The weekly messenger., 1891-06-06
OUR TRIP.


week. The trip was a long and tedious
one, most OK the travelling being at
night, but Notwithstanding the fatigue,
it was most pleasant, and we enjoyed
for ali it wa worth.
We spent Sunday at Alexandria.
In the evening Mr.. Welch and several
gentlemen from that growing and thriy-
ing city came in carr ages TO the hotel
where we were stopping and took the
editors for ride in the city and adjoin-
ing country to give them chance to
view the Red River Valley which is GER
tainly nice country. The lands are Of
a remarkable fecondity. adapted TO The
culture OF cotton. care. corn and i'll fact
everything that grows on the Louisiana
soil can be raised with success on the
famous and historic Red River Valley.
After enjoying the drive. d most plea
SAINT one. the editors were driven back
10 the hotel where the citizens had or
dered handsome dinner and were en-
tcrtained az the festive board by the hos
ptahle citizens Of Alexandria.
At five O'clock the same evening the
editors made their way towards tie Tex
as and Pacific Railroad depot TO take the
train for Shreveport. 1t was the good
fortune of the editors to meet on the
train Congressman Blanchard and Su-
pet intendent OF Public Education Jack,
who proved agreeable and entertaining
gentlemen, and made the editors pass
the time most agreeabIy. Shreveport
was reached at midnight and the whole
party put up for the night at the Phoe-
nix Hotel. At six o'clock the next
morning. tMOnday) a wrap at the door
told the sleepy editors the time had come
TO take the vicksburge Shreveport and
Pacific train for RustOn. the place s-lcc-
led Cor the meeting OF the faber pusherS;
this place was reached at ten O'clock IN
the morning, and were met hy a com
mittee Of reception and the whole popG
lation of the enterprising town. and 4
white silk badge hearing the words
Louisiana Press Association" was pin
ned on the lapel of the cGat of each edi
tor, and were then assigned to their
places of abode.
Tie Convention assembled at eleven
o'clock Monday morning the 25th of
May and adjourned Thursday evening
at Calhoun. Several able papers were
read by members of the Press ard other
distinguished persons, which made the
convention very interesting. After the
reading Of essays each day the business
Of the Association was transacted. The
reelected the same officers
for another terms. they are Hon. LeoE
Jastremski, President. Mrs. l.. L. Bently
and 4. j. Lafargue. Vice-Prssidents and
Mrs. Eddie Lee, Secretary and Treasurer.
The reception rendered the Press by
tile people of Ruston. was grand, frank
and open-h hearted, and their hospitality
unmeasured. They were extended a
cordial welcome bv the Mayor Of the
town and were given the freedom of the
city, and all that could be done for their
pleasure and comfort, was not spared.
The editors were the guests OF no parti-
cular one, but Of the whole population.
and no guest was neglected.
At four o'clock Tuesday evening, a
special train came from Monroe, and took
aboard the newspaper people and some
of the citizens of RustOn, and returned
TO Monroe, which is situated at dis
tance of about thirty miles. on the beau
tiful Ouachita River. The trip was
made in one hour, and on the arrival of
the train the hospitable people Of that
thriving and prosperous little city were
at the station in waiting for the excur-
sionists. On their arrival the members
of the press were introduced to the citi-
zens of Monroe. and than took the car
rlagcs that were in waiting for a drive
in the Queen City of the Ouachita.
Monroe, is really pretty little city
having numerous industries that are
necessary for the progress and advance.
ment of city and for the ease and com.
fort of its people. The streets are wide
we'll graded and sha ded by stately oaks
which is one of the attracting features
of Monroe. It has several wholesale
houses, two congresses, large Ice facto
ry, three oil mills. three banks, cal