The Forrest City times., 1911-08-25
BOOKER I. WASHINGTON
 ROYALTY ENTERTAINED
Colored Population Turns Out Enmasse to Welcome Noted Negro Educator
 at Madison Sunday.

with throngs of people, but on no occasion has there ever been seen a lager gathering of colored people than was noted here last Sunday morning the occasion being the widely announc- ed gathering to welcome Booker T Washington, of Tuskogee, A Alabama, who was scheduled to arrive on the II o'clock Rock Island train that morn ing to be the guest Of Scott Bond, of Madison. and to deliver a lecture that afternoon at the picnic grounds or grove just west of that town.
 The train was about an hour and twenty-five minutes late, and the crowds which had begun to assemble shortly before II o'clock. had by the time the train finally arrived. grown 10 immense proportions. ! line If buggies. wagons and vehicles CT every imaginable kind stretching eniir ly around ihe block. and the dep,t plat forms and grounds, and the streets adjacent being packed with throng of our colored citizenry.
 Scott Bond, who had been attending the meeting of ihe Negro Business Mems Association in Little Rock. came over on the same train with the visitors, and they were met at the depot by committee of leading color ed citizens, who escorted them to a waiting automobile, which, with a brass band imported from Memphis, and seated in gaily decorated wagon led the parade to Madison.
 Wallace L. Purifoy, who was one of the reception committee, and who, like Washington, is deeply interested In the uplift of his race, tells us that when the automobile heading the procession reached Crow Greek, three miles east of town. the last buggy in the procession was just leaving the public square in this city. It was undoubtedly the longest procession ever witnessed in this county.
 Arriving at the picnic grounds, the crowd was treated to an old time bar becue dinner, which had been prepar- ed in sumptuous style, and to which all did full justice.
 After the dinner Booker T. Wash ington delivered an address in the grove, which was listened to attent- lively, and received with appreciation. lie was introduced by Scott Bond. and told the crowd of the many ad- vantages the negro has in this country telling them, as he always has, that this is the easiest country in the world in which the negro can make a living: compared their condition here with that of the peasantry in Europ- can countries: reminded them of the fact that the negro who is industrious and honest has the best showing on earth here, in the South, and he has his best friends in the white people who are always willing and ready to help negro of this kind He was very much in earnest in what he said and his remarks showed that he had made deep study of the subject. His lecture or address undoubtedly made a deep impression upon his hearers and it is confidently expected will re- suit in lasting good to them.
 Emmet J. Scott, assistant secretary of the treasury of the United States, was also on the platform, and after Washington had concluded his speech he delivered short talk.
 A number of white citizens from this city and the surrounding country, attended the exercises, and they were agreeably surprised at the wis dom ana logic of the speakers utter. ances. Seperate seats and tables had been provided for them at the bar. becue tables, as at the grounds where the lecture was held
 It is estimated that nearly eight thousand negroes listened to his speech. Besides the immense thronp that went from here in buggies, in wagons, and other conyeyances, and on foot, the Rock Island ticket office sold 250 tickets to Madison, the train which brought the visitor over, being literally packed and damned with the crowd who took that method of con. veyance.
 Taken all in all, the affair was a success in every particular, and Scott Bond and his sons, who had charge of the arrangements, together with other prominent leaders of the race who ably assisted them, deserve con. gratulations for the manner in which 1t was conducted. In spite of the long wait here for the delayed train, the crowd was quiet and orderly, and there was no incident of any kind tc mar the pleasures of the day.
 After the speaking Booker T. Washington remained in Madison guest of the Bonds until tho ar