davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

OPELoUsAo, JJuiyy aa9 0tif, 1873.

MIR. EDITOR-By invitation we attend
ed the examination held at Madame
Donato's colOred school, at OpelOusas,
this day.
The school numbers about fortypupils
of both sexes. .
They were thoroughly examined in
writing, history, grammar and arithme-
tic. The examination spoke well for the
application and intelligence of the pu-
pills, and also for the untiring care and
attention of the Principal.
We examined twenty-five specimens
of p~enmanship, taking into c0nsidera-
ton the different ages of the children
who executed them, we would do Unjust
ice to mention any particular n as they
We're all neatly executed.
In History, the senior class showed
great p~rOticiency-in this class Miss Nina
Simms, and the Misses Beauchamp and
Master l.. MansO Ire deserving of par
tlCular mention.
In Arithmetic, Miss J. Skinner, Masters
H. Bloch and A. Lastrapes indicated
their arithmetical talent by prompt and
correct answer to the knotty questions
proposed by the examiners.
The exercises were concluded by an
address of thanks to the examiners and
visitors, by Miss n. Simms, which not
only reflected great credit upon the
speaker, but also upon the institution.
1t is gratifying to note the progress of
Madame Donates school, her charges
are moderate, and we feel assured that
all parents who p%atrOnize her will never
regret the small tuition fees paid.
B. NJ.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

BOILING OVER.--There is q druggist
not a thousand miles away from here
who has a generous nature-when asked
he can never refuse to give. He has Or
had, for we believe the tie is severed,
an old colored friend who was in the
habit ofhanging around and asking for
horns, after doing little turns and going
errands for his druggist friend. But
it did not take many drinks of Sweets
best whiskey or eognac brandy, formedi-
cal purposes, to largely everpay such
little jobs, and his services consequent
ly became rather expensive; still the
druggist could not refuse him a drink,
and had to give him something. So
when the next application was made for
a drop OF two, he told uncle Phil that's all
the Whiskey was gone, butthat he had a
new kind, or rather two new kinds of
drinks, which made a man, happy be-
You'd the power of Wlliskey, when one
was drank Immediately after the other.
The two drinks were prepared, two pa
peTs of sedlitz powders IN a couple OF
glasses and uncle Phil drank one right
after the other. He Immediately be-
came a walking or running soda foun-
tain, with the foam boiling out at his
mouth. And that druggist has now te
getsone one else to go errands and dc
little jobs, for uncle Phil goes to thai
drug store no more.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

GRAPEs.-Last Saturday a box Of
grapes 1--WE do not mean a pound box,
but one containing about a peck,) was
delivered at this office from Mr.. James
Powers vineyard at his place in Plais-
anee. We love, or as a certain legal
friend would say, We Ike grapes; and
when we receive a fine lot like this, the
donor has taken a straight and shortcut
to our heart. Mr.. Powers retails them at
fifteen cents per pound IA quarter pound,
five cents; a half pound, ten cents
three pounds, twenty-five cents; and on
the vine at ten cents per pound; pre-
served in brown sugar, at forty-five
cents preserved in white sugar, at fifty
cents. He sells grape vinegar at one
dollar per gallon.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

RA1LRoAD.-We have been informed
through reliable authority that the rail-
road is to be completed from Brashear
city to Opelousas, and that in q year or
two. Ourinformant also stated that the
contract for building the bridge across
Berwicks bay had been given to a firm
in Louisville Kentucky and was to cost
about 100000, 1t is to be a suspension
bridge, with q draw to it, so that YES
sells can pass in the bay. 1t is further
said that all bridges necessary along the
route are to be made of iron. As to who
owns the road bed, and who is to COM
plete the route, we are not prepared to
say, nor do our people care, as all we
want is the cars running up the Attaka-
pas. It is thought thatinside of sixteen
months the iron horse will be steaming
through Franklin. We sincerely hope
it is so, for then five hours from New
Orleans would find US home when it
now consumes from nine to eleven
hours time.-[Attakapas Register, July
25th.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

