The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-14

Merchants OF eleven States and the
wholesale dealers OF Richmond had
get together theatre party last night
at the Academy OF Music Nobody was
asked 10 buy anything Nobody had
anything to soil. but the prime object
OF Better Acquaintance Week" was
obvious. Friend ships were made which
viii make for trade not only during
this particular week but during many
seasons TO come All day yesterday
was given over to the business side OF
Better Acquaintance Week" and there
were some reports Of big sales.
Greensboro man dropped In on one of
the big Touring mills downtown and
placed his order FOR 1000 barrels for
immediate shipment The Wholesale
grocery houses perhaps had the largest
sales OF the DAY, supplying stock to
merchants mainly in the Carolinas and
POINTS further TO the South. reached
directly by the railroads which spread
out from Richmond as the fingers on
ones hand
River Excursion To-Day.
To-day has been set apart for the big
social event Of Better Acquaintance
Week" the excursion on James River
and the boat VIII leave the wharf at II
y NJ, rain or shine. Merchants who
arrive this morning too late TO regis
ter at headquarters at the Mutual
building VIII find branch reRistra-
have already registered will be supplied
with tickets on showing their badges
10 the registration officers at the wharf
Yesterday was the busiest reg!stra-
tion day at headquarters in the Mutual
Building since Better Acquaintance
Week opened. c. Il. angel chief reg
istrar registered forty merchants who
had come In or early trains before the
usual opening hour at o'clock. when
his associates arrived TO aid in the
work.
Special week end rates from South
Carolina points took effect yesterday
and the reports are that large num-
Der Of Southern merchants Will arrive
this morning or during the day to-day
TraiNs VIII be met and as far as pos
sible visiting merchants Will be in
duced to go on the river trip to-day
which VIII give q better opportunity
for better acquaintance than any OF the
social events planned for the week
Theatre Pnrty.
The get-togethcr theatre party last
night was attended by an audience
which occupied every available seat on
tho main floor OF the Academy OF Music
and lined the balconies. Alvin NJ Smith
as master OF ceremonies In the lam
guage OF the critics, stole the show"
and two vaudeville managers behind
the scenes gritted their teeth TO think
that good comedian should ac-
tuaIly prefer the machinery business,
even when he owns ii. TO n regular en-
gaGement on the boards. All that was
good from the Broad Street vaudeville
houses was pressed into service to
entertain the visitors. and there were
some amateur acts which took we'll
President T. NJ Darlington. of the
Chamber Of Commerce. welcomed the
visiting merchants. and told briefly
of the progress of Richmond. Of its low
freight rates fixed by water compcti-
tion: OF it's water generated electric
current for manufactures: of its
trunk line railways spreading into
all parts of the South: of its finan-
cial institutions. taking care not only
Of the merchants and manufacturers
of Richmond, but also OF many indus
tries through the South. Proceeding in
serious way to enumerate some of
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