The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1919-08-09

coIFAx GRANT PARISH La SATURDAY AUGUST 3 1919

almost as much trouble had it not beer
: that those localities were favored with
: several days of clear weather before
the party arrived. The party on the
morning of July 4 was able to get out
off Alexandria intact, but exactly one
; day behind schedule, having be e n
joined by the official escort car at
! Bunkie. Although one day late, which
meant that all programs had heen dis
arranged and receptions abandoned,
there were hearty welcomes by large
crowds at the leading towns across the
State of Louisiana. and into Texas and
Oklahoma, at which period the reset
schedule had been fairly we'll estab-
lished
| Honorable }. New. Ford joined the
barty at Shreveport. 1t would be diff
ficult to convey an intelligent idea of
the spontaneous enthusiasm, the in
tense interest, the tremendous hospi-
tally and the royal welcome with
which the party was met in all of the
leading towns. 1t was worth more
than it is possible to describe to find
that folks, no matter in what State
they live, no matter whether the town
was large or small, to see and feel the
thanks in the grip of the hand of the
animation and expression of the faces
that made US know that we were well
come.
Many of the towns had prepared
souvenir programmes, some of which
were elaborate, others being quaint
and quite original. and the wonder of
the party as it progressed on this won
derful journey was how it was posi-
BILE that every town seemed to Guido
the other in the matter of enthusiasm
and hospitality. In some places the |
official State flag of Louisiana was pro-
fusely displayed, and the speakers,
chief among whom were Governor
Pleasant, Mayor Behrman and Mayor
Ford, certainly did honor to the occa-
sion. There were times when they
were jaded, tired, dusty and event
thirsty, but there was never an in
stance of lack of sincerity ora dim
ming of the fire of enthusiasm when
these men were called Upon to greet,
their jefferson Highway heighbors.
To illustrate in . messare thu intss.
est with which the various cities and
communities looked forward to the ar
rival of the party, it might be well to
mention that in almost every town we
would be met by delegation from the
next town ahead. n
Much to the convenience of the
party, 1T was discovered that from be-
low st. Joseph, Mo-, to Winnipeg, the Z
with the exception of posi-
bly, few stretches, was provided with I
the regulation Jefferson Highwayle
markings. Almost every conceivable
kind of road was encountered. There ,
were gravel roads, cement roads, as
phalt roads and some dirt roads that
were good for As miles per hour.
There was only one thing that was
not appreciated, and that was the APP .
parent nature of Manager Clarkson to I
i've without sleep. 1t has been de-
clared by many of the party that he /;
stayed mp all night so as to get the
bunch up early next morning, We
saved money because we didn't have
time, with rare exceptions, to get a |
shave or have our shoes shined. There
was practically no delay or inconven- |;
ience at either the American or Cana
dian custom houses.
On the afternoon of the 21st of July.
We rolled into the splendid little city of q
Winnipeg, the most picturesque pro-
cession that has ever crossed this con-
tinent. There was string of cars at
the city limits that extended for miles.
Premier Norris had already journeyed
to Emerson, which is on the border.
where ne extended an official welcome. e
A very artistic archway had been /
erected at the border. but We had .
already been made to feel that we
would be just as much at home in Can
ada as in Louisiana. II
And then came Winnipeg! Officially. j
the entertainment there consisted of a | {
lunch at the Ossiniboine
Club. an informal dinner and reception
at the governors mansion, lunch byl
the chamber of commerce at the Cana J.
dian Club, and-an open air dinner un- a
der the auspices of the Automobile | /
Club at old Fort Gary, some 20 miles |;
out on the river. Not satisfied with all
Of this, the Winnipeg officials insisted
on taking the entire party SO miles a
west by special train where they ..did,, I