The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-05-21
osR TnRgo MONROE.
[Shroveport Times. !

"a the2d instant the writer in CON
pany with DR.: McKitrick ana Mr.
Cooper, left this place by Thonasson's
stage line for Monroe for the purpose
Of attending the organization of the
Grand Lodge of the knights of Pyth-
las called to meet at that point on the
9th. At Fillmore Judge Thomas N.
Bracien and Major r. e. Wyche. sher.
1T of Bossier parish, also delegates to
the Grand Lodge, Joined our party
and all went smoothly and pleasantly
until we reached Mintlen, where six Of
US We're crowded into a vehicle, which
for the name of the thing, we call a
"stage," barely large enough to seat
comfortably four persons. Attached
to the tsstaHe" were two poor horses,
Is indeed are all the horses, with few
exceptions, on this route. In this
thing we were joetled over q rough
road to Homer, . distance Of eighteen
miles, where we arrived about 9
O'Clock at night. The driver at this
end Of the road Ia Mr.. freeman Gal
foway, Q careful aud experienced man,
who, did ali In his power to make as as
comfortable as possible By the time
we reached Homer the :ssprlng" to
our cart was sadly deficient.
= At Homer we changed drivers and
houses and went out of the place at a
british rate, which was kept up. until we
reached the next stage stand. There
we met with something that ssis new
under the sum-" viz: A religious
horse, and q grey one at that. The
driver, a clever young man, but not
much accustomed to manipulating the
ribbons, called him 81. John the Bap-
fist. He told US before leaving the
stand that II we talked above a whis-
per John would not pull pound. So
we sat In Thomason's sweat box with
bated breath until we reached the foot
of small hill, when some member of
the party thoughtlessly inquired in a
very audible tone what the hour was.
That was sufficient pretext. Not q
pound would the piously inclined
quadruped pull, and we were invited
to blight out'' ana foot 1t up hill, and
continued to walk. up every hill we
came to until daylight, when the fact
revealed itself that the horse was not
more religious than other horses, but
had a sore on his shoulder about
two inches in width by about fonr in
length, which made 1t almost impos-
sible for the poor creature to do SCR
vice: Daring the night all sorts of
devices were resorted to to make him
kSAsAS HAOs4A100aAS WAl1~tAES ~ulCu was
lOOsenfng the trace chains and tying
up the poor animals tail to the double
tree. This was intended to cure him
II baking, and must say It proved a
most ehectual remedy. So, AFTER many
trials and tribulations we reached vi
emma about seven O'Clock Monday
morning. !. 'r
Our, experience on returning from
Vienna to Homer was much worse
and far more hazardous than our first
trip proved. Suffice it to say that the
party esteem themselves lucky in
being alive. -';
The advertised schedule time over
this road Is 80 hours, but the time is rare
ly made in less than a6 aud oftentimes,
we are informed, it Is forty hours.
We reached Monroe Monday after
noon about 4 o'clock, where we were
met by number of gentlemen who
had been advised of our coming. ...,
Wednesday night the Grand Lodge
degree was conferred on all Past Chan
cellors of the order present. Thursday
the Grand Lodge was declared insti-
tuted by Supreme Chancellor d. b.
Woodruff. Friday night the knights
style at the opera house. On the foor
of the hall were FIVE tables extending
the entire length of tho building,
about sixty feet in. depth, while on
on the stage was table set apart for
the Supreme Chancellor and o6icers of
the Grand Lodge, all of which were
heavily laden with the good things of
life and to which ample justice was
done. Some idea may be formed OF its
magnificence when 1t is known that
the supper cost something over *7OO,
the entire expense OF which was borne
by the members of Stonewall Lodge
Nos, of Monroe. Nothing was left
undons On the part of Stonewall Lodge
to make every knight feel perfectly at
home, and we are sorry to chronicle
the fact that in the distribution Of the
Offices of the Grand Lodge she was en-
tirely ignored, for the reason we pre-
sumo, that her members were too
modest to urge their claims, or were
waiting for the honoss. to seek them
instead OF seeking for them.
During our brief visit to Monroe we
had the pleasure of meeting Lieuten-
ant.Governor McEnery, DIR. Abby,
Col. McCranie, Col. john s. Young,
Dr. A. b. Sholars, Talbot Stiliman,
Esq, Franklin Garrett, ESD, Col. F.
p. Stubs, Mayor Endom and many
other DrOminent pentlomon IF that