The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1888-05-19
st. Landry Parish and the Louis
ana Press Association.
Pointe Coupee Banner.

May the lSt haNlbS Uceh CHOSEN rs
the day, and Opelousas as the place, for
the annual meeting of the Louisiana
Press Association for the year 1888,
there was u large number of the frater-
nifty promptly on hand. A few from
the Red River section came direct by
rail from their respective parishes to
Opelo4sas, but large majority Of the
members of the Association met in New
Orleans and went out by the Morgan
or Southern Pacific Railroad. of this
number the editor of the Banner was
one and he had most delightful trip.
Crossing the river in the morning in
the commodious Morgan ferry, he found
that the delegation was not composed
solely of gentlemen, and that we were
to have the pleasure of the company of
Mrs. Nicholson, Pearl Rivers of the
Picayune Mrs. M. r. Field, Catherine
Cole - Miss Addie McGrath, Vivian,
of the Baton Rouge Truth j; Mrs. Bent
ley, of the Donaldsonville Chief, and
Mrs. Julia Rule, 'Pansy, of the Shreve-
port Times-all of them ladies whose
spirituelle pens have rendered them IA
nous in the world Of letters, andr who
have demonstrated the fact that the
field of journalism is one we'll fitted for
the exercise of female talent, aud that
woman by engaging 10 journalism loses
none of the natural grace and gentle
ness of her sex, but on the contrary
contributes largely towards the eleva-
tion of the moral tone of the Press.
Besides the ladies mentioned above,
there were several others in the party,
who, though less known to the world.
are lust as earnest workers OF the craft,
as, for instance, Miss Matte Mc5rath,
who is thoroughly versed in all the de-
tails of the mechanical workings OF the
printing Office, and can put a master
hand to anything, from the writing of
an editorial OF the correcting of proof
down to the setting of the type Or the
making up of form.
When New Iberia was reached, a
committee of citizens from Opelousas,
headed by Mr.. Sandoz of the Courier,
came aboard and presented to each
member of the Association a handsome
badge, together with t'carte de loge-
ment," introducing the bearer to some
hospitatle hohe in glorious old Opel
ousas.,
@ At Lafayette, one of the prettiest lit
tie towns in tue Attakapas country, a
half hour was tskcn for dinner, and
then the rrneFwas resumed, the route
taking us through the battle field OF Bog
gy Bayou and past the classic shades of
Grand Coteau, where the tall magnolia
rears its proud head and dispenses its
aromatic sweets over the far stretching
prairies, stimulating many dark-eyed
maid after recitiDg her evening Ave
Maria, and laying her glossy locks upon
downy pillow, to dream beautiful pic
lures of future filed with wealth oi
love.
The station at Opelousas came in
view just before the setting of the sun,
and there we were received with music
and the warm greetings of hundreds ol
ladies and gentlemen, the best citizens
of Opelousas, who desired to testify
their appreciation for the assembled re,
presentatives of a calling which has
done so much for the cause of elvlliza'
ton and the material prosperity of the
State.
| After general exchange OF greetings
/ the members of the Association were
taken charge of by the OpeDnsas re
ception committee and in carriages were
driven to the respective homes OF those
who had been chosen as the specla
hosts of each member. The early por
| ton of the evening was passed in view
ing the town, getting introductions ans
renewing old aeqnaintances.
The next morning most of the mem
bers were treated to delightful drive
into the surrounding country, and thi
was repeated in the afternoon and th'
following morning, thus furnishing th
means of observing the advantages ant
possibilities of the rich lands OF 81
Landry parish, which compasses with
in its boundaries vast prairies, exten
siye rolling lands, both dotted here ant
there with stretches of forest, and pos
sessing fair supply of water; immens
tracts of hllIy or broken lands wei
timbered, and thousands upon thou
sands of acres of heavy alluyial lands
and all of them-prairie, rolling land
broken land and bottom land-suscept
IDle of being put in highest state of cul
tivation and capable of yielding a ric
return for mans industry grea
/ farming and stock raising country
i which would be looked on as perfee
paradise by immigrants from the blea
i and blizzard stricken plains of th
West.
|. The meetings of the Press Associa
. ton were held in the court room OF th
splendid new Courthouse which hs
been but recently completed. Here ttl
ladies of 0pelousas and vicinity ha
given ample proof, not only OF their az
preciation of the Press, but also of the
. exquisite taste and skill in floral dect
ration. The Judges stand, which WI
occupied by our president and vice
presidents. was covered with evergreen
thiekly set with flowers of a thousan
hues and handred varieties amor
which the queenly lily and blushir
rose stood prominent in harmonious T
!. yalry. The Clerks desk, occupied |
our secretary, looked like some anciei
1 gfotto of mythology, emhowered as
J was in ivy and jasmine and fern, al
: delicately perfnmed by the incompar
bic beliotrope, and seated there, the ia
Vivian seemed Nymph, indeed. su
pended from the ceiling, just in front
the clerks desk, was an immense hoT
{ hell. the flowers being most deft
J. worked into frame of moses 81
evergreen, pare white lily formll
: fha clapner. On either side OF t
soa,,rt room within file Bar, stood ii
7 mesnse 6taqeres covered with proflsl