The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-04-25
THE PARISH OF 81. LANDRY

| lllr Jul lhCCS tUNd a. u LllC SCItllIS SUN SfN
on over a beautiful rolling prairie country.
On e ther hand we behold farms ploughed up
and already planted in corn and cotton, with
here and there q small quantity OF sugar
cane.
Industry and thrift are visible amidst the
most crushing and disastrous condition Of
things; with general uncertainty on the one
hand, ana agrarianisln on the other, there
anvears no relaxation on the part OF those
who till the soil. Breasting the storm OF
p%olitical despotism, coupled with financial
d stitu,iol, the people are manfully pur.u-
suing their way owe: the difficulties to co'n-
fort and prosperity.
At the distance of some seven miles from
town, we reach a point in the p1a'r'e re-
gion, where the timber of the Bayou Mallet
on the North, and he Plaquemine Ern?ec
on the South, juts out, enclosing hat belt
of land known as the ilaquemine ridge.
The width of this ridge is from one line OF
timber to the other some six miles. he
land from the centre of the ridge inclincs
gently to either stream, affording every ia
cility for drainage, and favorable ground
for buildi' 6.
The farmers within this prairie paradise
nave added to its charms, by planting groves
of the oak and china trees, which resemble
fairy islands in a desert. In addition to
these bright spots, the s~pringing corn, the
Towering trees and shrubs, and the earth
with its luxuriant enamel of 6 cen, furnish
US with a picture pleasing to the eye and
filling the heart with thanksgiving to the
Creator for such "a goodly habitaticn."
Journeying on for the distance of some
fifteen miles from Opelousas, we reach the
embryo City of P%rud'homme, where our
friends Jenkins and Mayo, in conjunction
with several of the more intelligent of our
Creole citizens, are pushing forward i'm
provements and industriously cultivating
the soil. These gentlemen are determined
to fully develope the fine natural resources
of their immediate section of the Parish.
They have lands of good quality, suitable
timber near at hand, and also intelligent
society. In this village is a good school
under the direction of Mr.. j. W. Swindall
and a fourishing church under the pastoral
charge of the Rev. j. E. Bradley. There is
room for many more families. A good O.
psning is here presented for tho Re who are
DESTROYS of securing homes, er fd the exer-
else of mechanical trades. A la1 Be tannery
is in operation, and is a source IF consider
able revenue to its owners.
The location is high above the overflow,
and, in point of health, will compare favor
ably with any portion of the Western states.
The average temperature Of the summer in
this section of our State is 81 degrees, but
is not felt to be oppressive owing to the
regular seabreeze which refreshes and in.
beauty and GOODNESS of our nights. There
is not experienced that lassitude in the
morning. that is felt at St. Louis and other
points the North after enduring the sti-
fled andsheated atmosphere of the night.
Sleep i#%enjoyed; and the only trouble we
have e berienced is, in being willing to re-
tire to est, and lose the enjoyment of a
SouthS n night. Its soft and balmy air,
the eli and limpid armament above, the
sweet ong of the hooking bird, all con-
spire charm us into a forgetfulness Of
"dull nd carking cares" and we rise from
such might of slumber with heqAth, spirits
and 'ength renewed for the la RS of the