The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-10
.TW[NTY-FOUR HOUR
ENTERTAINMENT ON
OLDEST FIRE COMPANY IN UNITED
STATES BANaUETED AT
LEXINGTON
MAYOR GIVES WELCOME
CHIEF BRUNER REPLIES AND COM
PLIMENTs FLOW EASILY FROM
LIPS OF BoTH-THEY
RICHMOND
MAYOR GIVES WELCOME

Richmond is entertaining the Oldest
organized fre-fighting combination in
the country.
The entertainment began last night
at something after 8 o'clock and will
conclude tonight about o'clock,
when Rainbow company. No. /. of
Reading, Pa, which city possesses the
distinction of having the best. the
oldest. yet the most up-to- date volun-
teer fire department in the United
State. starts for home. The fire de-
partment of Reading, city of 100, 900
population, is exclusively volunteer
organization. and the citizens of Read
ing are loath to surrender this distinc-
ton.
Rainbow. No, !. piloted by the
Military band of Reading, a musical
organization which has ability TO pro-
duce real music all along the scale
of 'ragtime 10 sacred arrived in
Richmond over the Chesapeake and
Ohio last night from Newport News,
and put up at the Hotel Lexington.
They found themselves under the care
of Felix keegan. one of the proprietors
of that hosiery. and after they had
had supper they were ready to de-
clare the hospitality of Richmond and
of Mr. Keegan was the best they had
found since they left home.
Not only that, they said more,
through their spokesman, Chief Mar
shall Arthur F. Rruner, who declared
that IL a delegation of Richmond fire
men, accompany by Mayor George
Ainslie, of Richmond, could visit
Reading and convince that city that
il could do the things it is apparent
that Richmond has done In the last
few years-Reading will accomplish
much in becoming one OF the nation s
leading cities
Mayor Welcomes Them.
These things were said at the con-
clusion of a supper given at the Lex
iington last night. There were several
speakers. all of whom were introduced
| by Captain Jack" Redwood, OF the
Richmond fire department. The first
speaker was Mayor Ainslie.
| Richmonds chief executive welcom
| ed the visitors with a brief though
pleasing address. He paid tribute to
/ the men who risk their lives in saving
property and in aiding the community
they serve He reviewed briefly the
| history of the late struggle between
the states, paying tribute to Lee and
! jackson, and pointed ost the lesson
| OF unity that had been so forcioiy
| taught the men of both the south and
/ of the North Deeds Of valor in war
/
/ viewed and the men of the Northern
Estates were cordially welcomed te the
! old capital OF the South.
Visitors Are Pleased.
/ The welcome of the mayor was mas
terly. the chief In command of the
visitors declared IN his response. Chief
Rruner paid high tribute to Mayor
Ainslie and urged upon all his hear
ers, the majority OF whom were his
men, to follow the example of the Rich
mond executive---to do all the things
| that are best for all the people OF the
community before they do the thing
! that seems best for themselves.
/ Chief Rruner reviewed briefly the
! last trip OF the Reading company taken
| in 1899. twenty years ago. to New Or
leans. telling of many OF the interest
ing incidents OF that trip. And he de-
| ciared there was no one incident that
could compare with any one on this
trip, denotlng Virginia hospitality, such
as has been received on this trip. II
| Rainbow No. | ever leaves Reading
again for trip South 1t Will make
Richmond its objective point, he de-
clared, and will spend most OF Its
time here.
Captain ]. II. Redwood was toast