The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-24
SURPRISED MR.. RICE
PRESENTED WITH LOVING CUP
BY his FRIENDS.
Officers and Directors of Street Fair
Association Make Material
Acknowledgment Of Public
Spirit Of a Citizen.


Seventeen prominent business men OF
Montgomery stormed the residences VI
Alex Rice, the popular PRESIDENT OF tne
Montgomery Street Fair Association az
426 South Perry street, last Might anu
after Mr.. Rice had capltulated ms
friends presented him with massive
silver loving cup as token Oh tneir
appreciation of his management OF tne
three successful Street Fairs conducted
in Montgomery in 1899, 1900 and 1901.
The Street Fairs were made successlul
by the Street Fair Association OF which
Mr.. Rice was the President three sue
cessicve years. AS President OF the asso-
citation he was the leading spirit IN the
entertainments.
Since it became manifest that street
fair will not be given in Montgomery
the coming season the officers and direct-
ors who were associated with Mr. RICE IN
the past achievements of the street FAIR
Association resolved tnat their esteem Tor
this progressive citizen should take ma
terial form.
The business men went about the mat
ter so quietly that Mr.. Rice knew nothing
or their plans. AT first 1t was suggested
that a grand barbecue be given in honor
of Mr.. Rice, but this idea was abandoned
upon the suggestion that such compli-
ment would be ephemeral Finally the
business men decided to present Mr.. Rice
with loving cup-a token which would
endure with the ages and one which his
children could prize in after years
The plans were crystailized and at
o'clock last night the officers and direc-
tors of the old Street Fair Association
assembled at the rooms of the CONNER
cial and Industrial Association. Those in
the party were N. Lobman and H. c..
DAVIDSON Vice-Presidents of the Asso-
citation; M. L. Greil, Treasurer, and l..
L. Gilbert, Secretary of the Association,
and directors of the Association as fol-
lows: F. T. Chafee, George w. Jones.
Emanuel Meertief. r. F. Scott, ]. P. Bull
lock, IL, Ruth, John Tullis, Jr., Sidney
Gassenheimer, Lee Well and A. G.. Forbes.
Messrs. Phares Coleman, c. G. Aber-
crombie and Charles F. Moritz were alb
sent either by illness or absence from the
city.
Silently these seventeen business men
went through the street to the residence
of Mr.. Rice on South Perry Street. There
they found the popular President Of the
Street Fair Association about to retire
for the night.
II haven't called any meeting, gentle
men," said Mr.. Rice as he saw his as
sociates of the Fair Association filing
into his residence and greeted them cor
daily,
mo, but we've called you." declared
Mr.. Rushton, drawing forth the loving
cup, taking Mr.. Rice entirely by surprise
Mr.. Rushton acted as spokesman for
the business men. He told Mr.. Rice that
the Street Fairs given by the Association
had been successes because of his energy
wisdom, discretion, tact and unusual ex.
ecutive ability The men associated with
him, Mr.. Rushton said, had formed ar
admiration for him that would last
throughout their lives They had select.
ed the loving cup for him as an evidence
of their personal regard and hoped he
would accept 1t as coming from the ner
who composed the officers and directors
of the Street Fair Association.
Mr. Rice plainly showed his great sur.
prise but his happnes was apparent. HC
spoke informally expressing his great
pleasure at this evidence of the esteem
of his fellow citizens, and persona
friends. He disclaimed credit for making
the Street Fairs successful, and held tina
success had crowned the efforts of thu
| Association through the labors of the mel
who now honored him. Although thu
Street Fairs were things of the past, Mr.
| Rice expressed the hope that the friend
ship which had been cemented in thu
Street Fair work would continue through
out the lives of the men who were gather
ed about him.
Knowing that Mr.. Rice would be takeT