The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-06-29
PICKENs COUNTY DEPARTMENT
BY F. H. WILLIAMS.


the business men Of Columbus, in
augurated and fostered by the Dis
patch, swooped down on PicKens coun-
ty on Tuesday Of last week. 1t was
jolly crowd that pulled out of Co
lumbus headed for one of the best
county's in their trade territory, and
many of the party knew this to be a
fact long before they left their home
city, for back in younger days We're
residents of this county. The first
stop was made at Ethelville, fifteen
miles out, and the party was met by
the people of that little town and
many from the surrounding commul-
lity. Here the Columbians met most
cordial welcome, as these noble heart
ed people had prepared for their
coming, arrangements having been
made for the convenient parking of
Che cars in easy reach of the spot
where the speaking was to be held
and where the hot and thirsty visit
ors found a number of the fair sex
serving delicious and refreshing cold
drinks, all free, and plenty left when
they departed.
At this point the visitors were well
coined by that genial citizen, DR.. w.
S. Bell, who in the course of his re-
marks brought out a little history of
Columbus following the Civil war,
which was verified by Gen E. T..
Sykes, probably the oldest resident of
Columbus. Columbus and its good
women back in years past were the
originators of Decoration Day and it
was on the occasion of decorating the
graves of the Confederate dead that
wreaths were placed on the Union
soldiers graves as we'll, an act worthy
of the respect of all Gen. Sykes in
short talk explained that three
ladies of the beautiful city of Column
bus were responsible for Decoration
Day and among them was Mrs. Au-
gusta Cox, who recently died in Mo
bile, the remains being brought back
to her old home for burial. V. B. lines,
editor of the Dispatch, responded to
the address of welcome. We cannot
pass from Ethelville without mention
ing again the ladies who quenched the
thirst of that hot and dusty bunch
who seemed so happy IN sharing
part of the welcome so unselflshly
lavished upon their neighbors across
the state line. To you good people
of Ethelville we say you made for
yourselves many warm and admiring
friends among the party that will
ever remember your kindness end will
forever speak in highest terms of
your citizenship and little town.
According to the log of the trip Re-
form was the next stop, but there
were some in the bunch who did not
wish to continue on, fearing there
was no such town, but was intended
to be the turning point in their life.
However, they continued with the par
ty ard later found town that was
named Reform Previous arrange
ments failed to materialize here and
some delay was occosioned as q re-
suit, but that clever good fellow, Mr..
J. L. Taylor, cashier of the State
Bank of Reform, was pressed into
service and gave the visitors a well
come to their city, which was. respond
ed to by V. B, lines, Irwin Kaufman
and Hon. James T. Harrison, former
lieutenant governor of Mississippi.
On account of running behind sche-
dule time the party KILLED" no time
at this place and were soon headed
in for Carrollton, where they were to
be fed at the Phoenix Hotel, one of
the historic spots of Pickens county.
At this place the business houses had
closed their doors and the people of
the town had come out to extend to
these good citizens of Columbus
welcome that they will long remem-
Der. 1t was a joyous occasion to many
of them, who had relatives and friends
here, the glad hand being extended to
one and all. Soon after their arrival .
dinner was announced and the large
crowd filed into the spacious dining
hall of the hotel, where they were fed
barbecue, chicken and all the good
things that a country hotel can mus
ter up for hungry bunch. As these /
departed others came and some time
was required IN disposing of tie large
number than composed the party. I'M
after dinner the visitors
and those present to extend welcome
gathered under the seautiful shade
trees about the hotel where the
speaking was held Hon. Jack NJ.
Pratt, county solicitor, acted as chair
nan and announced that B. q. Robi-
,cn. probate judge Of the county.
would welcome the visitors to our