The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-08-15
Merchants Day a Success.

Thursday was merchants day in
Mount Holly. In former years this af-
fair consisted of a picnic at Rancocas
Park, but this time it was decided to
hold the outing at home, and it was q
happy change, as more people partici-
pated and there was better and more
varied programme than heretofore.
| All the business houses closed at noon,
and everybody went to the fair ground,
where from $500 to 5000 persons were
congregated. The lower tier of the big
grand stand was filled with spectators to
watch the excellent list of events that
had been arranged.
Horse racing, running and sack races,
two acts of vaudeville, base ball game,
and music by Irons band, of Burling
ton, furnished a continuous and inter
esting programme.
There were several wheels of fortune
on the ground, conducted by strangers,
where one could win doll baby or some
other article, provided the customer
spent sufficient number of dimes to be
a winner. These wheels, however, were
not kept very busy and the owners did
not report business to be thriving.
Refreshment stands were opened, so
that thirsty or hungry merchants or
their families could obtain soft drinks or
something to eat whenever anything of
that kind was desired.
Shetland ponies sand their colts were
exhibited in the stables by the Rancocas
stock farm of Jobstown, where these
animals are bred to considerable ex--
tent.
A.large number of automobiles were
parked on the ground, proving that the
affair is popular with farmers and other
visitors, and is not confined to the mer-
chants of Mount Holly.
The crowd was good-natured and
orderly, and no accidents occurred to
cause regret or to put damper ON the
pleasures of the day.
The night programme took place on
Mill street, from the fountain to Paxson
street, which had been roped off to shut
out vehicular traffic, and had been
washed as clean as a new pin. Here
festoons of colored electric lights had
been arranged overhead across the street,
and the fountain had been decorated
with similar lights. 1t furnished a
beautiful sight, and the many lights
illuminated every foot of the block,
making it almost as bright as in day
time.
Dancing was the event of the night, |
beginning at eight o'clock and closing at
eleven o'clock. Hundreds of persons,
young and old, participated, and the 81
varieties that have often been heard |
about, were fully exemplified in the
styles OF dancing. Everybody had a |
good time.
Irons band was stationed on a plat |
form next to the fountain, and supplied |
the music for dancing, with an occasional
concert selection.
The crowd of dancers and spectators
was equally as large, perhaps more in
number, than the one at the fair ground
in the afternoon. twas difficult task to |
get an observation pointanywhere along |
the sidewalk, SO great was the jam of |
people.
A silver cup that had been offered for
the best waltzing, was won by Miss Julia |
c. Mason and George Atkins.
Everybody agreed that the day had
been a great success, and the merchants
in charge is entitled to much !
credit.
The experience gained this year and |
the prestige OF having pulled off a highly
creditable programme, will bring still |
larger crowds and still better attractions
at the same event next year.
The weather could not have been
better if it had been ordered for the oc-
casion, being quite cool and not too
sunny during the afternoon.
The horse races were in charge Of DR..
J. Hume Carter, and Fred B. Shreve
acted as starter. The summaries fol-
low:
C1oSo MsvoI d.