A RECEIPT FOR FARMERs.-Last Sun
day morning our old colored fellow cit
izen, Julius Cesar, was on the dOorsteps
of one of our most ~frequented stores, in
conversation with another brother, who,
in discussing the crop question, COM
planned that the 7coons were eating up
all his corn. Whereupon, Caesar rose to
his feet, and delivered the following
'fgood way to cotch de Tascals dat 'stroy
de eaYn.' CA friend who was at the
desk near by at the time, with pen in
hand, took it down word for Word.)
"Gemmen, mus have a cage fus.
Now de plank mus be driv on de side
Oh dat. Now de plank dun driy, cut a
notch in de plank whar you gwine put
de trigger. Now OATS de year OBJ Gavin
Whar You gWine put de trigger, put de
trigger on top Oh de year oh Gavin,
Now let dat coonpull dat trigger, eff he
] dars. Den de coon is cotehed, an he is
cotched right fiat. Now gemmen, DC
fus ting you spy when you go DARN d
maWnin, you see de 'eoonis tail layin
flat on de groun', You may be sartin d
ole felleris dar; he is dun got fasen
An OATS de way to cotch de rascal da
stroy de good farmers caWn.n
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

HARD QUESTIONS PROMPTLY ANSWER
ED.-We have a goodly number of
youths, both white and colored, in u
town, who have been to school and feel
their learning. Two of them, n white
and the other colored, were airing their
knowledge the other day, and sparring
at each other by asking difficult ques-
tions. After the white one hadfailed to
stump the colored one, o T tell him any
thing that he did not already know, the
colored one asked him: lis the sun a
revolutionary ptanet2 How do you cal
culate the distance of the sun from the
earth ~ Answer: "The sun is not q
revolutionary planet. The distance of
the sun from the earth is calculated by
means of q ray of light Or falling body
This keraummuxed the eolOred youth,
and he asked no more questions, but de-
parted thinking that he had learned it
all ~
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

Mr.. EDITOR.-Wnl you please inter-
view thatmember of the Board of Police
again. and find out from him for what
nnrpose the $3.50 sc expended by the
town Council for the two years ending
in April, 1873, was used. viii you tell
as who got it and what was done with
it'll At the same time, Mr.. Editor, try
and find out how it is that one thousand
dollars, or thereabouts, can be spent by
the town Council on Il end OF Main
street, whilst all others are left undrain-
ed. unditehed, and unWorked. Also let
ms know how the individual who adj
yanced the one thousand dollars to the
town to OpensMain street expects to get
his money back, without doubt he is a
sharp business man, but it strikes us,
| this time, he has made u badinvestment.
Bv the time the ordinance in question is
ventilated By the courts, IT'S riU be most
Eossaredly done, we venture the assertion,
| that he will be in big luck if he succeeds
in getting five cents on every dollar in
vested.
He had better get rid of his scrip for
Interest bearing Confederate War bonds,
If he can find any for sale, they being,
in our opinion, decidedly the better cur
rency of the two.
Finally, Mr.. Editor, Try to find out if
there is not a ring in existence at this
time, which controls the destinies of the
corporation, It looks like it, when one
end OF d street car get q cool Thousand
whilst all the others are neglected, I'M.
less the owners of the adjoining lots see
fit to work them. Yours,
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02
part VI. Of Wilson's Second Reader.

