The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-03
General Information From
Knights of Pythias Lodges.
American Mechanics, Red Men and
Royal Arcapum All Busy.

Tex, last Wednesday morning, after an
absence OF two weeks, one OF which was
spent in travelling 1000 miles. and the
other ia attendance at the annual meet
ing. Dallas is net large city, but IL Is
rhe pride OF the Lone Star State and it
wss quite able to take care of its large
influx Of yisiling strangers from every
State in the Union and the provinces Of
canada. Every door was wide open and
the Characteristic hospitality OF the far
southwest was continually felt. Veterans
OF the Sovereign Grand Lodge declared
that IL was the most eDioya BILE session In
every respect, held in many years. In
deed, II was almost up To the standard
ests solisheI in this city when the highest
iranch OF the order held its annual ses-
sion In Providence In 1883. Recoll ction
OF that event is still fresh in the minds OF
Odd Fellows in this State.
AT this msoiing little legislation of par
tieular iaterest TO this section was trans
sc.ed, Dut there was much business OF
general importance transacted, which will
have beneficial effect to the order at
large. 1t may be noted further on in this
review of what was done.
The Rhode Islanders Joined the New
England delegation at Worcester. A
special palace sleeping coach mad been
secured by them, and their westward
journey was thereby made exclusive. No
strangers were admitted. Ali The Odd
Fellows from the far West, East and
North concentrated at ST. LOUIS and a
special train of seven pale sleepers
carried the exclusive train OF Odu fe.-
lows on their southward journey. 1t
was merry and excsedingly happy
company. The first stop OF importance
was at Hot Springs, Ark., where the
local lodge had made great preparations
for entertainment. Ii consis ed of a for.
NAL reception at the biz Arlington Ho-
tel, bathing in the world-famous hot
spring water, sightseeing. of the torn
nesting in the valley OF the mountains
and widespread hospitality of the most
generous kind. The kindness SHOWN on
.very hand could not be surpassed. Tho
weather experienced was the warmcst OF
the trip, and IL was bout On par with
the average temperature of the hot spell
experienced in this city during August.
IT was dusty, too, but notwi. hstanding
these drawbacks, the pleasure ot se Hot
Springs visit will never be egacod from
memory. rhore wss good Joke on two
Rhode leland and Connecticut r. presen-
tatives. They were invited to ride about
the city by young man who was
thnnO n ha q ha ri ha
ed that they would be willing to pay
sl.50 each for the trip, and started on the
drive with that sum Fixed in their minds.
After little while they were invited by
the driver to have some. drinka bles, and
when the visitors attempted to ply for
the refresh ments thev were denied the
privilege This was somew hist different
from the universal system OF eastern hack
drivers, ana the variation from estab-
lished custom was refreshing. After a
while the party had more refreshments
which they couldn't pay for, and then
there was a 8 op before one of the largest
buildings in the city. 1t was the city
bsll, and II was owned by the young
man driving the hack, He said he had
j1st finished it and 1t was occupied by
the city for municipal purposes. The
visitors began TO tum BILE and later learn
ed they were the guests of one OF the
richest men In the town. This is given
merely as an illustration OF the unosten-
tstious hospitality bestowed all through.
the city. The Odd Fellows Hall was in
the upper story of the city hall, and 1t
was as nicely equipped as the better
class of New England lodge rooms,
which arc considered as good as the
best. The name OF this modest and ac-
complished entertainer was j. h. varra-
dore.
The rest Of the journey to Dallas was
uneyentful and hot. The temperature
OF the southland had been gradually de-
veloping during the trip from 81. Louis
and the weather in store at Dallas was the
subject OF general conversation. A re-
markable thing happened, however, the
weather began to subside, and when the
delegates arrived at their destination
ordinary fall clothing was not, uncom-
Portable. The Texans said at the end OF
the week IL was the best seven days
weather seen In years in that vicinity. At
no time was II III comfortably not. The
hotel accommodations were fret class and
everyone was comfortably settled two
hours after, arriving, Sunday morning,
Sept. 2. The Oriental is almost as rne
hotel as the Narragsnsett In this city and
St was the headquarters Of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge.
Monday morning the formalities began
By a reception in.the Opera House, whero
the welcome OF the Governor Of Texas
and the Dallas city officials was extended
a. described i'm the columns OF THE
NEws Sept. 81 A. noon the regular ses-
sion OF thss big meeting was begun in
Turner Hall, a comnodious place kept at
comfortable temperature by q generous
supply OF electric fans IL was a good
hsn for the purpose, slthough those in
the rear had some difficulty in hearing