St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-09-20

poses, owing to the great labor re-
Quired for clearing the same.
Continuing up the Courtableau to
the junction of the Beuf and Croco-
die, we enter one of the most beau
tiful portions of the parish. On
either side of the Beuf are seen
large and valuable plantations, GOV.
cred with luxuriant sugar-cane, cot.
ton and corn.
THE SOUTHERN SECTION.
We now proceed to give some in
formation in regard to that portion
Of our parish lying to the south of
the town Of Opelousas, and extend
ing to the village of Grand Coteau.
Upon leaving Opelousas we enter
IKE timber which borders bayou
Calihan. Leaving this a short dis
lance after crossing said bayou, we
enter the prairie which spreads east.
ward from the bayou Plaquemine
Brulee. Following the edge of this
prairie for a mile and q half we en-
ter the heavy timber Of Bellevue.
The railroad and old stage road pass
for some five miles through a forest
Of magnificent oak, magnolia, hick-
DRY, ash and other valuable trees,
when VIC debouch upon the beauti-
full prairie where stands the ancient
village of Grand Coteau.
The land of this prairie is very
fertile, and produces fine crops of
cotton, corn, oats, etc.
The famous st. Charles College,
in charge of Catholic clergymen, is
situated at Grand Coteau. 1t is an
old but large institution, capable
of accommodating a couple of hun
bred or more students. The Con-
vent of the Sacred Heart is located
here, under the superindence of
Jesuits. Before the war these two
Catholic institutions were very
fourishing, as many of our best cit
liens received a fine education, and
many of our most accomplished wo-
men their tuition within their walls.
They have, connected with the sem
inaries, a model farm upon which
they raise stock, as well as every
thing required for the support and
comfort of the institutions. The
chief attractions of the village are
the superb gardens and shrubbery
with which it is surrounded. Every
body here seems to be living in ease
and comfort. The railroad depot has
been located about one mile west of
the village.
WILD GAME, ETC.
Many portions of st. Landry
abound in the finest of game. In
the fall and winter, and the early
part of spring, ducks and geese are
to be found almost everywhere
about the ponds and sloughs, which
are quite numerous in the prairies.
Prairie chickens are pretty album
dant some distance west Of Opelou~
sas. as also snipe, quails, etc.
Bear, turkeys, deer, and all sorts OF
varmints, roam the dense woods
bordering on the AtchafaIaya, Cal
casieu, Beuf, Crocodile, and other
streams. Our hunting grounds af-
ford much pleasure and recreation
/ to sportsmen, and not a few of them
literally pass the hunting or game
season with gun in hand and a
brace or two of we'll trained pointers
or settlers at their heels.
The finest kind of fish-trout,
bass, white and sun perch, and all
other varieties Of the finny tribe
can be caught in our larger streams
and lakes and lagoons.
TEMPERATURE, LOCATION, ETC.
The location of the table lands of
St. Landry is high above overflow,
and, in point of health, viii com.
pare favorably 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 ow-
: ing to the regular sea breeze which
refreshes and invigorates. Strang
ers are struck with the beauty and
GOODNESS of our nights. There is not
experienced that lassitude in the
morning which is felt at St. Louis
> and other points in the North after
enduring the stiaed and heated at
: mosphere of the night. Sleep is en-
6 loved and the only trouble we
! have experienced is, in being wiki
inc to retire to rest and lose the en-
ioyment of q Southern night. Its
~ "a a,,d J,o1pov dir tho clear and