RN@AS Ne III v ' A1O ~ SSSOANA SASN
They did it well, in natural easy mar-
ner, and according to the rules of in
Election taught in the book.
The second class, same as second spell
ling class, read lessen 1O-"The Priests
of the Lord"-inp part V. of same Reader.
Then the first class recited in Mon
teith's Introductory Geography, running
through lessons 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, treating
of the Divisions of Land, and through
lessons s, 10 and %, treating Of "Politi-
cal Divisions" and other questions.
Very few questions were missed. Julia
Williams won the premium.
The second class recited in MOnteith's
First Lessons in Geography. This
class has seven members, aged from
seven to twelve years. They have
been nearlyhalf through the geography.
Some answered every question. Joanna
Wilkins gained the premium.
The first and second classes in Davies
Mental Arithmetic, eleventh all, recited
together. They defined unit" "num-
ber," counting, &C., and addition"
Subtraction" and multiplication" and
then promptly performed operations in
each of the three latter, viva voce.
They We're examined one by one, and
gave evidence of being well drilled.
Adella Graham, elven years Of age, won
the premium.
The fifth reading class, in primer, six
members, from five to seven years old,
now recited, and performed admirably,
to the apparent pleasure of the audience.
We examined copy books of Julia
Williams aged fourteen, Steven Jones
agedtwelve, Adella Graham aged eleven,
and Isabella Mcneil aged sixteen. The
letters were well formed and the wri-
ting very legible-an important thing,
as all printers knOw-and the cop
books neatly kept, With scarcely a blot
to be seen-somew were entirely without
blots.
The exercises concluded by the six
largest girls singing a hymn, "Love at
Home" and the Ten Commandments
being repeated and responded to or re-
repeated, as at the opening. The lead,
er Or spokeswoman this time was Ella
M'Gaffey, aged seven years. 1t coulG
nothave been done better by anyone elst
of human kind. 1t was repeated from
memory, without break or hesitation, il
a clear audible tone so that every one
could plainly hearit in that large build
ing, in good style as to pronunciation
pauses, Sc, and with perfect modes
self-possession on the part of the little
speaker.
Thisconcluded the excerses for the day
All we're invited to return on Frida,
to hear the little colored Ciceros Of thu
school declaim, when something goot
to eat would be prepared. We couI'
not report Fridays exercises in time TO
this paper.
j, In conclusion we will state, that al
though we have attended many schools
as a member thereof, and taught school
We never saw one better disciplined thai
this one nor where the pupils were bet
ter drilled in what they had gone ovel
Mr.. Owens has done a good work; All,
F Judging from what he has already az
complished, the colored people of Ope
lousas and vicinity could not do we.
+ without him.
We most positively advocate the ed
:, ucation of all-white and black and VI
will lose no opportunity Of encouragin
those who are e~ndeavoring to promot
it, -.-
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

We see that Proctor & Candles Ex-
ira Olive Soap is becoming very popu-
lar in our town, its quality we know is
superior, and being nicely perfumed we
are not surprised that consumers prefer
it, and that it has O large sale.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

Duringourabsence, MI. I. Jay Lacey,
proprietor of the Mount Hope Nurseries
near Washington, sent u.s. box of grapes
which were used and appreciated by Il
"better half.n Many thanks.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The commencement exercises of St.
Charles College, Grand oteau, will take
place next Tuesday, August 9Th, begin
ming at 8 O'clock A. N.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

A Kansas City reporter, who "does"
the theatres, says: 1--WE failed to see
the entire performance last night, as a
lady sat in front of us wearing q bonnet
four teet high without q window in
If
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The commencement exercises of Ur-
suline Academy, O~pelousas, will come
off to-day, beginning at 9 o'clock this
morning.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

THE PLANTING INTEREsT.-FrOm all
the information we can gather III re
gard to the planting interest in this
section, we think that the prospects are
more favorable than they have been for
several years past. In the first place,
the farmers have practiced more eCOnO-
my than they have any year since the
war that this we attribute partly to the
fact they have begun to realize the me-
cesSity of such a course, and partly be-
cause the merchants have, in many in
stances, declined to advance as literally
as they have done heretofore. After
impartially observing the agricultural
prospect, we are convinced that it
worms, drouth, or some other disaster
does not befall the growing crop, there
will be more ready money in the country
this fall, than there has been since the
war. Another fact to lead us to believe
this, is that the negroes have been I'M
able to go into debt to any considerable
extent, and consequently they will have
some money to spend when their crop is
sold, instead of turning it all owe to
the merchant for advances. This is
mere conjecture on u part, but we
honestly believe that the country will
be in q better condition financially this
fall, than it has been since Immediately
after the war. Money matters are
mighty hard at present, but we are
looking for better days to come, and
consequently anticipate q brisk business
season this fall,-[Manstield Reporter
| July 10th, -.~
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The old gentleman who put his pos
tai card in a stamped envelope is
his money-orders sent by registered
letter.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

