St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-10-09
Parish Fair.

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thing new and essentially different to
the monotonous routine OF every day
life, and with its embarrassing events,
to bring out the latent energies, asplra-
tons, and sociality of our parIshloners.
Our citizens are tired and utterly dls-
yusted with the 50 called politics OF the
day. 1t is difficult for any one, whether
farmer, lawyer, or scientist TO dis-
tinguish the difference between the
National parties OF to-day, they say the
difference consists in the view OF this
tariff question, but when Clay, Cal
houn, Webster, Davis and host OF
other pure and worthy champions OF
their great and well defined national
parties could not come to an honest
agreement on this much veXed and IN
trlcate question and when the great
minds in the Democratic party differ
to-day, and the same in the Republican
party may be said, how are we ex-
pected to enter into discussion of the
subject and set up our opinion, which
at best must be second handed! Is it
not presumption? And as for State
and parish politics, we absolutely have
none, it is simply and solely, scram-
bic for office affair, the outs want to
get in, and the inns want to keep IN,
there is money in it and they all want
it. And the politicians are very much
excited and expect the masses of the
people to be likewise affected.
But really Mr.. Editor, the farmer, and
laboring classes are taking but little
stock in the matter, and that because 1t
is forced on them.
Now give our minds, energies, and
aspirations new direction. Let us
have an ANNUAL PARISH FAIR, to last
at least one week, and let the FAIR
Grounds be well and centrally located,
houses we'll and lastly built and neatly
kept, and let our people turn out en-
masse on the first week of October OF
each year, and shake off the care and
routine of home work and give them
selves up to pleasure, recreation, form
ing each others acquaint ance, entering
| into new friendships and alliances, and
be yet stronger local attachment to
our larger growing, aud beautiful par
ish. To this end, let our citizens bring
up annually to this temple OF Janus,
| their offerings of fine horses, mules,
cattle, sheep, grasses, and cereals of all
kinds, with best specimens of root
crops, specimens of our timber, with
all kinds of handy work. Let the
young ladies of the convent at Grand
Coteau send up some specimens, OF
their art, and the Priests at that place
exhibit their lovely shorthorns. Let
the OpelOusas Female Institute furnish
us with Art and music.
Interest such lively men as Robert
Wilkins, Sam Haas, William Duson,
Mentor Andrus, DR.. w. A. Robertson,
Alphonse Levy, HI. Barrouse, Capt.
Montgomery, E. W. Sylvester, John NJ.
Ware, j. E. Pelton, John Foy, Thos.
H. Lewis, X. B. Blanks, and the nu-
merous western men who have joined
their fortunes With ours and who I'M
derstand the business and let us have
thrown in the energy and ability of such
men as Z. T. Lewis, c. c. Duson, t. S.
Fontenot, James 0. Chachere. Capt. H.
| l.. Garland, and many others Ut like
wit and wisdom, and last but not least
let the Opelousas Courier, and St. Ian
| dry DEMOCRAT throw their influence
into the enterprise, and the fact will be
accomplished
And the result will he first, better and
more handsome stock, second, better
social feeling among our people, third,
attracting the attention of capitalists
to our Empire parish, fourth, an oppor-
tunity to interchange agricultural, me-
chanical and scientific ideas, and fifth,
all this will result in an ambition to
have more comfortable and handsome
| homes and thoroughfars, more life and
competition, while it would be public
educator of our people.
| Who will second this move, and push
it forwards? Shall we have this oul
first fair in twelve months from now
hope our citizens will write freely
and our press will take lively interest
| in this matter, THOMASJ HOUGH