The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1888-05-12
Louisiana Press Convention.
Some Of It's Social Incidents.

The Louisiana Press Association met
i'll annual convention Oh May l and .,
i'll the quaint old town OF Opelousas,
snraamed not inaptly the CITY OF the
Prairies."
The convention proved in every re
spect a perfect success. The good
people OF Op-lousas had left nothing
undonc TO promote the comfort and
happiness OF their guests. Ga Monday
Il deputation of their reception COM
mittee boarded the train III New
Iberia to meet the newspaper mel
bound for Opeiousas. and to assign
each one to his destined quarters dur
in@ his stay i'll their city.
The people of the city turned out
en- mGsse. headed by a brass band, to
receive the members of the press on
their arrival. and after an interchange
OF greetings the members were rolled
away i'll carriages to the rhythmical
strains of the band. to their respective
places Of abode. kindly provided for
them by the reception committee.
The people threw wide the doors and
most Hospitality entertained the MEM
bers within the sacred precincts OF
their homes. 1t was there that the
most kind attention was shown, every
wish and want OF the guests consulted,
and nothing tending to the advance
ment OF their personal enjoyment,
comfort and happiness neglected.
Oh the morning OF the first OF May
the association met in the courtroom
of the beautiful new courthouse, which
is the pride of Opelousas. The court
room had been most chastely and
beautifully decorated with flowers and
ferns by the deft fingers and skilltul
hands of the fair and lovely daughters
of the "City of the Prairies." Right
behind the presidents chair, encirclsd
in a crescent of palmetto, ran the le-
.end. in characters formed of the
leaves Of the fragrant magnolia, ''Wel-
come l.. p. A."
But it was upon the desk of the fair
secretary that the ingenious workers
had expended all their skill and art in
giving shape and form to the mos,
beautiful designs of their exquisite
taste. This was but meet and proper,
as it was intended to frame and adorn
in the person OF Miss Addie McGrath,
the prettiest and most precious OF all
, t1owsrs-the flower of virtuous and
modest ~maidenhood. 1t almost looked
like "retinins a violet
At 10 o'clock, as the president and
vice presidents assembled the stand,
MendelssOhn's "Atalia' was rendered
in grand style, under the able direc-
ton of Prof. r. Mayer, assisted by .
chorus of fair songstresses. Then fol
lowed a short welcome address by
Hon. J. c. Nornhinvey, mayor of Ope-
l%ousas, who concluded by introducing
the Hon. E. d. Estilette az the orator
Of the day.
Judge Estilctte's address was a bril-.
liant effort, fully sustaining his we'll
earned reputation as one of the best
| orators Of Louisiana. He retlaced the
history Of Opslousas from the olden
times, when the old Spanish alcalde:
held sway over it and ruled its desti.
mics, and queenly Spanish DANES LEM
the charms of their beauty to its dali,
life, through its romantic period, wher
the God-leving children of prosecuted
Acadia sought refuge and q home OF
its boundless prairies and planted til.
seed of a new civilization, down to it.
present stage Of progress and materia
advancement. He depicted the pre-,
sent advantages which St. Landr,
offers to immigrants, and conclude,
by Il well-turned compliment to thu
women Of the empire parish, ~assurin:
his auditors that sin st. Landry, Ill
els~wh here, the fair ladies speak TO
themselves
Gen. J~astremski, president Of tn
press association, responded i'll telici
tous terms to these welcome addresses
thanking the good people of Opelousa
and St. Landry for their royal lccen.