The Washington times., 1915-05-10
Dusty, Dry, and Little Tired, Bri.
gade Returns From Spring
GamboI on River.
CROWDS GREET VISITORS
Speeches and Music Given at 18
Landings, Where Townspeo-
ole Turn Out En- Masse.

Dusty. dry. and perhaps little IA
tieued. but happy in the realization that
they had indellibly stamped upon the
minds of the people OF Maryland and
Virginia the advantages OF Washington
as a market for homemakers, the boost
ers brigade Of the Retail Merchants
Association, returned today from their
spring gambol.
On their chartered steamer the Three
Rivers, the party, numbering approx
| mately 125. visited eighteen landings
along the lower Potomac and its tribu-
taries, treated the townspeople to band
concerts. made speeches praisins the
beauties and trade facilities Of the Capt.
tai, and distributed attractive souvenirs
Of their respective businesses.
Their tour having been extensively ad-
| vertised in the various villages visited
the merchants found at each Of their
stops an enthusiastic crowd to extend
cordial greetings. and accept the gifts
which they had to distribute
Started With Parade.
| Having inaugurated their outing with
an impressive automobile parade, the
boosters left Washington Saturday att
ernoon at i:05 o'clock on a special train
over the Pennsylvania railroad for Bal
| timore, where they made a trip across
| the Monumental City in special cars ard
boarded the steamer.
| Millers wharf, the first landing, was
reached while the merchants were still
| indulging in dreams of the customers
to be corralled. but at Broom's wharf,
made as the sun was 5ust beginning to
spread its rays over the waters. the
visitors found forty school girls from
st. Mary's Seminary to greet Them In
| return for the trnkets which they re-
celved the girls pinned upon each mer-
chant red rose from the great bush
that embowered their building while
motion picture operators ground out a
picture of the scene.
While the majority OF the landings
were made at small hamlets. the coun-
try folk from miles around had as
sembled in each instance to Join in the
fun. kinsale and Leonardtown fur
| n!shed the largest crowds, and in each
of these places the towns had taken on
| a holiday aspect
Cheered Along River.
When the steamer pointed her Prov
up the Coan river she was met by a
convoy of small craft laden with men,
women. and children. who were not
content to mingle with the retailers at
one wharf alone. but followed in the
wake OF the vessel. cheering and waving
hats and handkerch,efs as the band
crashed out popular airs.
At Lodge landing the churches wero
just dischargipg their congregations
when the visitors. wearing white caps
and Haunting banners marched up the
bill into the town. Ross P. Andrews
president of the association. delivered
an address. and George Wainwright
lecited a patriotic toast.
George O'Connor, Leader.
Mr.. Andrews had furnished song
book containing many familiar tunes
which George O'Connor. mounted upon
box or barrel. led in impressive man
ner
At Kinsale the wharf was thronged
with folk in Sunday attire and. headed
! by the band. a parade line was formed
and the procession marched up into the
town where. disregarding their ac-
customed austere regard oS tho Sabbat tn
youth and maids danced upon the VII
ssSe Tor while Of LADS
crowd by the merchants, or ran foot
races for small prizes.
LeonardtoWn was reached at the close
of the day. but the several hundred
visitors were patiently waiting. Judge
B. Harris CamaUer Of the seventh ju-
dicial circuit OF Maryland introduced
Mr.. Andrews who explained the mis-
sion Of the merchants and urged his
auditors TO make their market in Wash
ington. Mr.. Wainwright. a native son.
was presented by J. Crosby Mccarthy.
the official announcer.
Here the boosters had an hour to
mingle with their prospective custo-
mers which was wiled away with a
band concert. chorusss. and field events s
staged by f. G. Graham.
The merchants had arranged the de
l tails OF the trip to combine personal
pleasure with their trade soliciting. and
under the leadership of Mr.. O'Connor
+ and his accompanies Matt" Horn,
much virgin musical talent was devel-
1 oped.
Honor Mothers Day.
Remembering Mothers Day, Henry
Iansburgh had provided white carna-
tions for every one on the trip, the ma
jority of which were confiscated by the
pretty maidens along the route
Charles ]. Columbus. secretary Of the
5 association. had made provision for
every detail which might contribute IN
the pleasure and comfort of those TAX
ing the trip, and every bag and piece of
: baggage was found in its proper place
upon the steamer, a troublesome detail
of which those who made the outing
\ were relieved.
When the steamer docked this morn
ing the merchants looked back with
satisfaction on the fact that at every
. plastered with placards bearing the ad-
monition to Buy In and boost for
Washington"