The Osceola times., 1882-07-22
Press Excursion.

bile and expense had been incurred,
we found ourselves with some extra
time on hand. which was devoted Ia
sight seeing. First, we visited the
Deaf and Dumb Institute. where we
were kindly received by the Matron,
Mrs. a. B. Hammond, and shown
through the various apartments, all
Of which we found scrupulously neat
and orderly, everything presenting
a cheerful aud inviting appearance.
From the observatory, we obtained
view Of the walls of the Insane
Asylum, situated on an adjacent hill
and overlooking the city and the
Arkansas river, and which Is rapidly
assuming shape aud proportions.
We next visited the new Cathedral
and several of the churches. which
were very fine and substantial build
ings. At . o'clock, June 23th., the
Union depot at Little Rock was the
scene Of unusual hustle and excite.
mcnt; the Knights Of the Pen and
the Sword were gathered there each
for time casting aside their usual
vocations, and bent on gaining a lit
tie recreation, and IL possible, win
ming fresh laurels. Ina few minutes
the Quapaws got aboard, while n
battery of artillery fred u parting sa'
lutte: the editors soon followed on
a special train, and were rapidly
whirled over the broad acres of Ar.
kansas, reaching Memphis at II o.
clock, p. m. Here we were trans.
ferred to the Memphis & Charleston
II. r., and for the first time, began
to fully realize that we were on u
tour Ia the East; before it had seem
ed "too bright for the eye of thought,
too sweet to bear reflection" Leav-
ing Memphis, we sought the arms Of
Morpheus, and the next sound that
greeted our ears was, "Tuscumbia"
Rubbing the cinders from our eyes,
and vainly endeavoring to collect
our wits, which seemed yet to lingcr
in Arkansaw, and gradually remcm-
bering enough Of boyhood's geogra-
phy to locate oursclf, we turn
ed around and benignly informed
Mrs. II. that we were in Alabama.
and that we had slept while passing
through large portion of Tennessee,
and Mississippi, which seeming re-
Election upon her want OF knowledge
was indignantly repellcd by the
withcring query, and have you just
found that out?" After something
over an hours travel through an old
worn-out and exhausted country,
where it was constant source of
wonder, from whence the inhabitants
obtained subsistence, we heard the
joyful sound Of Decatur, 20 min
utes for Breakfast" 20 which our
entire party, consisting Of fifty gen
tlcmen and thirty ladies promptly
responded aud did ample justice.
Leaving Decatur, we crossed the
Tennessee river, from whence the
country began to improve, the soil
appeared more fertile, and the corn
and wheat looked like it might fur
nish bread to the man who cultiva-
ted it. We soon reached Huntsville,
a thriving, busy town, with several
cotton factories. From Huntsville.
the scenery grew more diversified
and beautiful, till nearing Chatanoo-
ga. where a splendld view of Look
out and adjoining mountains was OBJ
tained, and the prospect was truly
enchanting. From Chattanooga to
Bristol is a rich agricultural county,
with much lovely scenery and many
towns and villages, the most impor.
tant of which are Cleveland, where
we got an excellent dinner, Knox
Vile, a Hourishing town with many
handsome building, also noted for its
schools, and the home of Brownlow,
and Green,ille, the home of Andy
Johnson, where n magnificent monu-
ment is erected to his memory. We
took supper at Bristol. town on the
line between Virginia and Ten.
nesscc, having dual government.
Just imagine. only twen,yfour hours
before we were singing hash at rail
road rate at Blacklish, in the swamps
of Crittenden county, and now taxi
ing Tea with the r. r. VS.. Night
closed in rapidly, and being weary,
we took no note nfpassing events til
we arrived at Roanoke the next
o,orni,,,. NJ xu,r,s, ,,lor., ,va l.Tt