The Osceola times., 1884-05-24
Our Trip. to the Great
Northwest.

passage to Little Rock, except, that
owing to the trains not running on
schedule, we missed the Monday
morning train, and consequently
missed the excursion train which
left Little Rock at Z o'clock Tues.
day morning-about that time we
were taking breakfast, at railroad
speed, at Forrest City. Arriving al
Argenta at II o'clock Gust five
hours too late for free pass) We
found the Fort Smith train just
ready to pull out. Rushing to the
ticket Office, and securing tickets
we reached the train Just as the
conductor shouted, "all aboard!'
We were soon like the spirit of old
John Brown "marching on" after
the happy Faber pushers, who were
in time for the splendid dinner
spread for them at Van Buren, and
which is described by the half fam
ished representative of the Little
Rock Democrat in the following APP
preciatlve style:
"The spirit of the Ozark reception
was intensified at the depot in Van
Buren,, where banquet was in
waiting for the hungry journalists.
The wide platform was packed with
people, in fact it seemed as if the
whole town had turned out to meet
and greet these "moulders of public
opinion" There was no use telling
us we were there; we knew it, and
the train was deserted in short
time, the line was formed and head
ed by President Warren and Secre-
tary Belts, marched into the room
in which were spread the tempting
dishes. We had cold ham and cold
chicken, lobster, salmon and "hen"
salad, sandwiches Of beef tongue,
cheese and crackers, coffee and tea,
in fact, anything and everything.
The decorations of the tables were
elaborate. On one table we counted
no less than thlrty-one boquets,
roses and dishes of flowers, and
mixed with them nearly forty Gala
lilies. We never looked upon a
table decorated more handsomely or
groaning under the weight of more
good things. The hungry editors
were waited on by the beauty of
Van Buren,, and as whole they de-
serve to be classed under the head
of "beauties." We said "hungry
editors;" yes, and they were hungry,
for if doing without eating from Z
a. m. until p. m. makes a dyspep-
tic hungry; how much more so an
editor"
While we were too late to enjoy
the hospitalities of the charming la
dies and gallant gentlemen of Van
Buren, we think it cur duty to ex-
press our sincere thanks to them for
their elegant entertainment, even
though the narrowing consciousness
of having missed a good, square
meal, should drag us down in sorrow
to an untimcly grave. Yet, there is
no "bitter without its sweets" for
being too late for the train, caused
us to remain over at Van Buren, till
II o'clock, III. Wednesday, so we had
time to enjoy drive about this
| beautiful town of some 1000 inhabi-
tants, see its handsome churches,
splendid FAR grounds, nice business
blocks, its court house and square.
and above all, its many coy cottage
homes with lawns and yards pro-
fusely ornamented with shrubery
and choicest flowers. Boarding the
train, on the "Frisco " road, at IL
o'clock, we were soon being whirled
along through valleys, over hills, up
mountains, over mountains, and un-
der n moultains, over roaring, rushing
sparkling streams, revealing coun-
try as grand, picturesque and sub
lime as the most romantic lover OF
nature could desire. There is no
use of any denizen of this state leay-
ing it to seek beautiful scenery in
the verdure-clad peaks of the Ale
ghanies, or the bald, bleak Businesses
of the Rockies, for we have it here
in Arkansas in every variety, style
and shade of coloring all wool and
yard wide. Arriving at Fayetteville,
the Queen City of this glorious Bos-
ton Mountain region, we We're soon
comfortably 1uartered, with about
thirty more OF our party at the Van
Winkle House, a fine and commo-
dious hotel, where our every com
fort was generousl Y attended to by
the gentlemanly proprietor, Mr.. Il.
A. Miller. We will pass over the
business programme of the Associa-
ton, because of the length, merely
stating that there was much business
of importance transacted, and that
the S ssion was highly beneficial to
the craft. There was seventy-five
newspapers represented by their
editors, and some lady member of
their families, together with other
members of the association, making
a total of over 200 who enjoyed the
inequalities of Fayetteville. The
Association was edited and enter.
tanned at different times by numer-
Gus eloquent impromptu speeches
.nJ ,llroococ \Vo nou,;on n fnu,