The daily sentinel., 1902-08-14
.ELKS CONVENTION.

Visitors and Citizens Charmed by
Appearance Of the City When
Electric Decorations We're
Displayed.
Salt Lake City, Utah, August IA
1t will never do to tell the people Of
Salt Lake that the genus Elk is about to
become extinct. The grand roundup is
on in earnest and from the herds that
have dashed into the corral since Mon.
day morning it might be thought that
the entire $4,000 900 people of the Unit
ed States had begun to grow horns and
joined the triumphal procession to the
City of the Saints, the Land OF the
Great Inland Sea, the Green Walled
Valley Of Promise.
A new chapter has been started in the
history OF the city. 1t is learning what
it is to take care of great crowd-a
crowd that is a crowd. 1t is deafened
by the blare OF the trumpets and the
roll OF tho drums, Jostled by the jolly
siehtseers from everywhere. dazzled by
the m, riad consultations Of glittering
electric globes, confused by the babel of
queer badges and swallowed up in the
rising tide OF great ocean of humanity,
but happy as can be.
Tho eclipse Of the local population was
so gradual that few realized just what
was doing until they found themselves
enveloped by . throng OF strange faces.
rain after train pulled into the two de-
pots and unloaded their cargoes Of hu-
man freight Hardly a delegation ap-
peared that did not bring many persons
or objects OF interest. The badges alone
would furnish material for q lite study.
It il estimated that hs population Of
the city has been increased by about
l2,6OO.
Visitors and citizens alike were
charmed by the appearance Of the city
when the electrical decorations were dis
played for the FIRST time. Main and in
tersecting streets looked as though the
milky way had been dragged from the
far off vault OF blue and sown with Law
ish hand from building to building.
The splendor OF the scene was enhanced
by tho hundreds Of electric signs that
blazed from the portals Of the business
houses, throwing the white and purple
trimmings into soft relief. The side
walks and even the streets themselves
were thronged as they had never been
thropged before. Maine rubbed elbows
with Texas and Oregon shook hands
with Florida in that genial crowd OF
strangers, made friends by the common
inspiration Of Charity, Justice, Fidelity
and Brotherly Love. Here and there
like red ear in field Of corn the native
could recognize the familiar face Of .
fellow townsman.
Some criticisms we're heard, it is true,
over the crowdipg at the hotels and the
prices demanded for certain articles, but
on the whole the guests Of the city are
pleased with their reception and feel no
regrets that Salt Lake was awarded the
honor OF entertaining the hosts of Elk
dom. There is an ample supply Of
clean, comfortable rooms in the residence
part Of the city for ell who are likely to
como and the restaurants have shown
themselves capable OF feeding all comers
with Arst class meals Scores Of devices
for separating an Elk from bis money
have been put in operation, but such
schemes arc inevitable wherever . great
crowd is assent bled and il the Elks are
not worldly wise enough to keep out Of
the clutches Of the grafters it is time for
other crowds to stay at home with their
hands on their pocketbooks.
Salt Lake is unanimous in it's verdict
on the Eiks. That verdict 10 that they
are not only the best, but the jolliest, the
happiest, the handsomest, the most COM
panionable and the most generous peo-
pie on earth.
Nn.A- n