The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-07
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PLAQUEMINE, June 1, 1868.
Editor Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
In my last gave you brief account Of
the renewal of the Redemptorist mission at
this place. To-day, having a little more
time at my disposal, I will indite you
longer, if not more interesting, communities
ton. .-,-,
Yesterday ended the month of May, the
period of the year especially devoted by
the Church to the honor of the Blessed Vir-
gin. The whole month was pleasant with
us, and tho devotions peculiar to it were
duly observed in St. Johns, terminating
last evening with the ceremony of the
crowning of the Virgin Mother. !,
Among the few things worthy of mention
about our church here, and generally re-
marked by strangers, is the neat and tasty
appearance of the affairs. The affairs them
selves are not only neat, but really ele-
gantly finished pieces Of workmanship, and
in properly constructed church would
show to beautiful advantage. What the
poor construction of our church detracts
from their appearance, however, is more
than compensated by the beautiful and
always appropriate decorations which cover
them. Flowers, artificial and real, ever
green's, vases, chandeliers, covers, fringes,
ETC., are brought into requisition, and have
all to be arranged-to-day that this color
may predominant, tomorrow another, and
the day after still another, all involving no
little amount of labor and requiring con-
siderable judgment and taste to do it all
well, yet it is cheerfully and successfully
accomplished. Truly, do the ladies of the
Altar Society of st. Johns deserve praise
for the taste and energy they display in its
decoration.
which has taken place here recently is the
drawing of the tombola, gotten up, as you
know, for the benefit of our church. Wed
nesday evening last, was the time set
apart for the drawing, and, as you may
presume, was looked forward to with in
Society had arranged to have plenty of re-
freshments for the occasion, and in their
undertaking were assisted by the ladies of
the congregation generally.
The drawing was continued through the
evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Fri
day, and notwithstanding the heat, result
ing in good measure from the rather badly
ventilated hall placed at our disposal for
the occasion, the people in attendance en-
joyed themselves finely, particularly the
juveniles, who came in for full share ia
the many sticks of candy distributed to the
less fortunate ticket-holders, while all made
merry over each others luck.
Quite number of valuable prizes were
distributed, good portion of which go to
your city. Among the rest the piano-a
MIR. Okeefe being the winner, the fancy
patchwork quilt-and beauty it is-falis
to the lot of q Mr.. Gleason, another gentle
man of your city, and Mother Holy Cross
draws q silver pitcher.
Our tombola scheme will not realize us as
much as we at one time hoped, still when
we consider the condition of our parish, the
amount realized-about S14OO-is not so
bad, after all.
We have had fine weather for some time
pasta splendid season for planters. The
crops, / am pleased to say, look well and
with continued favorable weather will
yield good harvests. Corn is really fine,
and a good area is planted. Cane looks
an ante beltum crop in cultivation, and much
of that is old !" rattoon" third and fourth
years. growth-and will not yield much.
There is not much cotton planted in this
parish, though what there is promises we'll.
In the parishes above us this crop is already
being destroyed y-the worm-some say,
the regular ''army worm" This is early,
indeed, for these ravages to appear, and
should they spread over the country, there
will be little cotton produced in 1868, and
little planted in 1869. And after all, Mr..
Editor, should such not be the case through
out the whole South, whether the worm
comes OF notq Aside from the discriminat-
ing system of taxation imposed upon cotton
by aye virtuous lawgivers" at the Capitol,
there are better paying crops for the South
erner to plant, and it may prove his
greatest blessing that he be forced to seek
them. We have planted cotton for three
years, to the exclusion of bread; and
although we are not famine-s stricken, like
the people of Judea, for having done the
same, we have not missed it far.
The condition of the country. i'm q finan-