Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-28
TO WEST POINT AND RACK,

TO WEST POINT AND RACK.
 Intending to attend the barbecue given by the people of West Point and vicinity on the 22d inst, we left home on the morning of the 2lst, in order that We might have time to look over the country, inquire into the condition of crops, Sc. Arriving at desirable point within two miles of West Point by noon, we took on the usual amount of rations, &c.-which &c. means some- times one thing and sometimes another
 and then sallied out in company with our old friend Major Poe to take look atthings, we being stranger in "these parts." We were particularly pleased with the fattering prospects for large crops-which we saw on every hand and more pleased to learn from gentle men to whom we were introduced by our escort for the evening, that every where throughout that whole country crops were splendid; it being an aver age estimate that there will be three times as much corn made as will be needed for home consumption. lr sl
 On Wednesday morning early, we showed into town, not that it was ne- cessary to go so early, but for fear something might happen that we wouldn't see i; here we met several gem tlemen of our acquaintance, and were introduced to others that treated us so kindly, and with all were such perfect gentleman, that we soon set West Point down as Q good place, and her citizens as clever, accommodating and intelli- gent class as it has ever been our o'clock, from every direction, the peo- pie of the surrounding country came pouring in, and by 10ao'clock it was estimated that full twelve hundred people were in town. As it had been previously advertised that there would be several speeches, we all repaired to the designated grove and awaited the orators; we cannot, we know, do jus tice to the crowd there assembled--es- pecially the sfair'--in this description. But we can say we were greatly had at heart the good and pleasure of their fellows. Here on the right might be seen the old grand mother honored in her age and given privileged seat !; there bevy of laughing, roguish-eyed damsels, toying with their fans, and we sadly fear with the heart of their beaux too, some of them; rarely have we seen so many of the mothers, wives and daughters of the country at Q gathering of this kind. The speakers having ar- rived, the marshal calls to order and introduces Maj. J. N. Cypert to the au- | dience. Maj. Cypert is blunt man, saying what he thinks, and as his sub- ject was the political issues of the day, it may be imagined that the rads were not much petted; he spoke about forty minutes, giving graphic descriptions of the workings of radicalism in the national and state legislature, dealing them here and there blows that were appreciated, and frequently applauded by the audience. The next speaker, Gen. D. McRae, was then introduced
 Gen. NJ. began in an easy and fluent style, interesting the audience, and So dealing with the industrial pursuits oi | thu ntrxv as fn oh hf,,, cr1f o yavo e. tical as well as polished gentleman
 He said that however much interest might under other circumstances at- tach to the subject upon which he was then speaking, he felt that the remark: of Maj. Cypert had led the minds oI l the people into politics, this being tht theme he would like to dwell upon
 he closed his speech with hot and Iner lited rebukc of that spirit of radicalisn
 that had paralyzed industry, and well
 nigh ruined the country. N. B. Gail
 was then called, and in response dit
 the best he could under the circum
 stances, firing in the bushes at tn,
 game the other speakers had scared up
 MT. Joe House, young man of mucl
 promise, then delivered an address
 upon education, which was very ap
 propriate, and gave evidence of mucl talent. Speaking being over we re paired to dinner, and here we take oc casion to say that we have never seer
 better dinner, either in quality ol
 quantity. While the ladies were eating we canvassed little, and learned iron several gentlemen that in that town ship there was but one radical. Every
 body seems fully satisfied with Sey mour and Blair; in fact, more thor oughly Democratic community we hay, never seen. We regret that space vii not allow us 10 speak in detail of tn, many pleasant things that were sait and done during the day; of this, how
 ever. we are satisfied, that socially a
 we have chosen to treat this affair, i will be long remembered by the goot people of West Point, while to us i was time of pleasure and profit. w
 returned home on the next day, feeling
 that we had made friends and found
 much pleasure on the trip.
 - sos -
 MANUFACTURING.
 Our people are gradually awakening t' ! tt of e &kn.~