The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-06
a ST. Landry Town.
Grand Coteau---Its Institutions of Learning
---- Splendid Agricultural Environ
ments---S Social Advantages and Health
fnl Locality.

and many advantages OF the charming ana
picturesque town Of Grand Coteau have not
been fully presented TO people of other states,
who are looking to southwestern Louisiana
for their future homes.
In point of general surroundings, beauty Of
scenery, fertility of SOIL healtbuand longevity
OF the inhabitants, and its famous educational
institutions, it stands without peer in south
western Louisiana.
Situated ten miles south of OpelOusas, on
the Morgan Branch Railroad, it sparkles as
a gem OF beauty in IL rich setting OF alternate
prairie verdure and woodland green. And
while nature has been lavish in her Vernal
adornments of this enchanting spot, her eli
terprisiug citizens have caught the lnsplra-
tion of the scene and added such structural
edifices rs to make it an earthly paradise for
homes and seats of learning. tlanked on
either side br>1bayous-ot pure and limped wa
ter, whose banks are fringed with majestic
oaks fragrant magnoias and a score of other
varieties of forest trees, produces the Illusion
in the distance of being embraced by noun
tains of emerald hue. Doubtless these exqul-
site environments led the Jesuit fathers to
| establish the St. Charles College at this point,
and which was incorporated by the legisla-
! ture as far ba,+r as 1852, and empowered TO
- confer university degrees OF master and bach
! eOr of arts.
| Grand Coteau College is built upon elevat-
ed. round, near slope which gives perfect
| natural drainage in the heaV lest treshets, and
| is noted as heing one of the healthiest sites OF
Louisiana. 1t is most easy OF access by the
/ Alexandria branch of the Morgans, Loulsl-
ana and Texas railroad, and by steamboats,
| running up to Barry's Landing and Washing
ton, La. There are two three-story buildings;
commOdious in every department and we'll
ventilated. The play grounds are shaded by
magnificeut alleys of oak trees, which afford
the students ample and we'll shaded grounds
for pleasant and active exercises An addl-
tiona advantage is procured Dy frequent
walking and bathing, there being a beautiful
avenue OF trees one mile III length, ieading TO
a country house situated on the high blum OF
a BAYOU of clear and pure water. Pupils OF
every religious denomination are admitted,
provided they be willing. for the sake OF or
der and uniformity to attend the exercises
of Catholic worship. The curriculum consists
of three principal courses-preparatory, clas-
steal and commercial. Music is ais" tho
roughly taught and the college has all excel
lent brass and string band. The system of
ed- !, tion is paternal, and the teachers Ell
deaVvr to unite kindness with hrmness' pre-
ferring to use persuasion than severity, with
a view to form the heart as we'll as the mind
in the management of the pupils. Their me
tbod is an excellent and efficient one in every
respect, and your correspondent was iorcioiy
struck by the happy faces OF the students as
we'll as by all of the admirable details aho
routine work of the institution.
There are at present lis pupils in The col
lege, taught by fourtean professors who, as a
faculty. cannot be passed in the state
Father w. j. Kenneth 5. j., has been the
president since last Oaaber. and under his
able administration the roll has steadily III
creased. with the promise OF unusual prosper
ity next year He is an educator OF dlstln
ruished ability, learning ansh experience. aht
5 served as president Of the Jesuit College II
New Orleans and Que or two other prominent
institutions for many years before 0eing AS
signed to the ST. Charles College. The othe
professors all of whom can speak English ntl
emily are able men with wide experience
as educators in conspicuous institutions O
learning i'll different portions OF the umtet
t States Therefore, altogether, the Grand 20
teau College stands III the front RANK Oh euu
cational institutions and is bound to prosper
and attract immigration to the country adJa
= cent to Grand Coteau.
En- passant your correspondent should no
= omit to mention the fact that the college i
entirely selt-sustainlng lt owns ana cnit'
!, Yates a splendid farm Of lUVO acres, Whos
Q broad expanse, variegated products and tho
rough cultivation entrance the eye OF the be
. holder. Nothing is bought but coffee AM
-four in the way of staple food. Browsing o.
