The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Blessing of a Banner.

oh the return of the Opelousas
Guards from Baton Rouge, on the 24th
ut, the young ladies of onr town pre-
sented the Company with a beautiful
national banner. Miss Coyiue NEON.
ley, one OF our taircst and most patli
otlc young ladies was the leading spirit
VINO got up this pleasant surprise for
our soldier boys; and pretty little
! Celeste Dupre, daughter of Laurent
nnpfe' esq, was selected by the ladies
to present the banner, which she did in
neat and appropriate little speech ON
that occasion, and which was received
u hitting language by Capt. E. Sumter
laylor, commanding the Company.
Yet 1t was considered that the ceremo-
mes were not complete, until SO beauti-
fui banner was blessed and consecrat-
ed IN the mission which might await it
and its patriotic defenders in the future.
Accordingly on last Sunday after High
Mass at the Catholic Church, the
GnaTds, dressed in their handsome uni
forms, with arms and accoutrements.
marched in regular column, with sol
dlerly step and bearing, to the temple
OF God for the dedication of their stcol
ors." Arriving in front of the Church
the Company halted, "right faced ;" and
stacked arms Ranks were at once
reformed to await Miss Corine Mecin-
ley, who was chosen Sponsor of the
Banner, and who soon appeared escort
ed by Capt. j. j. Thompson of the St.
| Landry Cavalry, and in whose charge
was Miss Celeste Dupre, who has been
/ adopted as the "Chiid of the Company. -
Miss Corine Meginley was dressed in "a
pretty, yet plain, costume typifyiDg the
national colors, and wore a scarf Of
striking design bearing the name of the
Opelousas Guards Sweet little Celeste
wore a jaunty, attractive costume, COM
hining "fed, white and blue" and car
lied miniature drum, which made her
look like a fairy drumming up the elfs
of the woods. Capt. Taylor in IL few
appropriate words turned the banner
over to Miss Meginley, who in graceful
language received it as the Sponsor of
its dedication. Preceded by ensign G.
E. Fontenot with colors nnfolded and
Miss Mesinley walking by his side, the
Company marched into the Church,
and formed in column of twos in front
uf the altar. The venerable Father G..
Raymond in eloquent language then
spoke in substance as follows: .eThat
as the eagles were the type On the
Roman standards which svmboiized
courage and valot to her pagan Iegions,
SD was The flag borne by civilized ma
tions, MOI only an emblem of courage
to incite deeds IF daring, but a glorious
oh IL, I.,xr e
stantine, had been dedicated to AL
mighty God and placed under His pro-
lection, not for brutal conquest and.
sanguinary ambition, bat TO extend the
benefcent results of civilization. and
enlightenment. to establish Justice and
maintain the principles Of liberty, and
defend the sacred blessings of truth and
religion The flag of our country was
the type of all that was good in govern
ment, grand in design, and noble in
purposes OF maintenance and future
achievements. It was fitting aud APP
propriate that it should be dedicated to
God and its defenders be placed under
His protection. AT one time in onr
country's history, war bad discovered
our great country into two hostile sec
tions, and '1two flags" divided the n
iegiance of tie people. Bat 10 eacii
those banners were blessed aud sacred.
If the South followed tie Confederate
flag, her people were no more rebels
than the people of the original thirteen
colonies. They sincerely believed that
they had grievances which justified
revolution, and proved their faith IN
their cause and in their struggle for ir-
dependence by freely giving mp their
best blood and treasure for its estab
lishment. Their cause MAS lost. their
banner was conquered, they have
yielded, aud DOW support one flag as
one undivided people We were at
peace with all nations and war was i'm
probable for some time o come. unless
The. late anafchical demonstrations
should grow into fnflief outbreaks
of violence throughout t!ir country
Then our citizen snldiers would have
to be called out To suppress disorder
and to uphold The law and the peace of
society. AT such period eyerya I,
should be at his post, remember his
duty, and let courage animate his con
duct The flag was then blessed 10 y
&E6Fy Impressive lbaHifNt ats1a - -
teresting ceremony ended. The Guards
then formed ranks, and as they filed
out of the Church the organ pealed
forth It's harmonious strains to the
cadence Of the regular military step,
until the echoes could no more be
heard. 1t was an impressive occasion,
and many enlogles We're paid the
Guards for their soldierly conduct and
appearance.
BIC HOG AND Fish. A few days
aro. our old friend, Theodule Daigie oi
Church Point, killed a lpg that
weighed 700 lbs. net and yielded 30 gal
Ions of lard Now, these are no extra
ordinary figures with him, because e Is
conceded lie is one of the best farmers
III the parish, always making bountiful
corn crops, besides his full quota OF cot
ton, and when you visit his hospltaele
residence you will notice that horses,
work oxen, aud cattle are all fat, and
know absolutely nothing about the
scarcity Of grass or the pinching of hun
ger. He always has corn to sell, and
having plenty Of hogs we doubt moi
that he also has plenty Of lard and but
ter for the market When you sil
down to his table you will find it gen.
erousIy garnished with fat juicy beef
choice ham, tempting fowls. every va
riety Of vegetables, rich butter, and
milk SO sweet and palatable thai i
J r,,alrns vn,1r manfil water tfl think Df it