The Opelousas courier., 1888-12-15
The National Editorial Associa-
tion at San Antonio.


pursuant to a resolution adopted al
Denver in September, 1887. twas the
most interesting and successful as well
as the most numerously attended meet
ing of that body ever held, no less thar
us delegates, including ladies, repre-
senting twenty one States and Terrific
ries> being in attendance. Louisiana
was represented by Capt. John Nc
Grath and Col. T. Sambola Jones, OF
the Baton Rouge Advocate Miss Ad.
die McGfath (Vivian), of the Baton
Rouge Truth A. j. Lafargue, of the
Marksville Bulletin; j. Y Gilmore, OF
the Louisiana Sugar j. B. Will
kinson, Jr., of the N. O. City Item ;
John Mccormick, of the Lake Charles
Commercial; }. w. Carew, of the Jean
nerette Pilot A. r. Burkdoll, of the
| Crowley Signal; Miss Mary Spencer, OF
Baton Rouge; Miss Ada Sandoz, of Op-
elousas; and the writer.
When the Association was called to
ordei by President White, at 10 a. M,
about seventy-five delegates were pres
ent, including nearly all of those ftom
Louisiana. During tile day tie dele
cations from Michigan, Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kansas,
Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida
and Maryland arrived, and many of
these attended the afternoon and night
sessions of that day Morning, after
noon and night sessions were also held
on the following day and brief
morning session on Friday, when
Detroit, Mich. was selected as the
next place of meeting and the following
officers elected: L
t President, j. r. Belts of Arkansas ::
First Vice President, John Hicks of
! Wisconsin; Second Vice-P President, w
c. McClintock of Ohio; Third Vice
President, james B. Stanley of Ala
bama: Recording Secretary, VIM. Ken
nedy of Pennsylvania; Corresponding
Secretary, E. B. Fletcher of Illinois;
Treasurer, A H Low,ie of Hin ois
Some eighteen papers on various sub
jects of interest to Journalists were read,
among them poem by Mrs. E. j. Nj
cholson (Pearl Rivers), of the N. O.
Picaynne, which was read in strong,
clear,6pice Ivy Mr.. J Y. Gilmore and
very creditabe impromptu address
on "Sectionalism," by Mr.. A. j Lafar-
gnr, uho, in the absence of the gentle
man from Ge,pgia to whom the subject
bad been regetarIy assigned, was called
upon to discuss the theme from
Southern standpoint. Both his address
and that of Mr.. Maccabe, of Boston, on
the same subject, were highly com
mended as patriotic, broad minded and
altogether d prOpos.
The adjournment of the Association
shortly after noon on Friday left the
delegates free to accept the invitations
OF the San Antonio and Harmony Clubs
to visit their elegant rooms, the Fair
Association to visit the Fair, the Citi-
Zens' Committee to take a carriage
drive to Government Hill and San Pc
dro Springs and some of the many 9th
er conrtesies with which they were ov-
erwhelmed by the generous and whole
souIed people of the Alamo City. AS
10 the Alamo, the historic pile from
which San Antonio is proud to take its
s0briguet, it was within a stones throw
of our hotel and was the Mecca towards
which all steps had first been directed.
1t was built as "Mlssionn or church by
the Spaniards in 1920, but afterwards
hecame Il fort OF garrison for Spanish
and Mexican troops. 1t was tile scene
of several battles, the most memorable
of which was in 1886, during the war
for Texan independence, when Gen.
Santa; Anna, ut the head of Mexican
army of from ), 900 to 7 900, beseiged it,
and on the 9th of March of that year
carried it by starm againstits l75 brave
defenders. under Travis, Crockett and
Bowie, not one of whom. was spared-a
woman, a child and a servant alone
were left to tell the tale. Their bodies
were then mutilated and burned. A
few weeks later Santa Anna was routed
and captured ut San Jacinto, where the
cry Remember the Alamo ~ melted
The Texans TO fight like heroes and led
them on to victory.
San Antonio was founded in 1851 and
now contains abont 45,0 900 inhabitants,
having doubled its population in the
last two decades, aud made equal pro-
gress in that time in every line of i'm
Il has Ii fine system of wa
Ter works, street cars, electric lights,
eleven banks, six large hotels, building
and loan assoeiations. breweries, leo
factories, fonfrlries, aud other manufae-
-aring establishments, 1t is the lar
.est horse market in the world, and the
argest wool and lumber market in
Texas, ;ls well as the trade centre of
Tast territory, and has large and inn
.ortant trade with Mexico. 1t is pref
lily situated on both sides of the San
Antonio river, small, clear stream
which is spanned by numerous costly
ridges, has II large number of elegant,
modern public and private buildings,
md some of the gueerest, dreariest and
most desolate looking public squares OF
splazas" that can be we'll imagined
The Alamo Plaza, opposite the Alamo,
lie largest in the city, has not tree or
hrub or q sprig of grass upon il, and
is sole TaisoR d'etfe appears to be to af-
ord to the Mexican restdarateNrs field
n which to ply their vocations. There,
It nishtfall, they spread out their tn
lies, alongside of which they build
heir fires, which with their lanterns
md strange costumes and surroundings
make up weird and fantastic scene.
md dispense to their customers such
Iexican delicacies as tortillas, tamales,
nd chile con -cafne, washed down with
laescate and paIqu6. At the approach
if dawn, like the Arabs that they seem,
hey fold up their tables, extinguisli
heir lights and silently steal away, and
he aplazap resumes its wonted air OF
oneliness and desolaIion until the close