Q rich pastures can be seen the finest cattle tha
i afford an ample supply OF succulent oeet , an
p the richest milk and butter. Here and ther
4 | noticed hogs of the finest proportions, and
a large amount of poultry is raised. The an
ple sranaries aud extensive stables bear ein
@ auent testimony to the care OF stock Every
: thing speaks perfect system ana generoi
abundance What more could be asked 10
!, the bodily comfort, the health and educa'Tp
d of boys and young men? And your CORE
q pondent disavows any exaggerated statemen
: of things.
4 About mile off.e5n u beautiful grove
oaks stands the commodlous three-stor
! Academy of the Sacred Heart, complete ]
IS every appointmee5, neat in every detail, an
q under tlL able management OF the Sisters I
- the Sacred Heart offers every facility for til
% instruction of girls and young LADIES'.
n This institution, founded in 1871 and lneo
s perated in 1852. combines IN It's plan, togetht
n with the benefit of Christian. every advan
. age for the acquisition of refined and soil
- education. An assiduous attention is give
l. to form the manners and principles OF u
Young ladies and to train them to habits
order, neatuess and industry.
Spacious grounds overshadowed by glal
oaks afford the pupils the facility OF pleasa'
walks Their health is the object OF constal
solicitude, and when impaired, the most ate
l. tionate care is bestowed towards its prom
he restoration. The recitation hall exhibits Pc
y. feet ventilation, ample light and desks tn
afford every facility for study and person
III comfort The infirmary is complete in its
D pointments toward health, and the museu
Mt is provided with I'm excellent collection
, minerals, shells and fossils. The dormito
- - is a model of neatness and ample in all u
70 requirements for pleasant and refreshi'
tS slnmber.
i'll These two splendid il stitutions OF learnll
ot make Grand Coteau par excenenee I
." ''Athens" of st. Landry parish If not OF Sout
VI western Louisiana.
Id we now come to the Catholic church ,whi
ts in architectural grandeur, ornate finish, sy
le bolieal religious embellishments gfana 1rgs
AZ magnificent altar and ehancel, and colosf
r. proportions make it the most imposing ehuf
lg edifiee doubtless that is seen outside OF NJ
e. Orleans. The erection of this magnlflce
d pile was labor of religious devotion ON t
part of the Jesuit fathers, and it will sta
o9 .,' as fitting monument to their gtesIIehi
i'll tiau zeal and lovDof the mother church.
H. The first church, wooden building, bu
- fifty wears ago, is now tottering with age; |
the affection for its ancestral recoilections
~, IA place of worship stays the hand which mis-
ii otherwise demolish it because of its lnhrin
and unsightiiness.
The adjacent cemetery is we'll kept, and
uo scriptions eau be- read on tombs dim from
lc- rayages of time, and recording deaths OF
Ts- half century ago.
ast Grand Cofeau is an incorporated town
- about 500 inhabitants, and the business
~ tod is confined principally to one stree
We Main In the aggregate quite large tri
es. ia carried ON, which is represented by TIVE
or fourteen stores, groceries, drug stores a
orc shoe shops. Besides these there are the us
Quota of blacksmith and wagon shops. Am'
lu the leading merchants are Messrs. jules
LIie tetin and Z. v Barry, both of whom ca
Mr.. full and heavy stocks. Then NJ d. LeFy,W
:. besides doing a good business in merchand
-. deals i'm buggies, wagons and the livery b
HISS ness. A. j. Smith, who is both merchant
en-, druggist l.. Manic, dealer in dry goods
ib- groceries; DIR. E. :. Barry, physician ana q
w gist Dr. T. T. Tarlton. prominent ph
w: Clan and planter; A. H. Castillo, postma
tof and merchant +. G.. Brinkhaus and II
ar Sanvald, first-class shoemakers and dea
wa in shoes and some others whose names