Grand Rapids Herald

WESTON AND HIS PIE.
An Episode of the Press Club Excursion.
Factors of the Press club excursion have been straggling home in numbers varying from two to twenty on every train since Friday morning. By far the greater number remained east or are visiting friends at points easily reached from the line of the excursion. All these will have returned by Tuesday morning and thereafter will have many laughable and enjoyable experiences to relate.
It was a happy jolly party which left the D., G. H. & M. station early Wednesday morning. The excursion train was in two sections of six coaches each and the railway officials courteously added a handsome parlor coach for the exclusive use of the members of the Press club, a favor which was appreciated by every person fortunate enough to be admitted to its convenient precincts. The excursion was directly in charge of E. B. Flaner, W. B. Weston and J. W. Hannen of the Press club, and Ben Fletcher and James Campbell of the railroad company.
Not an unpleasant incident marred the journey from beginning to end, but every hour was filled with episodes of an amusing character. All were happy, and each member of the party had started out for a good time. Many of the tourists provided themselves with lunch, for the stops were few and short. Generous hampers filled with delicacies were not unimportant features, contributing to the general and personal comfort of the party. Fast time was made through Canada, Niagara Falls being reached within eleven hours of the departure of the train from this city. At London, Canada, a stop of twenty minutes was made for dinner, and the unfortunates who had failed to bring a supply with them were reduced to the necessity of dining off a free trade dinner of attenuated chicken legs, and pie which had lost the first bloom of youth. Mr. Weston of the Leader, being a modest man, did not even stop to look at the limits, but secured three-cornered piece of apple pie on a dinner plate. Out of the generosity of his heart and being sure she would reject it, he offered the delicate tid-bit to a lady who thrust her hand through the open window of a car of the first section and seized the plate. The train started out and still the lady grasped the plate. Instead of letting her have it he tightened his grip, and as she held on too, he presented the spectacle of a dudish looking man being towed by a plate, a lady and a train of cars. He was dragged nearly the length of the platform, but finally escaped with his pie. In this case at least, hunger having overcome gallantry.
There was a wee bit of a girl on board—who furnished a continuous round of amusement. She was apparently not more than 18 months old, but she chattered like a magpie and her pronunciation was perfect. Moreover, she walked with ease and precision. Whenever anything occurred to displease her she would announce with startling distinctness, "I am going to cry." Then she would trot down the aisle, ensconce herself comfortably in a seat and weep actual tears. Her Jupiter Pluvius interludes were not frequent, nor were they prolonged, so she was regarded as a source of entertainment rather than otherwise.
The usual quota of peculiar people was along and everybody was perfectly happy in watching them. The man who asked questions came early and took a front seat. Behind him sat the woman who didn't want her husband to step out of the car door when a station was reached for fear he would be left. Then there were people with little idiosyncrasies no bigger than a man's hand, yet perceptible and laughable. Everybody laughed for the fun of it and was good natured over mirth and light ridicule returned. Many family and neighborhood parties were observed and the bridal couple were there for their wedding journey. Nature smiled for the occasion and beautiful rainbows hung over the falls, apparently to greet the tourists who flocked over to Goat Island in droves early Thursday morning. Hackmen importuned in vain, for the excursionists were an educated people, well versed in the ways of the wily cabmen. Street cars were generally utilized, and hotel rates were lowered to such a convenient notch that all the unpleasant features of a stay at the falls were obliterated.
Great satisfaction was expressed by all who were fortunate enough to take the trip, and the universal praise accorded the Press club and the railway management was without a dissenting voice.