The farmer and mechanic., 1911-05-30
.IFW|s WON 7 TALK
BUT WRITES WELL
poouIar Veteran Writes
Of Trip to Little Rock
MY. BUTT WAS GLORIOUS

1,,,, Little Rock People Gave the Con-
fp,Ieraue Drum Corps and All Other
Men Who Wore the Gray a
>nIcndid Time-Mr Lewis Records
Some Interesting Incidents.
notice that Brother Johnson told
q reporter the other day that Jim
lewis won't talk" and as l cannot
hope TO cope with him when it comes
to talking, l have written a snort
sketch of our trip to Little Rock.
We left on Sunday morning, May
f4th and had a pleasant trip, arriving
at Birmingham all Q. K. We stop
ped over that night with some very
dear friends (Mr. d. n. Mcdonald and
family at No. 229 73d street) where
We left for Little Rock the next
morning arriving at about o'clock
Tuesday morning, and were given
quarters in the High School building,
where we received all the care and
attention that any reasonable person
could ask for. The ladies who had
charge Of that building were as kind
ami nice as could be. and left nothing
undone that could make it pleasant
for all Of us--in fact, we shall always
treasure in our inmost hearts feelings
OF deepest gratitude to them, and we
just feel like saying, every time we
think of them: God bless the good
ladies of Little Rock" We were
quartered at the school building until
MAY 18th. Thursday.
Tuesday and Wednesday we played
at our headquarters (Which were Sit
uated in the old State CapitoD and
also played at the camp, where there
wei q great many old soldiers.
one little incident took place about
Wednesday noon that l must men
ton While going up the street we
ran up against our old and very dear
friend, Billy Green from Raleigh, and
don't know which was the prOudest
the Drum Corps Or Billy! He took
Us To the largest hotel to dine with
him. and spread before US a feast of
good things that wonderfully cheered
the inner man., after which we
sauntered out on the street with our
cigars lit. took a stret car and were
taken to the various places Of interest
around Little Rock. We went out to
the new State Capitol building and I
tell YOU it is a wonderful piece of
work. We also saw the new union
depot. which is not yet complete, but
Is already assuming imposing proper
tons and then We took the car to the
AuoiHFSS ulSlF1Cl OIL the Guy. 10 lTS
and describe the business section is
beyond my capacity. We all wound
up our trip with feEvent thanks to
Billy Green, and may God bless him,
Ior ne is all that characteriZes nice,
noble. Whoie-hearted gentleman who
knows how to treat a friend. The
cars were SO crowded when we start
ed on our return trip to the school
that Billy took US back in an auto,
ADDING greatly to the pleasure Of our
little excursion.
think Little Rock deserves a great
oeaI OF credit for the manner in
winch she handled the crowds that
attended the reunion. They were not
pfeI AIRED for such a large crowd, but
through the efforts of the committees
everything was in ship-shape by Tues
uaE night. and there was plenty OF
room for every old soldier, every
provision having been made for max
lhS them comfortable, and giving
lhem something good for the 'inner
man, and I think Little Rock did
herself proud. OF course there was
some dissatisfaction at first, but this
soon blew over and the Old Vets had a
glorious time. Our greatest trouble
was was the long ride on the railroad
mere was such q rush and jam or
me trains that it made it very un-
comfortable for the old fellowA bul
we could not do any better The
trains numbered from ten to eighteen
cars and they were all packed to the
ooors. To sum it all up In few
words, however, everybody did al
me! could to make it pleasant for ths
Old boys, God bless them all!
we left Little Rock Thursday fol
our distant homes and loved ones, anl
20 me that was the greatest da,
ot all. for Of all places / have evel
VISITED there is not one to compar
with my native good old North Caro-
Una especially old Raleigh.
Our trip from Little Rock to Mem
PhiS, Tenn, was as good as we coult
nave expected under the circUm
stances. We arrived at Memphis a
O'Clock and had to remain ther.
apout SIX hours which was yer.
'iesome. but finally we heard th
cry "ll aboard - which xxaa- xsolcnrr,.