The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14
DRUGGISTS LAST
DAYS SESSION
Big F east and Olympic Games
at Fair Grounds.
OFFICERS WE'RE ELECTED
GERS WE'RE ELECTED
r y. STEDMAN, OF OXFORD. CHIC
sen PRESIDENT.
MEETAT CHARLOTTE NexT YEAR
The People Of Raleigh We're Eeioiced
to Have the Pleas lnt Pharmacists
as Their Guests, and Will Always
Gladly Welcome 'hem.

vention meeting in Raleigh yesterday af-
ternoon with an afternoon of good things
for the inner man, excitement for the
participants in boyish sports of relaxa-
ton and sidc-splitting laughter for those
who were content to sit by and watch
the fun.
Rain fell fitfully during the afternoon,
but it served only to drive the pill-rollers
and their friends for occasional diver
sion in the large covered Enclosure of
Floral Hall at the Fair grounds, where
the feast and the fun making took place.
The morning hours were taken up with
the regular business of the association
in meeting and it was twO-thlrty in the
afternoon when special cars carried the
hail-fellow-we ll-met crowd to the grounds.
There, under the benign supervision of
Secretary Nichols, of the Agricultural
Association, the host, Henry King and
John Y MacRae. who fitted around the
long tables in solcitous anxiety to make
every guest the biggest eater" and Dick
Girsch who supervised things speciical-
ly, the druggists and doctors and their
friends partook of such a feast of crisp
barbecue and accessories as would de-
serve place in tabled song could Il
genius do the singing. The 'Deus ex
Machina,' as evidenced in the savory or
doris of barbecued porcine and Bruins
wick stew was the great and the only
Sampson Anderson. That his poems
in the outdoor culinary art found hearty
appreciation goes without saying.
Druggists are genial lot, and their
friends are none the less so. Doctors
and lawyers and all kinds of odd trades
were represented at the tables. Mayor
Russ sat at one end and thought of a
new joke for every mouthful; J. Y Mac
Rae, Z. p. Devereaux, Esq, Col. Shaffer,
Greek o. Andrews and Richard Gwath-
my added materially to the gayety of
nations. And ever and anon rang the
melodious first and second minor laughter
of Henry King and Bob Mebane that
filled the old hall with music that thrill
ed away up through the rafters. 1t
was goodly feast, sent to its rest with
the sauce of mirth; and it was long drawn
out.
Immediately after the barbecue, the
Olympic games were called. Col. j. Hal
Bobbitt, who had already won the prize
for heavy weight pill-pounding was itch
ing for further honors. So he challenged
Heavy Eater Fetzer for foot-race,
but the latter explained that, owing to
his recent exertions he was unable to
compete. Then came Mayor Russ, heavy
of build but light of heart. They threw
off their coats, they toed the mark. The
crowd drew back apprehensively; they
started. For the first parasang the legs
of our Mayor went up and down with
lgihtning-like rapidity. His couple of
century pounds cut swiftly across the
green. Druggist Bobbitt followed smil-
lingly two lengths behind. The crowd
cheered the Mayor. 1t looked like his
race. But in the end the longitudinal
Bobbitt oer-came the latitudinal Russ.
The Mayor faltered while the goal was
almost within his grasp, his head flew
back, his mouth flew open; he. was lost.
Col. Bobbitt INDICATED his reputation as
a Splinter; he won by half a length. The
race was fifty yards, the time thirteen
second. 1t was killing pace.
Following this even came an exciting
game of ball which lasted three innings.
The Sugar coats cleaned the Gelatine
Caps by score Of four to one. 1t was
an exciting game. Col. MacRae, of the
Gelatines scored the only run for his
side. He struck out and sprinted around
the bases faster than the ball that fol-
lowed him. Mayor Russ held down first
base for the same side. When ball was
thrown him he took a deep breath, inflat
ing his form to breast-protector proper
tons. The ball hit with hollow-like
thump and hung endured for a moment
till the baseball executive placed his
hand softly over his "heart'-and the
ball-and smiled sardonically as the dis
comfted player retired, 'put out"
In the ball game and in subsequent
events delegate Vernon Howell proved
himself an all round athlete winning
several prizes. He, it will be remembered,
once played half-back on Wake Forests
football eleven, the year that team won
the State championship.
The wheel-barrow race, run by blind
folded men, was one of the most inter-
esting and laughable events. 1t was won
by Mr.. Mitchner, of Bobbitts. The high
ly original methods of locomotion ex-
hibited by Messrs. Jack Pryor and Bax-
ter Hunter in this event met with pecu-
liar appreciation.
Other contests and winners of the
afternoon were: Rifle contest won by
Jas. /. Johnson, Stedman, second throw
ing contest, Howell, Mebane, second; ;
Running race, Howell, Register, second;
standing jump, Howell won, Register,
second; Bicycle race, w. III. King won,
w. M. Yearly, second; wrestling match,
Howell won, Parker, second. All i'm all
the afternoon was one of play by bust
ness men. But any who saw the spats
viii know that it was a pleasant and a
profitable occasion.
Although the afternoon was lark, the
morning was one of business with the
druggists. The association met at ten,
President Bradley presiding.
Mr. J. S. Stedman read paper writ
ten by Mr. Thomas on the question of