St. Landry democrat., 1881-10-29
Communicated
CHENYvILLE, RApIDEs PARISH, La,
October gath. 1881. I

October Gath, 1881.
Editor ST. LANDRY DEMOCRAT.-I
will write up for the DEMOCRAT the
dots, notes, locals and siftings from
this place and the surrounding neigh
borhood. Chenyville is, taken "all in
all " rather an old looking town. You
can see anything else but Improvement,
and the railroad boom it seems has not
brought out much of the vital spark
that we so often see in places where
the railroads touch. This place can
boast of three churches, Episcopal,
Baptist and Methodist. We learn from
good authority that none of them are
well attended, for what reason we don't
know. The paint brush could find
good and constant employment on the
outside of these three places of worship,
| that is it looks so to us, while apart 1T
Is none of our particular business. The
Chenyville merchants are laying IN
the fall and winter trade. Almost
every one up this way has "soured on
the Morgan railroad ring and are ship
ping goods by the Red River boats,
others are waiting for rise in Bayou
BGuf.
COUNTRY NOTES sIFTED.
The planters are all engaged putting
down seed cane and fitting up sugar
mills preparatory to grinding. The cane
crop is light in acreage up this way,
while the cane is reasonably fair.
have been informed by several planters
that they will make (provided the
weather does not interfere) from one to
two hogsheads of sugar per acre. The
cotton crops are exceeding all expecta-
tions, the yield being fair and the staple
good.
There is some apprehensions about
| the question of labor for the coming
year. The present plan Of working the
freedmen does not meet with his Opin-
ion of freedom, and the result is that
many of them are going to work on
their own "hook." Whether it pays
them or not, they (the negro) wants to
do their own bossing."
WHAT MUST BE DONE.
Turn the open tilable lands out to
grow up in forest, or shall our planters
adopt new plans and modes of farming,
planting, etc. ?
For my part would advise the plan
ters to build some neat cottages at and
on convenient points of their planta-
tions, then go west or north and bring
down good working men and thell
families; put them in these cottages;
give them living chance, that is pay
ing part of the crops, with other in
ducements to make them feel at home
This done | feel satisfied in affirming
that in few years you will see change
come over the country for the better
will close by giving, your readers q
scrap from my note book OF scraps
LIVE FOR SOMETHING.
Thousands of men breathe, move and
live, pass off the stage of life and are
heard of no more. Why they do not 9
particle Of good in the world; and
none ever blest them; none could point
to them as the instrument Of their re-
demption not line they wrote, not 9
word they spoke could be recalled, anC
so they perished-their light went out
in darkness-and they were not remem'
bered more than the insects OF yester'
day. Will you thus live and die
"Live for something, do good, anC
leave behind you monument OF virtue
that the storms of time can never des
troy. Write your name by kindness
love and mercy, on the hearts OF the
thousands you come in contact Will
year by year, and you will never bs
forgotten your name, your deeds, VII
be as legiable on the hearts you leave
behind as the stars on the brow OF eve
ming, good deeds will shine as bright or
the earth as the stars Of heaven"
Yours, JOHN O'SHANE.