Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-17
AUGUSTA ROTARY
CLUB GUESTS OF
PORTLAND CLUB
Large Delegation Headed by
Mayor Blaine s. Viles Captures
City of Portland and Mayor
Chapman Surrenders City to
Invading Host - "Unveiling"
Banana Tree a Feature

Banana Tree a Feature
Portland, Me, June 16.-Augusta
captured Portland 1885 this afternoon,
when an army Of Rotarians from the
Capital City stormed the Portland City
hall, capturing it, together with May
or Chapman and about 100 members
of the Portland Rotary club.
1t was Augusta day for the Portland
Rotary club, who are the hosts this
afternoon of the Augusta Rotary club
and lively times are the result.
1t looked at one time as though
something had slipped In the arrange
ments for the Augusta delegation was
due at 1850, but the train got hung
up and it was nearly 1890 before they
finally reached the city. The party
was met at Union station by the hos
pitality committee of the Portland club
and escorted in special car appropri-
ately adorned with welcoming banners
to the City hall.
1t was 1895 when the Augusta club
marched up the steps Of Portland's
municipal building into the main re-
ception room headed by Mayor Blaine
S. Viles of Augusta and President
Frank L. Rawson of the Portland club.
Here nearly 100 Portland Rotartans
were gathered and the visitors were
given a cordial reception. Each Port
land Rotarian was assigned to look out
for an Augusta brother during the en-
tire time that he is in the city and will
see that he is safely back on the Au-
gusta bound train at $50 this after
noon.
Welcomed by Mayor
After the informal reception in the
City hall, Mayor Chapman officially
welcomed the Augusta Rotarians in a
few fitting words. and Mayor Viles of
Augusta responded. A group picture
of the two clubs was then taken on the
City hall steps. after which the entire
party marched to the Falmouth Hotel,
where at l o'clock luncheon was served
in the main dining hail.
The speaker at today's meeting was
Edward w. Hannaford, who talked on
the banana industry and in connection
with his address was an interesting
surprise feature.
Mr.. Hannaford to illustrate his talk
had sent clear to the West Indies for
a full grown banana tree, laden with
real fruit and this was set up in the
center of the dining room carefully
concealed under a great canvas cover
ing, so that no one knew what it was.
Tree "UnveiIed"
When Mr.. Hannaford had conclud-
ed his talk the tree was unveiled"
and there, grouped about it, were two
live pickaninnies in native costume.
Jungle music was played by an or
chestra, while the little Negro boys
picked the bananas from the grow
ing tree and handed them out to the
assembled gathering. 1t was an eff
fective sight and called forth great ap-
plause.
In unwilling the tree, which weighed
with the native earth which came with
it over 1900 pounds, Mr.. Hannaford
said, the banana tree we are about
to unveil came by the steamship San
Jose from Gent, a town in the heart
Of the banana plantation about Is
miles from Limon, Costa Rica, 24S6
miles from Portland. Bananas are new
their own country, they are cut green
AS they begin to ripen a chemical pro-
cess sets in and the rind cracks and
insects burrow into the pulp and thus
mar or spoil the fruit.
Gentlemen. begin now to eat plenty
of fruit every day, which will aid you
TO keep the doctor away. In other
words, can all you can, eat all you
cam"
Mr.. Nelson Responds
In connection with todays dlnner Pres
ident RaWson OF the Portland Club DILL
cially welcomed the Augusta Club and
president John Z. Nelson of the Augusta
organization responded and in addition
there was Rotary roll call for both
Portland and the Augusta hotarians.
Following the dinner the visiting Ro-
tarians were taken to the Longfellow
Home, to the Portland Society of Art to
the Portland theatre, and to the State of
Maine Exposition at the new Exposition
building. At all of these places the Au-
gusta Rotarians were guests of the indi-
vidual institutions and were admitted
free through their courtesy and at the
suggestion of the Portland Rotary Club.
1t was planned to take a sail down the
bay and to visit Fort Williams, but
weather conditions this forenoon looked
so bad that it was decided to cancel this
proposed trip. heavy easterly swell
also made it unsafe to land at the wharf
at Fort Williams. 1t was then that the
alternate program of seeing some of the |
points of interest in Portland was ar
ranged.
The weather cleared In the afternoon, !
but it was then too late to go back to the |
original program.
The day. however. proved an enjoyable
one for the visitors as we'll as for the |
Portland Rotarians.