The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-02-16
LETTER FROM ~W4sHlNGToN.
wAsHINaroN, February Z, ls5l

&a SES WASHINGTON, February Z, 1913.
Editors Patriot-While at various times
such sheets as the Picaynne, Delta, Crescent and
Louisiana Courier, Of EewOrleans, haye had
regular correspondents in this first commercial
town Of st. Landry, your paper has never had
one. l therefore propose myself as an humble
contributor and reporter Of such events as many
in the future transpire here. The close proximi-
ty of Washington and Opelousas would seem to
render a correspondent at this point u%nneces-
sary but with the present almost impossible
state of the roads, less is known of what is
taking place in each other than st. Petersburg
knows of what is going on in Sebastopol-at
least, SO far as relates to the state Of society
and matters Of a private nature.
In a business point of view, Washington
seems to be looking up, and rapidly recovering
from the blows received by the appearance Of
yellow fever in 1858 and the season following.
Trade has been healthy during the fall and
winter thus far, and the transactions far more
extensive than at any time since the business
season of '52-3. In the past two seasons,
many vacant houses were to be found here, and
Investments in real estate were Improbable.
Now, however, an untenanted house is hard to
find, and town property is evidently advancing
in value.
The navigation of the Courtableau and tri;
butary bayous has been good since early in
November, md shipments of produce for New
Orleans regularly going on, having for the
most part of the time had two and sometimes
three, steamers per week at OUR wharf. AT
present, the Alice W. Glaze, Mary Bess and
Opelousas are making weekly trips to and
from NewOrleans besides which, there are
numerous daily arrivals of barges from the
Beuf, freighted with the produce of that rich
section, and wagons constantly unloading pro-
duce and receiving merchandise. So you see
that our wharf and our town present quite an
animated business appearance.
In the way of gayety, there has been also a
corresponding improvement. Our lads and
lasses, as well as matrons, have been wearing
cheerful countenances, and welcoming the adj
vent of the goddess Terpsichore. Within the
last few weeks a number of balls have been
| given, OF which the attendance was large, the
order unexceptionable, and the general enjoy
ment entirely satisfactory. AT the last of the
series, which came off on Monday night at the
Eagle Hotel, / was present, and cannot refrain
from giving a brief account of it, and mention
ing some of the most prominent of the very
many beautiful maidens and agreeable married
ladies who were in atteudance--and in men
tioning them, which | do with the utmost res
pect, l trust | shall give no offence.
Not the least if not the most attractive of
the young ladies I shall designate was Miss
c. who wore d aounced Swiss dress, with
a single white plume in her fine head of black
hair. This lady was graceful and dignifed in
her manners and department. She has an in
t~ellectual face, and was evidently one of the
greatest ~lavorites Of the evening. Miss ",
Of Avoyelles, wore a plaid silk tissue dress and
white body, with d moss rose in her hair. This
lady was another of the prettiest and most
agreeable ladies present and, judging from the
attention she received, she might justly be said
to be second to none in her hold upon the adj
miration Of the gentlemen. Miss D.,
who wore a dou~ble-skirted white Swiss dress,
with no head-dress other than her curls, was
much admired. Miss c., dressed in a
plaid silk tissue, with white body, pink dressed.
was one Of the gayest of all the ladies present,
and looked exceedingly pretty and altogether
fascinating. Miss O.. O., dressed in q blue
barege, with white sash, had one of the most
agreeable faces present, and was much and very
justly admired.
There were numerous other ladies present,
equally gay, pretty and fascinating, but time
and space forbid my mentioning them partic-
ularly on this occasion. Many agreeable and
spirited gentlemen were among the company,
among whom | noticed several from your town,
and Others from abroad. The occasion was
altogether "Gentle and joyous +" and the III
spring music discoursed by Messrs. Reer, and
sandoz, OF Opelousas, contributed to make the
ball one Of the most agreeable of the series.
The health of our town remains excellent,
Nothing doing in politics. Morality and reli-
gion remain in statu quo.
Yours, MADISON.