The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-07-15

and family, with VIM. Tucker at the
wheel, left in their Essex on tour
through the Ozark region, their final
destination being their former home
of Lebanon, Mo-, where they helped to
swell the throng of former residents
there who had gathered for the week
ending July Fourth at homecoming
celebration.
The outward trip was by Eureka, st.
Louis county, from which point the
route led directly west by Pacific, Un-
ion, st. Clair. Sullivan. Cuba, st.
James and Rolla, which latter point
was reached about 8 o'clock in the af-
ternoon, where the tourists decided to
call it day, the gage registering 1862
miles, fair 8 hour run. including
stops aggregating perhaps an hour,
over very good country roads.
The first evening out was spent in
driving about Rolla, through the
School of Mines grounds, viewing the
many splendid homes and an excellent
o'clock dinner at the Commercial
hotel, which is considerably higher
grade than most of the hotels we
came into contact along the way.
The next morning start was again
made about o'clock for Vienna,
Maries county, to which place we were
detoured owing to the flood waters of
the Gasconade, the nearest bridge be-
ing at that point. While much of this
road had been recently worked, and
considerable rain had lately fallen,
the journey was thoroughly enjoyed,
as it was new territory to all the par
ty.
Vienna, a good old fashioned town
of 400 or 500 people, was reached
about o'clock, and each of our party
had sharply whetted appetite for
the substantial country style break
fast, which was thoroughly enjoyed.
Another pleasure afforded here was
meeting Mrs. D. Rainey, widow and
we'll mated companion of The Times
editors good friend, Dabney Rainey,
former editor of the Vienna Gazette.
Meeting with Mrs. Rainey for the first
time in several years served to cheer
us on . ~ way to the next town, Dixon,
about twenty miles west of Rolla, to
reach which a sixty mile detour had
been made. On nearing Dixon we
met up with our first tire puncture,
which caused US to more fully appre-
ciate that we had a real asset in our |
splendid chaffeur.
From Dixon the route ran south !
west to Lebanon, Laclede county,
through a number of small towns and |
amid scenes once more or less famil- |
lar. In these towns we met several |
friends of former years. as well as
some roads we had no recollection of, |
some of which made going forward |
somewhat difficult, and often aroused
the wish that we had taken "the other |
road, feeling that surely it could not |
have been so bad as the one chosen |
We would here make this explanation,
however. After reaching Phelps |
county we found that country had |
been having almost incessant rains
for the past month, causing the high
est waters known to the oldest inhab-
itants. We also found along the en-
tire route that much road work is be-
ing done in the various counties
through which we passed. But such
intended improvement often caused
additional rough going, owing to the
heavy and continuous rains.
At o'clock Saturday afternoon we
reached our final destination, and a
real pleasure it was to spend few
days among the many friends in the
old home town, as we'll as many others
who were there on the same mission
that drew us--to attend the old home
coming. 1t seemed almost like enter
ing upon another existence to mingle |
with those old-time friends, some of |
whom we had not seen since childhood,
and many of whom had been absent |
from the old home town much longer |
than we had been. We will not go in
to details as to the different enjoy
ments afforded US there. Suffice it to
say that almost four days was most
enjoyably spent.
We cannot fail. however, to speak
of one of the outstanding entertain
ments that was provided for the oc-
casion. That was a minstrel perform
ance which wassgiven Friday and Sat-
urday evenings. July 1st and End, un-
der the expert management of Clint
Draper, whose headquarters is in
New York City, but who still claims
Lebanon as his legal residence. His
BUSINESS is to whip and mould amateur
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