OPELOUsAs SUBsCRIBERs.-This class
of subscribers, who have not already
paid their subscriptions, will, on to-day
and hereafter, have to buy copies of the
paper, at five cents a copy, from the car
rier who has contracted to furnish the
town and will visit all parts Of it every
Saturday morning. As soon as the
time of those who have already paid
has expired, they will have to do like
wise. We have to drop the subscrip-
ton business entirely for this town.
The postmaster is not compelled by, law
to receive any papers except those to be
transmitted by mail, and he cannot af-
ford to distribute so many papers to To-
cal subscribers with the difficulty he has
Of collecting postageOn them. Many of
them do not pay us subscription and we
cannot. afford to pay their postage nor
hire a carrier to take the papers to them
gratis. Under the system of buying
from the carrier all viii have to pay five
cents weekly for the paper brought to
them. It will furnish the lad who has
taken the contract something to do, and
enable him to make something.
Another evil custom-eEil to us-we
will have to stop, is delivering papers
before the morning Equalization. Here
after we hope our friends, on account
of their friendship, will not call for pa
pers at this Office before Saturday morn,
ing, and not then unless they are due
here or they have failed to get then
at the proper place. Tt will be q grea'
relief to us. The carrier will supply
everybody at five cents per copy; ant
persons calling for papers ut this Office
not already paid for, must deposit
nickle for him.
No papers are due anyone on accoun
Of having an advertisement in the pa
per; that wasdiscontfnued long ago.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The Boston Transcript says that per-
sons who send poetry to the neWspa-
pers should always retain copies. The
New York Times suggests that they
should also retain the originals.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

MOUNT HoPE NURsERIEs.-Last Sat
urday we made a short visit to Mount
Hope Nurseries, Mr.. T. Jay Lacey pro-
prietor, near Washington. We did not
have time to see all that was to be seen;
but remained long enough to eat to
our hearts content of peaches and
grapes. Mr.. Lacey is more in the nursery
than in the fruit business. He has for
sale all kinds Of fruit trees and grape
vines, suitable for this climate and the
pyracantllus, or evergreen thorn hedge.
plant. Fruit growing is not only profit
able, but fruit is essentially necessary
for health In ii southern climate above all
others. Only last week we saw peaches,
very ordinary ones too, brought TO this
parish from New Orleans, to (Which place
they had been shipped from some other
place. Now this is a disgrace to the en-
terprise and industry Of our people. We
make d little cotton and buy everything
else we need, even the commonest fruit
that tile South produces. In the late
frnitgrowers exhibitioninEew Orleans,
no fruit was there from west of the Mis-
sissippi river except some pears from st.
Mary. Now if we raise none to exhibit
and none to sell, wesllould at least raise
enough peaches to eat and not have to
buy them. secondhand and half green,
in New Orleans. H ne have no trees to
begin with, Mr.. LACEY has them, and viii
sellthem at reasonable price. By their
sale he only will not be benefited, but
the parties purchasing and the parish al
large. tforhomeeonsunapdon viii
be D great means for reducing family
expenditures. Home canned fruit il
better than that imported, and no great
labororexpenseis required-only alittle
trouble. Hfarmers produce their own
corn, rice potatoes, peas, grapes, fruit
: etc., and raisetheir own beet, pork, poul
try, eggs, etc, and have their own mill
and butter, ne can not see Why the,
need much money To bug the means b
subsistence. Unfortunately, they at
telapt To produce only oneor two article
with which to buy everything else an.
lay up money besides. Experience ha
shown chat this plan is false one ]
they expect to succeed, they must pro
duce the necessaries Of life at home
Fruit is one of these necessaries, and "
hope, during the next fall and wintel
ouy farmers viii Ill pat orchards an
vineyards.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02
LOCAL ITEMS.
--

