The Opelousas courier., 1888-05-12

rice and gnll variety Of fruits grow
equally we'll.
In all directions are fine old planta-
ton houses, with their picturesque
pent roofs and dormer windows blink
ing grayly under the avenues of cedar
and oak, and about these country
homes are grassy orchards and the
fields trailing away until they fall OFT
into the forest far away.
Nothing could be more charming than
to drive out into this %unspoiled country
where the broad level roads arc lined
by rose and Usage hedges, or fences,
where red birds firt in the dog rose
vines and the lowing kline stand knee
deep in tho whitaaf0sted fields of clover.
Sometimes one may see on the porch
of such a place, or summing himself IN
his orchard, an old man smoking his
pipe. Not o decrepit, sad old man, but
asturdy, manly old gentleman-bronze
Of skin, with snow.white hair-a patrl-
arch known far and wide, and who has
all those lovable, loyal, honorable traits
that distinguish the southern gentle
man, not only of the old but the new
school as we'll.
But as for Opelousas itself. 1t is a
town to be put in a picture, with It's
great wide streets, its almost endless
avenues of oaks, its fine old red church,
its sunny old convent buildings, its
orchards of fig trees and little planta-
tions, of banana trees, its charming
homes and roses, and its stately stone
courthouse in the middle OF the town
square. This square is set out with
large trees, and being right in the
heart of the town with homes and
stores and small shops all about remind
one of some old continental city, sud
denly imbued with unusual thrift, life
and enterprise.
Every place is neat and smiling the
streets are clean nothing of age, save
that which is beautiful, and no decay
are visible. Well ordered thrift cand
prosperity are everywhere in evidence.
With an abundance of educational ad-
vantages, good churches and an excep-
tionalIy refined society, the immIgra-
ton document that this place can put
forth should attract the best and most
desirable settlers in search OF new
homes in u good country.
The event of the week of course has
been the press convention. The cltl-
zens entertained with that royal, open
handed hospitality that offers not only
the best one has, but all, aud it was Il
hospitality that finds expression III
thoughtful acts, in genial words, and
which is in it's most perfect flower un
der the blue skies of the southern
states. About seventy guests were en-
!, tertained, each prominent citizen keep
ing open house. 1t was a hospitality
, that greeted the stranger guest Mt the
, station, that drove him home behins
spanking horses and dined and winet
! him and entertained him in the mos
elegant and sumptuous fashion. 1t be
Gan with coffee daintily served at one
:, bedside in the morning, and it ende'
with the hearty hand-grasp and goo'
k night after the midnight supper whel
+ the convention meeting would be over
q 1t was a welcome written in roses AM
set to the music of young girl voice
and v%iolins, and every compliment an
honor that kind hearts and q refine
# taste could suggest was rendered tn
d visiting newspaper,folk.
a The press meetings were held in til
# courthouse, which was DECORATED wit
potted plants, Gerns, palms end bloom
If ing lilies. Prof. Mayer, one9f the hes
II orchestral leaders and musicians nch
It south, had charge Of the music, and a
If each session both day and night, CAV
T. a concert of classical music that cel
d tainly could not have been excelled i
lr New Orleans. His chorus was CON
posed of young ladies and ne had ais
e a fine brass band and striDged instrr
~ ments as we'll. The parish folk frel
= Washington and all the s%urroundin
It plantations and the Opelousas poop
N attended every meeting distinguish
10 statesmen and lawyers and other prt
d fessional men listened to the addresse
8, and when each speaker had finishe
l. there was sure to be some n to sen
1t up a lovely bunch of flowers arrange
with that unprofessional grace that
the despair Of professional florists, an
Re beside which the richest array OF WIZ
y stemmed orchids or royal "jacs" pa
TO in envy.
le Oh, how pretty is this simple, una
Dr. fected way ofgiving flowers. Opelous'
ar with it's big and roomy houses,
Is many shade trees and lovely lawns al
id shady porches hung with vines, is iii
some pleasing water color picture 8
q. in a frame of roses. There are ros'
everywhere, and l can fancy brow
Is eyed winsome young ladies going dow
into their gardens and gathering mo
Or roses and long slim FINGERED lemon
II, lies and blue spears of larkspur az
lis crimson tufts of verbena, and roy
lis purple petunias to fashion in q bouqu
of which they send off dewy and sWe
10 and with a little card tucked down
So the center to Somebody.
Dis With what genial grace did the han
a some president, General Leon Jastrel
90 ski, preside at those sessions. and ho
he pretty the young secretary, Miss Add
as McGrath, looked framed in her desk
e. ferns and jasmine vine, and how ell
c. auent were the men and how woman
be the women. Not long since in anoti
ls,Icity far from Opelousas and far from t
H. chivalric methods that here prevail,
n went to q Press Association meetIn
he It was all women, and it was in tnr
no dull, aggressive and defiant. Al G
ey candidate for the presidency of Z
d, United States made d speech and 9th
Ic. women from different states spoke al
fe. told how they had to flock oil by thel
ip selves and were not allowed to be mel
70, bers Of the masculine press assoei
es tons. So that to-day when | sat
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