The Van Buren press., 1894-06-02
The Press Excursion.

We decided at the last moment to make one of
the Press Excursi0nists' TO Washington City,
and on the morning of May 9th left home to Join
the party in Little Rock. We reached there in
time to enjoy some of the lavish hospitality
showered on the members of the Association by
the good people Of that city, and meet and greet
numerous old friends among the editors and
their wives whom we had not seen for many
years.
They were all Of one opinion and not back.
ward In expressing it. about how delightfully."-
the Association had been entertained, and how
deeply they felt indebted to the citizens Of the
"city of Roses" for all attentions bestowed upon
them.
At noon on Thursday May 10th, sixty five
members Of the Association met at the Union
depot, and under the care Of Mr.. J. r. Jobe
boarded special car which had been provided
for their use through the kindness Of II. c.
Townsend of the Iron Mountain road. He fur
nished us transportation over that road via
Bald Knob to Memphis, which route we found
very interesting as it took us over parts Of the
State entirely new to us, and we feel under many
obligations to him for courtesies extended over
that line. Memphis was reached after dark. and
the transfer across the city was made in the rain
consequently not very pleasant, besides taking
up so much time we failed to get any SUPPER
and the crowd that left Memphis was not quite
so jolly as 1t had been earlier in the day.
After seeing us comfortably slowed away in
the sleeper Mr.. j. r. Jobe turned the party over
to the care of his brother, B. +. Jobe. and re-
turned home much to the regret of everyone. We
Immediately found though that we had been
left in good hands, and soon grew to look upon
him as the head of the party and the one who
could furnish all information, grant all requests
make himself agreeable at all times and be per-
fectly unselfsh under all circumstances.
From Memphis we went over the Memphis &
Charleston road to Chattanooga reaching there
for breakfast We got a glimpse of Lookout
Mountain and the beautiful hotel perched up
among the clouds. Up to this time We had had
the pleasant company of Mr.. R. H. Rorh, Agt of
the Norfolk 4 Western road, who had been sent
to Little Rock to arrange our transportation over
his road, and whom we found to be extremely
polite and agreeable, and an addition to the
party that we were 10th to leave at Chattanooga.
Our line of travel was now over the East Tenhes-
see Virginia & Georgia road, which took US
through miles and miles of interesting country.
We could not help but feel sorry FOR the poor
farmers In this section who were cultivating
mountain sides so steep that we wondered how
they kept the horse and plow from rolling of,
when they could come to Arkansas and have
plenty of land as level as their floor and rich
besides. All through this part of the State the
scenery is grand and the view of the Smoky
Mountains of North Carolina is particularly fine.
We reached Bristol about clock in the after
noon. This town lies in Tennessee and Virginia
both, the Main St. being the dividing line. At
this place we struck the Norfolk & Western road
which we travelled over to Shenandoah Junction.
and which runs through some of the most mag
niheent scenery in the United States There
certainly is no other section that can claim more
historic points of interest than are clustered
around this beautiful Shenandoah Valley. This
road gives stop-over tickets TO the most interest.
ing points on their road AMI We regretted that
we could not avail ourselves of them. After
refreshing nights rest the party was astir bright
and early anxious TO see Us of the many interest
ing points as possible. Our train being late we
were fortunate enough to get good view OF
Harpers Ferry and found that its charms have
never be en- overdrawn by pen or brush. 1t was
simply grand and spot never to be forgotten.
1t seemed only q few moments after that the
call washington" was heard and we gathered
up our baggage ready for the wonders of the
Capitol City of our great Nation. As we stepped
from the train committee of resident Arkansas
gentlemen and Mrs. Jas. X. Jones welcomed us
to their city and took us Immediately to the
Metropolitan Hotel where rooms had been en-
gagged for the whole party. After breakfast and
short while tor refreshing ourselves, we were in
formed that "a programme had been arranged
for our pleasure which embraced all the chief
points Of interest around Washington, and that
some of the committee would be ready to attend
us as guides both day and night, and We must
not hesitate to call Oh them for any information
or attention needed.
Our first trip was to the Capitol where the
party was divided into squads, each headed by
a guide who showed US around. and explained
every thing in most interesting manner. There
we met all of our Senators and Congressman,
and saw both the Senate and the House in ses-
sion. Vice President Stevenson and Speaker
Crisp received the party informally and the after
noon was most delightfully."- spent We cannot
begin to describe what we saw on this trip and
will not even make the attempt, but will just
try to give faint idea of how we spent each
day, who we saw. and what q good time we had.
After doing the Capitol the party was ready to
rest when night came, except few, ourselves
among the number, who went to see the South
ern play Lord Chumley."
Sunday morning each one was allowed to fol-
low his own inclination with instructions to meet
in the hotel parlor at o'clock for trip to the
old historic town of Alexandria. We were taken
over by boat, and then walked up through the
old fashioned streets to Christ-Church where
George Washington worshiped in his day. The
church has been kept lust the same all these
years and Is very grand and beautiful We sat
for second in Washington's pew which IS large
and square, and is always free to visitors at
every service. We also sat down in RObt f..
Lees pew which is just across the aisle from
WashingtOn's each one has a silver plate with
the name of these distinguished gentlemen
inscribed thereon: The grounds are beautifully
kept and there are many interesting old inscrip-
tions on the tombs. We wandered around the
streets till the sun began to get dow and then
gathered at the wharf for return trip which was
and Mrs Giyens Mr.. and Mrs Littlepage and
Miss Mary Jones, besides the committee who was
always with us, added pleasure to this trip by
their presence. We had been invited by Col
and Mrs Terry to Join party of friends at din
ner, so list no time In making our way to the
hotel where we found them waiting for lis, and
we went at once into the dining-roo That
evening some few went to church but the most
of the crowd were content to stay in doors and
enjoy the company of Arkansas friends. =,
Monday was spent In visiting the National
Museum, Smithsonian Institute, Department OF
Agriculture, of course in a very hasty manner,
and climbing to the top of the Washington monu-
ment some by way of the steps and some In the
elevator. 1t is 500 feet high. The corner stone
was laid July 4 1s4s and the cap stone set in
position Dec. 6, 1881. We found the Arkansas
stone not higher than the third or fourth laniing.
The landings are ten feet apart From the monu
ment we went over to the Treasury Department
but did not get to go through on account of strict
orders being enforced to keep crowds out who
might do damage to the building This was the
only place that Coxey and his army interterred