St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-26
ST. LANDRY's ROYAL WELCOME
Extend Ovati0ns TO the Louisiana Press
AssOciatiom.


OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES May7
By the courteous liberality of the Of
ficials of the Southern Pacific Railway
Company, large delegation of the
Louisiana Press Association, on the 3oth
ult, were given exclusive occupancy of
one of the spacious and handsome day
coaches of their 1915 west bound train.
Well nigh year had elapsed since most
of the party had met, and in the inter-
val they had frequently crossed blades
for their favorites in the gubernatorial
contest that had but recently come to a
close. Ret the greetings were those of
warm friendships and mutual esteem,
and the train had scarcely entered on
its swift Journey ere the faces of the
travellers were wreathed in smiles of JOY
Gus anticipation of the pleasures of tho
annual reunion at Opelousas. Atevery
important station there came accessions
of old and new friends, each Of whom
was accorded hearty welcome on en-
tering the preambulating sanctam.
In turn, the well titled cane fields of
Terrebonne and LafOurche were ira
versed, and Berwick's Bay crossed,
over the splendid iron bridge by which
it is spanned. Thence the train sped
along the beautiful Teche country with
its green prairies, broad fields and pic
turesque plantations, until New Iberia
was reached. There special commit
tee from OpelOusas came aboard and
supplied each member with neat
hospitable homes Of the good people of
Opelousas still fifty miles dista1t. At
Lafayette the excursionists stopped for
dinner at the justly famed railway ho-
tel, where bountiful meal was served
them at rate voluntarily reduced by
the managers.
Lafayette is the growing and pros
porous capital site of the parish of that
name. 1t is most attractive and typi-
cal prairie town, the social and COM
mercial center of the most populous
area in rural Louisiana, and of which
it is said that it has not a single acre Of
poor land.
At the cry of call aboard" the train
was headed for Opelousas, and it was
soon speeding through the undulating
prairics of Carencro, Grand Coteau and
the beautiful woodland of Bellevue,
which form the approaches to Opelousas.
A bright sunshine, a clear sky and cool
balmy breeze from the gulf of Mexico
heightened the loneliness of the land
scape, interspersed with cosy, shady
homes, verdant pasturage dotted with
grazing stock, and fields that plowmen
were busily furrowing.
The poetic pens Of Pearl Rivers" and
of catherine Cole" can alone do JUS
tice to these pastoral scenes of Acadian
Thrift and beauty, hence we will not
main. Suffice it to say that St. Landry
need not fear to throw her gauntlet
in challenge to the famous Blue Grass
region of Kentucky, or to any other ia
vored region in America.
At about 6 p. NJ, tile shrill whistle has
blown for Opeiousas, and the notes of
brass band greet its arrival in what
seems to be a general turn out of the
good people of the place, who have
come to the depot with innumerable
vehicles to convey the ladies and gen.
tlemen who constitute the editorial
party to their homes.
On the way through the thriving
burg, which contains a population Of
between three and four thousand souls,
we are charmed by it's well kept and
shaded streets, the inviting and hand
some residences nestled in broad
yards, gardens and parterres, the
churches, school and academic buildings,
the bushes houses, the large and ele-
CANT new courthouse, ETC., etc.
Col. Norman, of the Illustrated
South, Mr.. j. B. Wilkinson, Jr., Of the
n. O. City Item, and the writer, had
been assigned to the fine and spacious
home of Circuit Judge Jos. M. Moore,
a gentleman universally esteemed for
bis manful qualities and requirements.
The Judges charming wife and daugh-
tiers complete the attractions of his
home and assist him in dispensing a
for which the Creole Amer
lean homes of Opelousas and st. Ian
dry have long been famed. Our So
iourn at Judge Mooie's will ever be a |
pleasing "reminiscences of this voyage,
which is clouded only by the regret |
that the hour of it's termination came
too soon.
The next morning at 10 o'clock, the |
about seventy strong, met |
in the large court room of the new and |
stylish courthouse.
Exquisite floral decorations and
tresses of evergreen ornamented the
room, and over the stand was suspend /
ed a large floral bell in an arch bearing
the words, welcome Louisiana Press
Association" Prof. Mayer, superb
teacher of music and vi0lonist, assisted
by choir and an orchestra of his pu-
pills, dispensed truly artistic music and
vastly to the eclat of the
reception, which should more properly
De termed an ovation to the State press.
Not less than three hundred of the
ARREST ladies of Opelousas and st. Lam
Try attended the sessions from first to
asst, and their beauty, grace and ele-
rance mingling with the mass of flo al
made it a scene Of indies
.ribable enchantment.
Mayor Mornllinveg and Judge Esti-
cite in eloquent terms, welcomed the
and the President respond
ID. In the evening, the visitors were
lriven through the town and surround
ng country, than which the immigrant
eeking home in the finest of climates
md the most productive of lands, can
ind none more inviting. st. Landry
las population of over fifty thousand |
nd soil unexcelled in fertility. It's
capabilities for stock raising and other
Industries are simply limitless, while a
letter or more cultured people can no
1here be found. Ii
The 0pelousas social club closed the
econd day with a magnificent recep- /
ion to the Press at Perrodin's Hall, in |
ecorating which the lovely and inds-j
atigable ladies had given several DAYS {
their precious time. The entertain |
rent was OF the most stylish character q