The Opelousas courier., 1888-05-26
mood usual in expectant mo.

"O1SOIltLaS IdCCI9
smiled above, around us, as we
stepped from the train ; how
warm the handclasps, and how
fervent the "glad-to-see-yous."
How wildly sweet the strains of
music that greeted us as if every
note was an estate "Come
Come :" and every chord a deep
welcome" The memories of
this ovationgare like "amber
bars of sunlight across the
hearts of 'sye scribes," many of
whom, wheu at home, toll
among the stones and brambles
OF an %ungrateful and unappre-
clatlve community. In ten min
mites after our arrival the COM
pact body of the Press Associa-
ton had melted away into in
dividual members, who were be-
ing warmly received by the in
mates of different households
where we were entertained. The
host and hostess, with the same
lor6ly grace with the same lord
ly grace with which, in olden
times, the lord mayor of Il city
rode out and gave the keys to
the conquerer, with the same
olden time grace, | say, but
more sincerely and willingly,
they gave as "the keys" and
their confidence was not abused.
The members of the Baton
Rouge press were handsomely
entertained at the residences of
Col. Moore, Mrs. Johnson, aud
Mr.. Isaacs, whose lavish hospi-
tally is proyerbial, and your
"umble servant" and the sharer
of her trunk and partaker of a
programme of delights were in
stalled in the pleasant home of
Mr.. Leonce Littell, where our
hostess really adopted us for the
time being, and We took her to
our hearts. Being a charming
conversationalist and an excel
lent musician, all this, added to
her kindness and Mr.. LittelPs
eordiality, made our stay be-
meath his roof one of the most
treasured "reminiscences of our
visit to Opelousas.
Everywhere flowers and music
greeted us. The court house,
where we held our session, a
handsome structure in itself,
was converted, by the artistic
hands of the ladies OF this fair
town, into a bower of loneliness.
One almost expected for the
birds to tWitter among the ferns
and flowers and nightingale to
pour its melody from the banks
of geraniums. But there was
no need of feathered songsters
to add their mite, for Prof.
Rudolph Meyer, as musical di-
rector, needed no assistance
from nightingale or mocking
bird, as we soon realized, when
tie grand overture of Mendels-
sohn'ss "Athalia' was given,
with piano, organ, orchestra,
and chorus of sixteen young
ladies. > o#
Drives to Bellevue! / could
use an unlimited supply
of admiring EXPLANATIONS just
here, but they always look SO
defiant on ~paper-just as if PEG.
pie didn't believe a word you
said and you were trying to
convince them you were telling
the truth. The sunny road to
Believes like a wayfarer, finds
sunny stretches and shady
hooks. 1t crosses picturesque
bridges, that rock ever so much
too large for the stream they
span, and dawdles along in open
spaces, stretching ifs dusty
length like q boa summing itself.
then grows cool and shady as
the magnolia trees bend over it,
now and then dropping a fra
grant whfEs petal from the glob'
ulous blossom. We follow the
road in sunshine and shadow:
through the loyeliest country
from whose dark soil corn, cot,
ton, oats and fruit grow luxu.
riantly, rustling, whispering, ex.
ulting on every side in this
"garden-spot." Though the
great bouquets upon my desk
breatheof Washington, the riva
town of Opelousas, six mile:
distant, and bid me tell of the
hearty reception given rs there
r cannot lii this letter, because
am one of the tardy few WHIT
were nate getting home, ant
newspapers, like " time ane
tide" do not,Wait for their de
Hno.unt onrroSnandnnfc 60