The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
EAST LAKE STORMED BY JOLLY CROWD OF VISITING MERCHANTS Nearly 2000 Attended Bar
 becue and PartOOk of
 Toothsome Viands
HARRY JONES AND
 COMMITTEE BUSY
Each Delegate Received Hearty Vel come as He Registered at Chamber of Commerce, Which Was Crowd
 ed Throughout the Day

Hundreds of merchants from all parts of Alabama are now in the city in at tendance at the second annual conven- tion of that body They began arriving late Tuesday might and every train reaching the city yesterday morning carried it's full quota of the mer- chants. At the time for leaving for East Lake for the purpose of having a barbecued dinner upwards of 900 had registered at the association head quarters in the Chamber of Commerce building, and before the afternoon had passed the number neared the 1500 mark.
 The glad hand" committed headed by bland smile, behind which was Harry Jones, met every visiting mer- chant and escorted him to the regis tration booths, two of which were in the Chamber of Commerce auditorium There were many ladies in the crowds of visitors and not a few children. All were received in the true Birmingham spirit and bidden to make themselves at home, and be real homefoks" The city was turned over to the merchants with the injunction: Co as far as you lil1e'
 Chamber of Commerce Crowded
 The lobby of the Chamber of Com merce building was filled all morning with seething masses of people. as also was the second floor corridors and the auditorium. It was a merry. laughing, good natured crowd that needed the call of Harry Jones and Murray Brown to board the special cars at l l o'clock and go to East Lake Tor the barbecue, the preparation for which had been in progress since carly dawn.
 The first portion of the huge crowd reached the park at lI:45 and proceeded to take" it. Everything was free to the man who wore a red badge with the letters "A M A." printed upon it, and the merchants took full advantage of their privileges The razzle dazzle was perhaps the most popular amusement device in the park and was completely filled with shout ing, laughing, joyous merchants.
 Next in order of popularity came the "figure B. which was used contin- ually. The dips caused some of those who had not before seen the device some trembling. but no man faltered
 One rather old gentleman, the pos sessor of a fine beard, which covered most of his shirt front, essayed trip around the figure alone. He made the trip, but there was much amuse- ment at his expense It was his first experience on the figure with it's dips, many of them so sharp and steep as to take the breath from an unsophis- ticated one When first seen the old gentleman was on the first stretch of the figure, holding his hat with one hand and the side of the with the other. He occupied the front seat When next seen he had struck the first dip on the figure, and was consider ably perturbed, Judging from his ex- pression as seen from the ground.
 When next seen the old gentleman was on the home stretch. His teeth had closed in death grip upon his hat and he was holding with both hands and feet to the car as it essayed the last curve before being brought to gentle stop at the close of the ride. The merchant clambered tremblingly out of the car, his face pale and his voice shaky. A friend asked him how he enjoyed the ride. q offered a prayer after each dip" he replied and departed in search of water.
 Real Festivities Open at Noon
 The real festivities of the day be- gan at 12 o'clock, however. The bar becue had been scheduled for 12:3O o'clock, but there were hundreds of merchants in the park before that hour and everything was ready. Why not?" asked Fred M Jackson of Dick Bur- nett J. P. Phillips echoed the ques- ton. It was unanimous. and the call for dinner was sounded.
 And such a rush! Capt. Hughes B. Kennedy stood at the entrance to gather the yellow slips which entitled the holder to everything the dinner ta- ble afforded. He was the busiest man in the park for about 30 minutes. 1t taking at least that long to pass all of the merchants into the skating rink where the dinner was served.
 Seats were at a premium. The entire length of the huge skating rink was filled with tables and almost as far as the eye could see were men, women and children all partakine of the one