations of surprise at being lanaeo
in the park about Hotel st. Louis were many:
Mine Host j. K. Hall had laid himself out
TO receive his first guests, the travelng men,
In royal style He had been notified to eX-
pect 1900 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, and eacn
chicken was good for two men.
1t was nearly 5 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 peau-
ties of nature. In order to fully accommodate
the crowd the banquet had been advertised
to begin at $50, and it was not long after
that hour when the large dining room doors
were thrown open. stampede was mace ioF
the doors. Tables had been placed the entire
length Of the room, enough to seat 45o guests
at a time. The dinner was served in courses,
and it was about 8 o'clock when the first
diners left the room. For more than an nour
q hungry mob stood on the outside waiting
their turn and during this period pande-
fnonium reigned. The jam was so great
that women tainted. and singing and jeerlng
were INDUCED in. At length the doors opened
for the second tables, and a mad rush was
made for seats.
During the progress of the dinner an orches-
ira concert was in progress
The supper over, the guests CROWDED 70 the
office and parlors and dancing was Degun:
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 of1c1alIy
given that none but members of the U. u L.
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
all the conditions were favorable for pleas
ure. except the crowded condition OF the
room Nevertheless a programme OF ten
numbers was carried out, and all enjoyed the
evening There was attempt on the part
of the "drummers' or their better halves
to make splurge in dress or otherwise, but
It was noticeable fact that large per
centage Of the travelling men had brought
with them good-loolsing wives or sweethearts.
They pride themselves their ability TO
Judge of feminine beauty.
The banquet served as an Informal opening
of the St. Louis hotel The hotel is in fine
condition. and the treatment of such e crowd
by the hotel shows its capacity. No less than
Seyenty-five colored gentlemen had been Sc
cured to serve the tables, sufficient in num-
ber as one gentleman remarked, to free
Cuba" A dozen cooks were needed to pre-
pare the food
The pleasures of the evening for the COM
mercial travellers closed with the pulling out
of the last special train to Minneapolis, and
thus ended the annual convention of the U. q.
T. in Minneapolis.