Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-03-05

place then is that there were only a few houses near the river, and they were mostly built logs. remember seeing a forest of pine trees near the river bank; I remember also that on each side of the river below and above Pine Bluff, there were dense forests and thick cane brakes, and at several places between the mouth of the river and Van Buren, we saw large flocks of wild turkeys and herds of deer on the banks of the river, and cleared fields and farm houses were like angels visits. Arkansas then was very sparsely settled and the pioneers Iabored under many disadvantages unknown to the present generation, but with all it's disadvantages, if I knew where to find another country just like it, old as ! am, 1 would be tempted to go to it. At the time 1 first saw Pine Bluff we were on our way from eastern Kentucky to Washington County, Arkansas, where my father settled iii the wilderness and went to work to clear up the forest and fence and cultivate the fertile soil of the White River bottoms. There I grew up to manhood, working on the farm until twenty-one years old, without any education, as there were no schools then in that new country; and when twenty one years of age I had never atten- ded t school, even the most primi- tive, as much as six months all put together. The only free school I ever attended was in the summer of 1916. and then for only eleven days The only instructions I ever received in the school room that was worthy the name of a school was at Ozark Institute, near Fayetteville, which 1 attended fifteen months after was a grown man. l rejoice to see the great improvements in Arkansas in the way of schools for the youths of our land, and especially in our magnificent State University located at Fayetteville, where the young. men and young women of Arkansas can receive a first class collegiate edu- cation, and ought to beliberally sus tained and patronized by the people of Arkansas, and will be when they fully understand the great advan- tages offered there.
 But it was of my visit to Pine Bluff desire to speak, and 1 would have been glad to meet Col. Bocage and talk with him about the olden times, but 1 learned he was not at home. This was my first sit there since April. 1886 when the grand Commandery of K. P, held it's con claye there and reelected my old friend, that whole soled, fine old Arkansaw gentleman, Maj. John D. Adams, as our General Commander. We had a good time then and q splendid banquet given Us by the good people of me Bluff, and 1 enjoyed hearing Col. Boeage speak that night of carly days in Jefferson County. My good friends, Col. M. l.. Bell and John M Clayton, were then active in trying to make US all feel at home, but they like our loved Grand Commander, Adams, Col. Logan H. Roots, George Kimble, George Meade, Fred Kramer, pr. H. T. Mann, of Fort Smith, and1 several other noble hearted Templars then present, have passed over the river' to their final rest.
 Pardon me for making this com munication so long and allow me once more to thank our good friends of Pine Bluff for their very polite and kind attentions to myself and other members of the Arkansas Legislature, composing tlr tons mittee sent to visit tLs : itnai Branch of tho A. l. T
 Very respcctN >.ns friend and obedient setNaia'.
 J. H. VANHoosE.