The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-15
MATRIMONIAL DAY
At THE STATE FAIR
Public Ceremony Witnessed by
an Immense Crowd.
ASSOCIATION HAS PAID OUT
Receipts to Date Are Sufficient to Cover
All Indebtedness Successful Be-
yond Most Sanguine Hopes
of the Management
ASSOCIATION HAS PAID OUT


would take place on the reviewing stand
brought out the largest crowd since the
opening of the fair, and when the ceremo-
ny took place the spectators were packed
around the stand for several hundred feet.
When the identity of the couple was dis
closed it came in the nature of a surprise
to the many friends of both the bride and
groom. The fortunate groom is Joseph
Sparks a member of the Southside fire de-
partment. The bride was Miss Bobbie Mi
lam, popular and pretty young lady who
resides "a Avenue and Nineteenth street.
The ceremony Was performed by Rev. T. X.
Tierce, supernumerary of st. Johns church,
in the presence of at least 5000 persons.
The Fair association and many of the Bir-
mingham merchants presented the happy
couple with many beautiful presents.
The ceremony took place on the reviewing
stand used by Admiral Schley. In the GEN.
ter of the platform was table covered
with chrysanthemums, and on the floor
surrounding it were laid several handsome
rugs. AS the young couple were pro-
nounced man and wife the Mexican band
rendered the beautiful strains of Mendels-
sohn's wedding march, and the bride and
groom entered a carriage and were driven
to the exposition building, where they re-
ceived hundreds of the spectators who
came forward with warm congratulations.
The groom was assessed $500 by T. G.
Hewlett, chairman of the committee on
privileges for marrying in the grounds and
the amount was in turn donated to the
pretty bride.
Miss Johnnie Baker and T. w. Cox We're
bridesmaid and best man.
Yesterday was another feather in the cap
of the fair association and Secretary Roun-
tree stated last night that the receipts up
to date will clear the associa ton of debt.
The receipts for the remaining few days
will be net profit to the stockholders. The
turning point was passed yesterday and
the fair has been grand success, both
from a meritorious and financial stand
point II is said that another fair will f)e
given next fall and that many changes will
be made in the grounds. The present expo
sition building will be given to the women
and another building four times as large
will be erected where the negro department
is now situated.
The races are attracting great crowds
and an immense gathering witnessed the
sport yesterday afternoon.
The fireworks display was declared off
last night on account of the heavy fall of
rain. The weather permitting, the grand
est pyrotechnica exhibition yet seen will
be given tonight.
Negro Department
Great preparations are being made on the
part of the coored people for Negro Day,
and the management of the fair are rem
dering every possible assistance to Chief d.
w. Parker and his principal assistant, Law
yer E. A. Brown All school children in
Birmingham Bessemer, Pratt City, Wood
lawn and Avondale will be admitted for Is
cents each. The Birmingham colored
schools will have a holiday, and 1t is ex-
pected that adjacent cities will grant the
same favor to colored children. Professor
w. H. Council, "the sage of Normal"
and Bishop Charles C. Petty, A. NJ, D. D.,
will arrive today. They will speak tomor-
row at the fair grounds. also Lawyer E. A.
Brown, DIR. G. II. Wilkerson and Professor
w. II. Green. The white people are greatly
interested in Negro Day, and are encourage
ing the colored people to appear to the best
advantage.
The parade, in charge of Grand Marshal
John G. Wright and fifty mounted aides, is
planned and completely arranged. There
will be forty floats, representing the various
colored business interests of the Birming-
nam district. The parade will form at $50
a. m. Thursday opposite the Lane Grammar
school, cornor Eighteenth street and Ave-
nue. D, and will march to Twentieth street,
thence to Third avenue; down Third avenue
to Nineteenth street, up Nineteenth street
to Eighth Avenue and thence to the fair
grounds.
The colored people are heartily interested
in the success of their day on account OF
their racial pride and the kind treatment
of the fair management.
The ladies connected with the Old Folks
and Orphans Home will be admitted free.
On Thursday night at Union hall, opposite
the postoffice, banquet will be given COM
plimentary to the speakers and visitors on
Negro Day. This will be the most refined
gathering of colored people in the history of
the state. Twenty-Five of the leading men
and women of the race will respond to
toasts. Rev. DR.. w. r. Pettiford, president
of the negro bank, will speak, and DR.. S. 5.
IT, Washington will be toastmaster.
The Midway is still drawing large crowds,
tbis place they go for fun. The groteque
appearance of the performers and the con-
tinual pandemonium of noises keep every
body in good humor from the time they en-
fer the main avenue until the SHOW is over.
Today is Birmingham day, and there will
be a number of specially interesting fea-
lures. Many OF the merchants will close
their doors and temporarily suspend bust
ness to take in tine sights of the fair. The
clerks will all be given permission to go
out to the grounds and the attendance will
no doubt be very large
The vote for the most popular woman
was larger on Monday than any other pre-
yious day, There are still over fourth of
the tickets on which no vote ds recorded.
Mrs Hardeman still has a good lead, but
1T Is said that some of the candidates are
withholding their strength until the last
few days.
The vote for the fifteen highest candidates