The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-08-03

The following letter, written by
a we'll known citizen of Grant, may
not have been intended for publ
cation, but having it in our power,
we take the liberty of printing it
as an item of interest:
ARnMoRz, Ind. Ter. July "a. 1850.
Friend Andrep Th0rpe-
At this place to-day is to be seen
one of the grand sights of this sec
ton. Ardmore is town of about |
two years growth. It has one main |
street and some by streets The
stores are plain box buildings, very |
good considering circumstances; al |
so there are neat residences, small
but neatly painted.
The Ardmore people have credit
for to-day's gathering, which they
term "pic MIC" that has assem-
bled no less than six thousand souls
here for several days past. The
camp ground is an oak grove on
the prairie, of which about twenty
acres were closely occupied with
wagons and other vehicles, horses,
etc. The people could hardly be
stirred with stick, being so pack
ed together. All can get plenty to
eat, but sleeping does not 60 in at
any price. It is free and easy. All
one has to do to obtain this neces-
sary accommodation = that is all
we, and several hundred others 80
unfortunate as ourselves, as to ar
rive from Oklahoma too late to get
beds by q day or SO, was to lie on
hotel and store galleries. The de-
pot and platform is full of sleepers,
and chance trees are sought after
eagerly. The people with their en-
tire families, for fifty and more
miles around, are here. There are
at least twenty pavilions, contain
ing peanut and lemonade vendors,
ice cream, soda and fruit stands,
hobby horses, ring pitchers, baby
rockers, shooting galleries, curios,
and many other things too numer-
GUS to mention. Two of the pavil-
ions, about sixty feet square, are
: Aoored with dressed lumber, and
each are running four sets of dan
, GERS, music being furnished in one
. pavilion by splendid brass band
from Texas, the other pavilion be-
, vilion being served by the Oklaho-
: ma brass band. There are several
, other bands about the grounds dis
coursing sweet music. It is NOT
uncommon to see dozen or 90 Of
young ladies and gentlemen ride
t up, alight and hitch their horses,
y 90 into the pavilion, form set and
? trip lightly, with dusty shoes, light
hearts, happy thoughts, in accord
, with splendid music; all in theil
riding attire, only those of the men
t who choose to do so discard their
< coats. It is fearfully warm and
r dry, the temperature being about
"a degrees, and the only part being
out Of the general order of dancing
is that when a couple complete Q
: swing about, they just step back
Q bow their heads, with q sweeping
turn wiring the perspiration from
the brow, which runs down like
: water Jet, and are then ready fol
o the ssnext" To look at them made
4 me perspire freely, although l was
g in the shade of an oak tree with .
a large umbrella over me. / am SAT-
in saying there were more than
: thousand looking on at each fool
: of dancers.
81 Barrels were regularly stationed
. about the grounds, which were sup.
Piled by several wagons constantly
9 hauling water and ice. Here wa
/ the biggest dinner that l ever wit
: messed or sat down to. A ton anc
] a half of bread from GAINESVILLE
|; Texas, twenty-seven beeves, and II
!, head each of sheep, goats and hogs
q in barbecue style, graced the table
n at one time. There was none OF i
d left inside of hour from the tim'
y dinner was announced
Brothers Jesse and Thomas en-
u joyed it immensely. We are her
q locating our Oklahoma claims, ant
IS hope to be through in q montl
more. Excuse this brown pape
- and hasty letter. Best regards +
all friends, and remember me to tn
'e CHRONICLE. 1 always think of !