The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-06-29
An Exceedingly Interesting Meeting
at Fort Smith.

ing matronS, attentive DeauX, Win
some widows and gallant widowers
as any city in the state, and the gen
erous hospitality of her big-hearted
citizens will ever occupy warm
spot in the memory of all the editors
and their wives and daughters who
were so royalty entertained by her
citizens last Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday.
TT. Smith is one of the best towns
in the state, and has made most rap
id gains in population since 1880.
1t now has population of $4,000
active, energetic people who believe
in good schools and churches of
which there are large number.
The city has water works, street cars
electric lights and good streets, and
one of the handsomest and best
equipped opera houses in the south
west; it has one of the largest cotton
compress and eotton-seed oil mills
in the country, three furniture fac
tories, three planning mills, one large
roller -four mill one harness and sad
die manufactury, two foundries and
machine shops, one boot and shoe
factory, besides a large number of
smaller concerns which work in the
aggregate large number of employ
es. The city has many beautiful
and costly residences, the finest and
best of mercantile establishments,
two first class hotels, the French and
Main, four newspapers, two daily,
and a dozen of the brightest and
noblest newspaper men in the south
west
" At the opera house Tuesday eve
ming Hon. G. NJ. Cooke delivered an
address of welcome, which was re
sponded to by James w. Adams of
the Pine Bluff Graphic. Both adj
dresses abounded in wealth of
thought, happy expression and soar
ing eloquence, eliciting storms of APP
plause. After the addresses fol
lowed a beautiful rendition of the
popular opera ''Pinafore" by home
talent 1t was an entertainment
worthy of professionals, cute, capri
cious, pleasing, and the immense
audience, composed of the members
of the association and citizens of
the city was wreathed in smiles of
appreciation.
On Wednesday evening at Ar
morv Hall the association was ten
dered reception by the citizens of
the city, followed by banquet at
Hotel Main, which was a royal oc-
easion, feast fit for kings. The
spacious dining hall was handsome
lv decorated, and, around the tables,
clothed in snowy linen and laden
with everything calculated to tempt |
the appetite, gathered with the Wis
itors, were many of Fit. Smiths
charming ladies and ehivalrous men.
Hon. G. r. Williams was toastmas-
ter and no one could have performed |
the delicate duties of the position
better. Witty, handsome and grace
full he won the hearts of all at once.
During the feast enchanting music
was furnished by the FIT. Smith or
chestra, musical organization of
great merit. The toasts Of the eve
ming were intellectual treats and
added much to the brilliancy of the
occasion. The Arkansas Press As
sociation" was becomingly respond
ed to by c. G. Colburn. sour Coun
try" occupied the attention Of j. B.
McDonough, who understood the
subject perfectly. Col. Hicks dis
cussed, as only he can, The News
and NJ. ID, Hunton talked
most interestingly Of 'Plums and
or the politician and the
press. The young benedict, J. w.
Adams, captured all the ladies by
his discussion of the Editor sWife,
and the talented James F. Read
added fresh laurels to his fame as an
orator by his splendid tribute to
Columbo'. TWAS past
two o'clock when the closing toast
was finished and the guests repaired
to their homes.
The last session OF the association
was held at the opera house Thurs
aay morning. The meeting was well
attended and some interesting dis
cussions took place. A resolution
was adopted extending sympathy to
the family Of G. p Farmer, Of Con
way who met with accidental death