St. Landry democrat., 1881-04-30
The Time of Roses.

We always knew that Opelousas wai
a garden of roses, but we don't think
we ever realized before this season
how many rare and beautiful varieties
had been collected within the limits OF
our little town. Some of the parterres
are so gorgeous with red, pink and
yellow roses, twining up verandahs
trailing against pillars. trimmed uT
into standards, or round tops, that al
first the eye is dazzled by the light
and color. We think of king Shadad
and his rose garden, buried beneath
the illimitable sands of the desert, and
wonder if it equalIed one we saw last
evening. In fact we are ready to
swallow all the legends we ever heard
OF the beautiful flower when we are
face to face with it, and are convinced
III the truth of the story that Eve
brought it out of Paradise with her.
The Turks are very careful of red roses,
which they never suffer to lie on the
ground, believing it to have been
colored by the blood Of Mohammed, but
we think the care should be extended
to all the fragant sisterhood.
The white roses are specially profuse
this spring, and perfect. Alas, how
often we have seen them in these latter
months clasped in the waxen dead
hands of friends who have passed to
the eternal gardens where the roses
are immortal. To us they are the
flowers of sadness and death, but a
sadness tempered with hope, and a
death which leads to life.
We discover a good deal of emulation
among the rose growers of Opelousas.
When one has fine variety, the others
will not be left behind, and the result
has beautifed our town wonderfully.
Where we saw one rose four years ago
we now see twenty, and this rivalry is
actually public benefit.
NEAR HOLMEsvILLE, La, April ~, 1881.
After passing a pleasant day l sit
down and take my pen and begin to
write, with the thoughts in my mind
of the sweet lines that Longfellow
wrote
Sweet April-many thought
Is welded unto thee, DIS hearts are wed:
Nor shall they fail till, to it's Autumn brou ght,
Lifcs golden fruit Is shed"
How happy we should be, even if
there is not all that pleasure to surround
us that one could wish. What grand
country we have, with it's noble forest
and beautiful prairies, covered with
green grass and pretty flowers, enough
to turn the mind on romance.
| often think what a pity that the
talented writer's, aunt Jane of the Plea
yune, and Catherine Cole of the N. 0.
Times, couldn't spend few days in
this loved section of our State, and see
the beautiful land we have. These
ladies could find much for their pens to
do, and am satisfied they Guild return
to the crescent city bestowing blessings
and praises on St. Landry. Well, have
got entirely Off of what | was going to
write about. First | must thank you
for the timely words you published in
the DEMOCRAT few numbers back on
" novel reading" as you say, there is
too much low literature ahOat for the
benefit of sound healthy minds to grow
up under. For my part say read, but
select good books. ! do not condemn
a good novel by no means; they are
good in their place like everything else.
We will leave this and let others that
wish give their opinions in regard to
books, novsls, etc.
A word about school books. Our city
journals hint that somebody is anxious
to change the text books now in use in
this State, and substitute Harper's in
their place. Let me ask what is this
for | for one, say no. Let the Mr.
Harpers keep their books. If any set
of publishers eyer cursed the South.
through the press, it has been Harp er
Brothers Of New York. Those same
publishers only want your money, and
in getting money, All your shelves with
tiiCli boOhss COAOtsiHlHS WIG oidHtCt vi
the fair name of the South.
We hope every parish journal in the
State will raise their voice against this
job of the Harpers.
DOTS ON THE WING.
We had two days last week of rain
the ground was made too wet for few
days; for all the rain has done great
good; vegetation looks fresh, corn
sprang up and has a healthy look;
every one III high hopes at present;
prospect of good crops.
The health of our community is good.
we learn the Morgan railroad is moving
slow up Bayou B@uf. The N. @. and
Pacific, from all accounts, are working
with rush. Reports say the cars will
be running from New Orleans to Shreve-
port by the last of August. We can
only wait and hope to see it so.
More anon, JOHN O'SHANE.
MeSsrs Coo TT Rinr r. Sin,opaaud