The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-09-11
GREAT OCCASION
NEAR GAINESVILLE
University City Rotes Entertained
Those from Palatka, Tampa
and Ocala

ned had we been there-which, alas
for our bad luck-we wasn't.
From the triumphal entry of two
"baby Rotarians"
garbed for the gauntlet of initiation
ceremonies, through a hilarious pro-
gram of burlesque athletic events,
cracker eating contests for women,
"beauty" (shows) for the Rotarians
themselves, and, not to be ignored
a "feed," the after-effects of which
will reduce living expenses in Ro-
tartan homes in Alachua, Marion and
Putnam counties for the remainder of
the week-until the last strains of
"Home Sweet Home" at the Country
Club dance in the evening, the Ro-
tartan picnic yesterday, was solid
round of merriment, and local Ro-
tarians expressed real appreciation
of the manner in which their visitors
accepted and took advantage of their
efforts to present what proved to be
one of the most enjoyable entertain
ments ever participated in in this
section of the state.
More than $50 Rotarians and "Ro-
tarianettes" from the three counties,
as well as representation from the
Tampa club. attended the big gather
ing. ]. Pluvius showed the fun low
ing pleasure seekers that he could be
as good a sport as any Rotarian. by
decreeing sunshine and a pleasant
breeze for the vicinity of Palm Point,
while it rained in torrents less than
five miles away-taken all in all, it
was "some blowout and one that will
mark red letter day on the Rotary
calendar.
T. L. Greene and J. B. Welch were
the baby Rotarians whose initiation
ceremonies proved a fitting curtain
raiser. Arrayed in their night gowns,
sleeping caps and barefooted they
rode up in one-horse "sha" to the
very door of the pavilion, where two
full grown Rotarians, Nick Maddox
and Charles Harris, took them into
their arms and carrying them thru
the building introduced them to the
Rotarianettes.
The merrymakers then went out on
the grounds where the contests were
staged, the first of which being the
race for lean men,. The first prize for
this event, a toy drum, was won by
Fred Marker with Otto F. Stock a
close second. w. M. Pepper, as a
penalty for dropping out of the first
race before it was nished. was fore
ed to run second heat alone against
time and according to the statement
of Official Timekeeper G. j. Harris
covered the entire course of the race
which was so yards, in the remark
able time of 3 minutes. 81 and 2-S
seconds.
The race for fat men proved both
novel and exciting. Unlike other race.
each contestant was given a folded
newspaper for each foot. so that ir
racing he supported himself on one
foot while placing his newspaper
ahead of him for the other foot, thus
going the extent of the race on tive
newspapers. AS soon as a confes
tant's foot touched the ground hi
was disqualified. Before half tht
distance was covered all contestant,
were disqualified except Nick Maddo,
and j. r. Fowler. AS these two mer
were not allowed to unfold theil
newspapers they soon found their fee
touching the ground and wer disquali
fled just as they were about to reacl
their goal. 1t was suggested tina
the Rotarianettes might have beer
more successful in this race as ther,
would have been little danger of tn,
feminine understanding" overlapping
such big area as daily newspa
Iper. The contestants then alightet
themselves and ran the race off il
the usual manner. C. j. Harris,
professional athlete of former DAYS
was easy winner and received to,
rattle as prize for this event.
i Eight Rotarianettes then lined al
beside the table and after havinj
their hands tied behind them, ate tn
two Uneeda biscuit which were plac
ed in plates before them. The frs
woman to finish her allotment an,
whistle was Mrs. Ed Ferrell, charm
ing Rotarianette of Palatka. TIL
fact that Frank Hartsfeld assiste
the fair winl4er by eating one of he
crackers had no effect on the fina
decision save that he was penalize
| for his chivalry by being required {
foot the bill for the box of chocolate
which was given her as trophy fo
her victory.
A tug of war followed in whic
eight Gainesville Rotarians matche
their strength against twice tha
!, number of visitors. who in order tha
, they might have everything to gal
! and nothing to lose, tied their end @
|, the rope to an oak tree but were de
, tected by the judges before the cor
test began. The odds proved TO
Imuch for the locals, who were carrie
across the visitors line within a fe,
seconds after the starting signal. OF
|, Waterman, captain of the visitor
twas presented with handsome 80,
] ling cup" by J. F. Burnett who mad
lIa pleasant presentation speech.
4 The shoe race was won by J.
! Welch. Jake Gerig of Ocala was Z
} first acclaimed winner, but upo
7 lcloser inspection by the judges it wa
found that the shoes he had on di
D mot match, one belonging to himse