The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-17
M E N w o M E N
 A N D T H IN G s

The barbecue and outing of the Bir- ningham Retail Grocers'> and Butch | CTS association, which was held at Edgewood park on Wednesday after room and evening, gave great pleas ure to the members of the organiza- ton and their guests
 man who would decline an invi- tation to attend such a spread could be set down as one wholly indiffer- ent to the pleasures of the table, for with grocers and meat men furnish ing the feast it meant that every | thing which could please the inner man would be found on the table.
 
 l am sometimes kidded for having so much to say in this column about 'eats.' but eating, like the weather, is a perennial topic of conversation, and is therefore always subject of interest. I have had crowded within the week a wedding feast dinner on the ground at an association and a barbecue, and therefore am entitled to claim to be an expert when it comes to sizing up spreads of all kinds
 It was a sight to see a table longer than city block with seats on both sides spread for a wedding party. It fey as-ti ln lo Baptist association where more than soc delegates were fed at the noon hour without the slightest con fusion It was something to be pres ont at barbecue where the tables were loaded not only with barbecued meats. but every delicacy to be had In grocery store helped to weight them down.
 Hugh Hill has d great place at Edgewood to stage barbecue and ou ting Eating is one of the pleas antest ways in which to kill time, but one cannot eat always; and so at Edgewood there is great swim ming pool a large dancing pavilion and beautiful and commodious club house; while the grounds are well laid out. Yet in spite of these con veniences It has the air of the coun- try, being far enough removed from the noise of the city to give just the nerves of city dwellers.
 I have acted as master of cere- monies, chairman or toastmaster at many public and private functions. but never in all my life did l make more popular announcement than on Wednesday afternoon, when said to the waiting throng at Edgewood: "On account of the threatening weather it has been decided to have the "eats" first and the "talkfest' afterwards. The vast crowd thun- dered out it's approval as l led the way to the tables.
 Fearing that the members and the guests would not assemble in the clubroom for the speeches on account of the dinner and other attractions,
 it was decided to start the speaking while the barbecue was still being served. and so standing on the ter race in front of the clubhouse l urged those who had dined to gather to hear the address of Francis D. Kamp- CT. president of the national associa- ton, who in spite of the noise and moving about of the crowd, delivered an able and inspiring talk I next presented Sidney J. Bowie, chairman of the semi mi-cenntennial committee, who in eloquent words sketched the meaning of the cele- bration, and then introduced Wallace Rice the man who will write the pageant who spoke glowingly of the subject, and of the beauty of the place selected in which to give 1t. The rain forced the crowd indoors. where the speaking was concluded. George w. Yancey, legal counsel for the or ganization, spoke along practical Hines, while R. A. Porter, president of the Chamber of Commerce, in few brief but hearty words put the service of the chamber at the dis posal of the association.
 The barbecue and outing were greatly enjoyed, but the thing which will last was the work begun look ing towards the organization of an Alabama Retail Food Dealers asso- c;ation, a meeting being caled for the purpose here on September 27 to perfect it. President P. H. Shropshire and the heads of the various commit tees deserve great praise for the way in which the programme was carried out at the second annual barbecue and outing.
 IcAu1EzNMeA0u,eln POINTED PARAGRAPHS From the Chicago News.
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