1t has rained so long that minnows are
swimming about in the street cutters of
OnelOusas..
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

TAxEs.-Act No. 100 provides that
when any person purchases property
sold for Taxes, State, Paroehial, or
Municipal, and erects any improve
ments thereon, the owner of the land
before redeeming the same must pay
for the improvements as assessed by ar
bitrators, or by mutual agreement.
Act. No. 101 provides that any one
who purchases property sold for taxes
and remains in quiet possession of the
same for the space Of two years shall be
qnieted in his title against any and all
claimants,
Both these Acts were approved June
5th 1873.IEThibodaux Sentinel.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The Madison Journal makes the fol-
lowing very sensible and just remarks
upon the lamentable affair between
Col. Rhett and Judge Cooley:
The death of Judge VIM. H. Cooley
at the hand of Mr.. Rhett, Of the Plea
yune, in a duel, is the mark of an epoch
in Louisiana and perhaps in the South.
No gentleman will ever be killed by an
other gentleman in the State of LOui-
siana in a duel. We do not characterize
this act as a brutal murder, as some Of
the newspapers do. Judge Cooley did,
III his address to the Jury in the HaW-
kins and Picayune case, make remarks
open to criticism. Whether they were
in the legitimate range Of his profession
as q lawyer, we leave to brethren to de-
eide but until that decision is made we
shall entertain the opinion that they
were uncalled for Mr.. Rhett reviewed
the speech of Judge Cooley with a great
deal of severity and a great deal of
truth. Judge Cooley responded by
| writing to Mr.. Rhett for a retractiOn
| which he could not make, and which he
refused, and then Judge Cooley pub
lished a card which was intended to
bring on a fight or to degrade Mr.. Rhett
in the estimation of a considerable class
that Christianity has not instructed, but
is nevertheless an influence in society.
just what Judge Cooley expected, re-
| suited. The challenge came for a bar
barous arbitrament. Its adjustment has
been painful, h%orrifying to the friends
of both parties. =
For the dead mar we have only peace
and benedictiOn, garlands to adOrn his
tomb, regrets that a useful and honor
able citizen should be so suddenly cut
off; for the living, that charity which
pleads for wrongful acts done under
great and resistless provocation.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

A Kentucky man has named his six
teenth child, recently born tOhim, Ome-
ga, hoping it viii be the last.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

OvERHAULED AT LAST.-Last Satur-
day Granville B. Shaw, Sheriff of the
parish of Vermilion, arrived here with
Oz6m6 Frug6, whom he arsested in his
parish, on the 23d July, and who is under
indictment in this parish for rape and
murder. Frug6 is said to be the leader
of the band of outlaws who have for sew
eral years infested the border of this
parish and Vermilion. He was in the
house with his gang n night last win
ter, at COulGe CrOche or thereabouts,
when q posse of sheriff's deputies broke
in on them and were driven back, Fru-
g6's party remaining in possession of
their own liberties and thehOuse besides.
Sheriff Shaw found him in house, sur
rounded it with his deputies, and went
in and hauled him out. He is now in OuI
parish prison awaiting coming events.
CATERPILLARs.-We hear of cater
pillars from different quarters, and some
say the cotton will be all eaten up in a
few days-a week or ten days-and
some extend the days of grace to the
first of September. We do not like
to forebode evil, and will wait and see
At any rate, we hope the Southern PEG,
pie will give up their idol, cotton, tt
some extent, and try to make the neces
saries of animal life more at home, ani
not be SO dependent on the agriculture
of the West.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

A Lancaster, Pa, undertaken adyer-
tises: "Get your holiday collins OF j.
Waterhouse.n
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

Liberal. A Philadelphia paper sWilz
ling that nature should take its course.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

The number of eonviets o in the
Texas PenitentiaTy, exceeds eleven
hundred and recruits are constantly ar
riying.-[Mansfeld Reporter.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

We regret exceedingly to announce
the death of Mr.. Geo. II. Childers of
Pleasant Hill. He died of congestion,
and his death is a great loss to the COM