The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
RICHMOND IS ALIVE
THE SADD[ERS SAY
CONVENTION HELD HERE WAS
EVER TO BE REMERBERED,
SAYS OFFICIAL JOURNAL.
SHOWER OF BOUQUETS
THE NATIONAL HARNESS REVIEW
COMMENTS ON THE RECENT
CONVENTION HELD HERE AND
SAYS SOME NICE THINGS.

The National Harness Review. the
official organ of the Wholesale Sad
dlers' Association and the National
Saddlery Manufacturers Association,
which recently held its combined an
nual convention in Richmond, has the
following interesting and compliment
tary comment of Richmond in the
editorial columns of It's current issue:
AT first thought. Richmond. Va,
would seem to be an undesirable place
at which to hold a w. S. A. conven-
ton, because it is off the beaten track
of travel for New York or even Wash
ington.
Strange as 1t may appear, this fact
proves an advantage in the case of
Richmond, and her being trif1e "out
Of the world" as some might put it,
proves to her good. for many are SO
uncertain as to whether they will 60
or not not go to conventions that any
thing in the way of attraction helps
and so many who had never been to
this capital of the Confederacy had
real desire to see the city. and were
anxious to go on this account.
Richmond. with her vast wealth of
historic associations, has many other
features in her favor. For instance,
she is enough Southern to be interest
ing, progressive and up-to-date, and
the happy mixture OF these two attri-
hutes tend to still further enhance her
value as a place OF sojourn.
She is also enjoying a real pros
pertty and rapid growth. and with
her band of loyal hustlers and boom
ers she seems destined to rapidly In
crease her population and consequent
Is her material wealth.
In this city of the Old Dominion
and the State of Sacred Soil. we were
initiated in q new angle in city boost
ing and cooperation entirely lacking
in every other convention previously
held. and this feature Is the loyal help
of men engaged in other lines of bust
ness. but all members of Eichm ond' S
chamber of commerce. Among these
loyal workers mot connected with
the saddlery line) we call to mind
Nathan Simons, Newsome, and Sharp.
There were also others.
Never before was the trade met
with. so large reception committee
and SO appropriate conveyances for
saddlers. The seventy-three of our
party were met by large part of
Richmond. and they were conveyed
TO the Jefferson in big buses drawn
by mules. The auto was tabooed.
And while these mule teams had
their own colered. drivers these tehus
were thrust aside and drivers of the
trade substituted. Among others
were DOC" Wilson. Frank Jackson.
J. w. Finch, with c. e. Bucher, of
Union Lock Stitch. leading with the
"four-in-hand."
This mule episode was happy hit
and was not conceived until Sunday,
but Richmond being CLOSED" place
on Sundays. the committee failed, as
well as the National Harness Review
representative to secure photograph
to reproduce this most interesting ex-
hibit of worthy saddlers and their SUI
pernumeraries, ... r....-.
Besides impromptu entertainment
there was the usual reception of the
w s. A, ut the jefferson on the night
of Tuesday. May 18th. There were
cards. prize cake walks and dancing
Tho evening was cool and many en-
ioyed the dancing.
The star attraction was. of course
the trip down the historic James
river to jamestown. the site of the
first permanent English settlement in
these great United States. Is it not
marvellous and almost beyond human
conception and belief to think that
only 306 years ago this greatest coun-
try in all the world had it's first real
start; to be sure. the Spaniards beat
them to it" by forty-two years, but its
the finish and not the start that
counts. so 1t Is safe and just to pro-
claim this jamestown settlement as
the real and epoch making start of
our star-spangled Z. S. A.
Everything was right. Even our
boat was named .Pacahoatas, We, got
under way at $3.50 A. NJ, and 1t was
nearly twelve hours before we go,
back to Richmond. We We're enter
tanned royalty. We had food we had
drink, we had music, we had good
cheer. good will and hospitality. VIVA,
more could one have?
Then on Thursday there was the
special trip and entertainment of the
Saddlery Ladies at the Country club
one OF the most complete in appoint
ments, finest club house and advan-
tageously situated that has been oul
lot to VISIT. The ladies' partook OF
n luncheon, to which they could MOI
accord enough praise.
On all sides were heard the praise
worthy comments on Tom" Palma.
tarys energy and zeal to make the
Richmond convention a memorable
one. and all turned in the ono ver-
diet that it was one to be ever remem-
bered.
The attendance was far beyond
v hat anyone anticipated, and Rich
mond has shown that there surely Ii
one much alive" and attractive city
IL. - coutk-s