The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-06-05
THE EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
ON BOARD STR. ANDY JOHNSON.

ON DoAkD Dir ANDl JohNsON.
Monday, May 81, 1915.
Well, here we are, bound for the Upper
Mississippi, on the splendid steamer Andy
Johnson, of the Keokuk and Northern Line.
There are about $50 of the party, of whom a
third are ladies. But perhaps it would be
better TO begin at the beginning and tell how
we got here.
Reached Jacksonville Monday night, May
18th, in company with dozen or two other
bela,ed Quill drivers, and though the leading
hotels were said to be full, found comfortable
quarters for the night. The association met at
8 80 next day, but as its proceedings have
doubtless long before this reached you in the
papers, it is unnecessary to rehearse them
here The address of welcome on behalf OF
the citizens of Jacksonville, by D. NJ. McCon-
nell, Esq, was eloquent and hearty, ana the
reply of our President, Mr.. Scroggs, Of the
Champaign gazette, creditable to his head
and heart The roll call revealed about 100
editors present. Some new members we're
admitted annuul dues paid, and other routine
DuSlucSS OCSuplCu thS iSmaiuiSi Va NV oSo'
sion.
In the afternoon the members found them
selves wholly in charge of the good people of
Jacksonville, to whose cordial and generous
attention and hospitality let me say, once for
all, the ASSOCIATION owe more than Favorable
notices of the town." apprehend, will ever
nav for. Not because Jacksonville lacks any,
thing IN the way of beauty and loneliness,
especially at this season, to deserve the most
hlghhown description and enthusiastic en-.
coniums, but because editors, like all other
people, are too apt to be forgetful of such
kindness The city, aside from the state in.
situations, the college, seminary, &c, and
many noble residences which crown all the
prominent elevations around 1t, has many
stately business blocks. pleasant looking
homes, beautifully shaded avenues, squares
streets, &C, imparting, amid the vigor and
60. ahead energy of western city, the air OF
completeness we admire SO much in many
favorite New England towns.
The afternoon excursion consisted of q
drive, in the first place, to the Blind Asylum
where the officers very kindly gave us exhibi
tions of the attanments Of their pupils, mos
of which were truly extraordinary, especially
in mathematics and music, and in much
handicraft that seemed at first blush lmpossi
bile without the aid of sight The whole wa:
so interesting, that President Scroggs invited
Mr. Harlow to give utterance to brief ex
preston of thanks in behalf of the association
which he did in handsome terms, and wa
followed in similar remarks by Col. Harper
aud Col. Shuman.
the next visit was to the Insane Asylum
where the party were again very kindly re
ceiyed and shown through the building, Wilt
its vast halls and corridors, apparently mile
in length. Finally, on reaching the chapel
there was some more music and speech'maR
ing by Mr.. Gordon, Mr.. Clay and others, ant
with another cordial hand shaking, the part
returned to their carriages and were taken t
so many lovely and interesting points abou
the city that the very thought of describing
them all makes ones head ache
In the evening there was general gather
ing at Conservatory Hall, to hear Mr.. Shr
: man, of the Chicago Journa1, deliver his orr
uon on the Editorial Conscience" and MI
Bostwick, of the Mattoon Gazette, his poem o
the Mystic Web of Public Sentiment" Bot
were well received.
. The principal business of the associate
next day was the election of officers, and
course everybody knows by this time that tn
honorable position of presidcntwas ccnferre
on that noble representative of the craft an
prince of good fellows, Sterling u. Rounds
of the Printers Cabinet. The usual resoll
lions of thanks were passed, and the assoc
alton adjourned.
In the afternoon there were more ride
. about the CITY. The Institution for the Feebl
: Minded Children and the Institution for tn
Deaf and Dumb were visited, AMI then ther
we're more speeches-by Gov Beveridg
Speaker Haines, &C; but cannot stop for d
tails as this letter is getting much too lon
already. The day was wound up by splei
did concert bv the teachers and pupils of III
Conservatory of Music, one of the fine
schools of the kind in the country, and a he
at the Dunlap House.
Thursday morning off for st, Louis on tn
CAR in charge of Asst. Supericntender
Morse. too whom all thanks are due for HI
Mains 70 make the ride pleasant one. ii
!, yave us the first ride any passenger tram liza
epioved over the great bridge and throug
,bc tunnel in ST. Louis and conducted us
that noblest caravansary on the continen
the Southern Hotel. But have no time
detail what occurred in St. Louis-our TO
NAL welcome by speech from Hon. ii. !
R,ow our ride about the city, and entertain
ment IN the evening; and last but not leas
our visit to that noblest Roman ofthem all,Ger
sherman, next morning, and his jolly speec