New Britain herald., 1926-06-16
LIONS TURN LOOSE
 INPELTING STORM
Clubs Of Three Cities Roar al
 COmpOunce Outing

It was a stormy day at Lake Com bounce yesterday The wind blew through the trees on the cliff and Ialong the banks of the lake. The rain came down in torrents, driving what few pleasure seekers there
 seemed to be to shelter in cars and under the pavilion roof Waves roll
 cd over the lake and crashed against
 the rocks or rolled far over the
 sloping banks sending showers of spray to mingle with the rain.
 The temperature dropped to an
 unpleasant degree and New Britain
 Lions huddlcd in corners of the pa Wilton veranda and roared and howl cd as they shiyered in the unseason- able weather,
 lt was truly a mournful picnic. which the New Britain, Meriden and Bristol Lions clubs held yester- day afternoon. True, when the |chicken dinner finally was served. Itho situation changed and mcrri- mont and joy suppIanted gloom and misery.
 But the afternoon was a disap- Ipotntment. Baseball games sched- lulod between the clubs went by de- | fault in the midst Of a deluge such las has not been seen for weeks. Fat Imen's races, and other novelty stunts have not even had the pleasure of passing into history since that which never happens, necessarily .cannot become history.
 Oh. Those Paper HatSl
 And those ornamental paper hats, If q bystandcr (hut there were no bystanders) were 10 try and describe them he would be apt to pick on Police Commissioner NJ. ]. Bannan. and say something like this: Com missioner Bannan was crowned with a torn and tatt5red. water soaked band of purple paper, topped with the remnants of some lacy, frilly stuff, while mournful feather .valnly tried 10 shed the elements Of saturation from its drenched down, A wilted I on a dropping shield de- Jectedly tried to remain in place while long strings of purple water triCkcd down the wearer's neck, as he vainly tried to keep under the umbrella held over him by Council man David l.. Nair.'
 On the baseball diamond there was 6 scene of watery chaos. Large pools of water marked the bases ard ,he home plate looked like the wad- ing pool at Walnut Hill park. Sec rctary James O'Brien and other ath- lotos sat in cars among the bleach- CTS and thought of fishing as they gazed over the ponds and rivulets on the diamond.
 President Harry c. Hancock and a few others fared q little better. They sought out the bowling alley and proceeded to get into action Indoors to thaw out their numbed and almost frost bitten bodies. The bowling games was the most sue cossful event of the afternoon, prior 10 the dinner most of the honors going 10 John r. Mechan of this city and Lion named Johnson from one Of the other clubs.
 BazOo Band Gets Its Stride
 In the main dining room shortly before dinner was served, the fun actually started. A. J. DeLauricr, as Professor Stoopcnticket" organiz- | ed a bazoo band and proceeded to | to the amusement and | of all that men will be 1 )oys." All the latest popular and | familiar and unfamiliar | lirs, were played for or at the gath 2ring.
 By orders Of President Hancock, | dinner was served at o'cock in stead of 6:30 as previously an- nounced. l.. W. Yogel. another club comedian, was toastmaster. Music | by the Bazoo orchestra and indi- yidual performers was served be- tween courses Of soup, chicken and ice cream.
 Frank Esan. Henry Kristopher. Matt Callahan, Frank Clynes, Otto Heinrich, John r. Meehan and W. c. French sang. At least they said it was singing. There was some argu- nent on this claim. William Muller, Rotarian, present as a guest, led ir singing Sweet Adeline." without which no party is successful.
 Award of Prizes
 After dinner speeches were made oy Judge Donovan of Bristol, presi- lent Of the Bristol club and Presi- lent Reeves of the Meriden club.
 C. J. Leroux, president of the Ma ional league in the Lions baseball 'ontest, was presented with several okens IS gifts of the club in recog- lition of his sportsmanship. One If the gifts was an oil can. given in he hope that the Nationals would nn more easily next year. 4 rubber rown, and other gifts of especial ignificance were given w. C. trench. president of the American league, winners in the contest.
 Prizes which were donated for thletic events, were diverted to ther purposes. A desk pad with a rass holder was awarded to Dr. oseph Potts, who successfully de- eated John Meehan and Otto Hcin- ich in a contest to decide the worst singer in the club"
 Robert C. Vance was unanimously warded a silver shaving set as the | homeliest man in the club. He had nh onnoyit;o,,