The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-19
SCHOOL EXHIBITION.

We had the pleasure of attending the An
nual Exhibition of the Opelousas Academy on
Wednesday evening at the Varieties. Before
the time appointed for the exercises to com
mence Is P. NJ all the seats were filed with
ladies, the gentlemen being left to find as they
best could places 10 stand and as for elbow
room, that was very scarce indeed. In a word,
the house was full, and many came to the door
and turned away because there was no room
for them. .
This crowd, so early assembled, remained
more than attentive till halfpast eleven, and
then dispersed in cheerful humor. If Mr.. Rand
and his pupils had received no other notice of
their exhibition, this simple fact would be IN
emphatic expression Of appreciation.
Precisely at s, the curtain rose and disclosed
to the audience the school, arranged i'll u
seinicircle on the stage. There stood upwards
of thirty young gentlemen, with countenances
displaying no ordinary intelligence, and indi-
eating a determination to do their best to en-
terrain the company assembled. 7
NAisS Al il VI SpUktu Ill u lIiJ,
clear voice by one of the smaller pupils, the
school retired behind the scenes and if occa-
sionally during the performances SOM we're
seen most unartistically peeping out on the
audience, they ought to be excused, as the
temptation presented by such an array of
beauty as filed those seats was hard to be re-
sisted.
The first hour was occupied by the depart
ment under charge of Mrs. Rand The little
fellows acquitted themselves well, demonstra-
ting that assiduous. care and pains had been
bestowed not only in training the intellect but
also in developing moral courage. That their
performances were received with no ordinary
pleasure was indicated by the showers of bou-
quets that fair hands profusely dispensed.
Then followed a series of recitations Of un-
commonly well selected pieces, interspersed
with humorous dialogues. The speaking was
characterized by distinctncss of enunciation,
good meditation and well conceived emphasis.
The dialogues, considered as school-boy per-
formances, were very well done, especially
when we consider certain embarrassments un-
der which they were brought out. Several
young men to whom parts had been assigned
were detained by sickness from the exhibition,
and their places had to be filed by others on
ys..yy short notice. We are told by Mr.. Rand
that several pieces would have been added to
the programme had all his school been able to
be present.
The intervals between the pieces were filed
with delightful music and song by Mr.. Wheeler
and several ladies of the audience, to whom
MIR. Rand requests us to express his grateful
Acknowledgements.
While we are on this theme, let us say that
the pleasures of the evening were somewhat
marred by the inconsiderateness ito call it by
no harsher name) of some of the assembly, who
were "babbling and talking" while the per-
tormances were going on. The attempts to
" hush them were mistaken for Kisses, which
however allowable it might be at a political
meeting or barbecue, at such an exhibition
as this would show u want of taste and q
downright destitution Of heart. Little bows,
who are not better taught than to disturb an
audience, should ask their papas and mammas
to ~instroct them in the mdiments Of good
behaviour. Nothing can be more annoying
than this lack Of the first principles of common
politeresS: it reviycs the tale of The " dog in
the manger." Boys, you need a reform in this
matter!