St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-13
(COnmnnicated.)
TIGER BEND, La, May 9th, 1885,

Llltol DcMOCRAI.
The pleasant May days have come
and they bring us fine weather. The
past week has been splendid better
weather conld not be wished for. Ev-
erybody could work that wanted to.
The planters have plenty to do, leaving
no excuse for idleness. The various
crops IN this section are growing rapid
ly, and prospect good for a large yield,
wonder how it is that there are no far
mers', agricultural, horticultural and
mechanical associations in some of the
many parishes OF the State There may
be something OF the sort in some one
or more parish. For our part we know
nothing OF them. In the North and
Western states, almost every county
has It's fair grounds and various associ-
atlons for the dissemination of useful
knowledge. Essays are read at their
meetings, subjects on farming and me-
chanics discussed, that the best meth
DDS may be arrived at for the greatest
good. Once a year the fair is held,
generally in the latter part of Septem-
Der or October, when the products of
the farmer, mechanic, gardener, fruit
grower and various other industries are
exhibited. All meet together exchang-
ing views. There you meet the lover
Of fast horses, another that delights in
fine cattle. Some one has the best hogs
or sheep, as the case may be, fine poul-
try and so on to the end. Every body
has grown something, possibly the best
quality OF wheat, rye, barley, oats or
corn, etc. The mechanic is there with
his new inventions, or has on exhibition
a fine piece OF his own handiwork. In
fact the merchant, lawyer, doctor and
other professions seem interested.
There you. find the printing press at
work sending out its daily sheet of
bulletin or tow with all the latest news
fresh and spicy" AS we said above we
wonder" that something of the sort is
not set on foot in some one OF the sur
rounding parishes. Opelousas is CEN
trally located and we'll situated for fair
grounds. Such an institution properly
started at OpelOusas, would soon solicit
interest from adjoining parishes, be-
coming in few years a fixed fact and
the pride of Opelousas. The above is
in no spirit of dictation, but merely an
idea OF an opinion.
READING BOOKS AND PAPERS.
The day has come that books and pa
pers can be bought very cheap. Are all
the cheap books good, what about the
blood and thunder stories that fill every
book stall, and so eagerly devoured by
the young people? Let me ask, do
these books contain the matter suitable
for the young? Yes, and the old as
well. The poet j. E. SAKE, in his poem
"My Books says:
"Ah, well love these books of mine,
That stand so ti1nly on their shelves,
With here and there Il broken line
(Fat "quaftos" jOstling modest ''twelves. y
A curious company, own;
The poorest ranking with their betters
In brief a thing almost unknown,--
A fine democracy OF letters"
Every word SAKE says about his
books is good, and his poem "My
Books is worth reading. Choice liter
ature is cheap and apparently in the
reach of every one, A we'll conducted
is, consider, one of the best
educators published, and believe, that
it would be proper to introduce few of
the leading journals in the public
schools, that students might have an
to read and digest the
news Of the day, and learn what was
i'll various countries and
parts Of the globe. Because q young
man is growing up with the intention
of becoming a farmer, there is no rea-
son why he should not be as well edu-
Gated and informed as the professional
man. 1t requires intelligence to farm
with success. The same may be said
for the mechanic. He too wants books
and journals devoted to his trade, that
he may keep up with all the late i'm
not only in his own par
ticular branch OF art or mechanics, but
other branches pertaining to mechani-
cal sciences. At this point it reminds
me that very few young men growing
South, are learning trades to-day, The
mechanics at work throughout the
Union, are mostly from Europe, and
Canada, Their sons sometimes learn
trades, but they too are taught in child
hood that they were born to be Presi-
lent of this glorious Union, and armed
with hatchet they try to hack their
way into the Presidents chair.
NOTES PICKED UP ON THE WING.
| learn that track-laying will be re-
,umed in few days OH the N. 0. Pa
.ific railroad, and pushed forward as
,apidly as possible. Capt. A. NJ. Haas
las secured the services of first class
engineer to lay out town on the Irion
The streets are to be made
vide to give ample room. The city or
own lots will be reasonably large es-
,ecially those for residences. Business
OTIS or more properly lots for business
houses will be Of good size, but not so
arge by any means as plats for dwell
ngs. When laid out and ready for
ale the proprietor of these lots and
lew town site will most assuredly in
ert a neat little advertisement in the
columns of the DEMOCRAT, showing the
and situation of the new
own.
No train up to this date on the Nor