Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-10
TEARS MARK END
Of BIC REUNION
Macon 0utdid Herself in Role
of Host to Over Forty Thou
sand Visitors.
By THOMAS 3. SHERMAN.

BY THOMAS 3. SHERMAN.
MACON, GA. May 10.-The gray
hosts have departed. Macon stands
today dismantled. Each outgoing train
is bearing something away which Ma
con for the week has been considering
part of herself. Tears have been shed
at the parting and many appointments
made to be filled at the next reunion.
The lovely sponsors, with the plaudits
of thousands still ringing in their ears,
are on their way back home to Ken
lucky, to Texas or to Alabama. And
Macon is once more just the Central
City and not the center of the universe.
The week was rich in many things.
II was rich in sentiment and in love; It
was rich in conviviality; it was rich in
beauty For that reason the city feels
poverty stricken today.
100000 There at One Time.
Upward of 10000 visitors were in the
city The most of them came early and
stayed late; others strayed in for day
or so. At one time there were easily
100000 persons in the city, but the re-
union managers failed not once to prove
the host. Never were so many people
handled in so small an area with such a
noticeable lack of mishap. There were
only two accidents recorded, and they
were not of a serious nature. The po-
lice dockets were never larger than
normal
Everybody seemed comfortably fixed
even though many makeshifts we're en-
ployed in caring for the crowd And
considering the abundance of opportu-
nifty there was very little price raising
done by local statesmen. All the visitors
were agreeably surprised to find that
they were still able to buy ten-cent
cigars for ten cents and that the hack
fare to Coleman's Hill was never more
than quarter. As for meals, one
could make a very successful peace
treaty with his inner man for 90 cents
The city's decora tons could not have
been improved on every important
downtown street the bunting and flags
were massed in solid array. Nor was
it a mere throwing together of colors
Despite the many complexities of color
involved. there was much artistic taste
shown in the decorative arrangements.
Out in the residence part of the city
each home Haunted the Stars and Bars
in some shape or form. A prize offered
for the house best decorated served as
a stimulant to many householders, with
the result that one kept the reunion
idea with him no matter in what part of
the city he travelled.
Boy Scouts Everywhere.
In caring for the crowds there vas
no institution which rendered more aid
than did the Boy Scouts From first to
last these gray jacketed little soldiers
we're always on call They met visitors
At the train conducted them to their
lodging places. acted as walking bu-
reaus of information, assisted ladies'
across the streets with heavy bundles
took old veterans sightseeing and per
formed numerous other tasks Of a sim
liar nature.
In strict regard to truth. il must he
said that the expected crowd did not
come it was no doubt the case that
MANY refrained from attending because
Of fear that Macon Mould prove in
CAPABLE of handling such reunion.
The GROWING feature of the week
was the presence of the sponsors and
maids 1t was the unanimous opinion
that such a collection of beauty had not
beer looked upon since the history Of
the world. The reunion might well
have been termed a beauties congress.
But it's all over now and Macon reg
listers sigh and tear. The next re-
union will not see as many Of the OLD
soldiers In few years more the per
petuation of the wars glories will be
entirely with the son and son of sons
The veterans are mighty glad to have
seen Macon, and Macon has rejoiced
that it vas able to see so many OF
them