St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

linton Mem Fra F.: c.. M. Mccormick, Lake
Charles Commercial; J. w. Carew, Teche
Pilot.
Second Days Proceedings.
TH1BODAUx, La, May IA This the
second day of the Louisiana Press Conven-
ton, was opened at $50 a. m. by Presl-
dent Jastremski calling the convention to
order.
THE ROLL OF MEMBERSHIP
was read, and the following applicants
were admitted
Il. J. Hearsey, New Orleans States =.
M. Goode, Thibodaux Sentinel; Jonn b.
Taylor, Lafourche Comet; .. facque,
Thibodaux sentinel; L, P. Bauby, New
Orleans Progress J. E. Rivoire, fTaIco
Louisiana; A. It. Naquin, Lafourche CON-
ct; J. S. Boatner, Monroe Butlettn y. u.
Mccormick, Alexandria 7opn IdtE; ID. y.
Tanner, Bunkie Blade; l.. w. stovall'
Franklin Neao Era; L. S. Scott, welsh
Crescent VIM. Cary, Jennings Rep'rter
M G. Hewes, Pointe Coupee Banner L. +
Davis, New Orleans Picayune j.: N.
Gourdain, St. James Courier; l.: Ever
cit, Lake Charles american Norman
Walker, New Orleans Times Denaocr4t
H. H. Carver, Lafourche Comet john
Dymond, Louisiana Planter; r. IT,
Lewis, New Orleans ltntaan0, Amaerscos0 );
Mrs. Sallie E. Jastremski, Louasean0
Reuieao; w. F. Milsap, Ouachlta leIe
graph. j..
The applications of Thos Mcintyre, of
New Orleans, and II. N. Sandcz, OF ope-
lousas, were rejected, as the applicants
are not eligible under the constitution.
The discussion ''The Best Plan For
Procuring Steady and Healthy
GROWTH OF IMMIGRATION
into Louisiana was entered into.
At the request of the convention, Mr..
John Dymond offered suggestions for the
accomplishment of immigration. he
drew a vivid picture of the scenes recently
enacted in Oklahoma, where 90, 600 home
seekers were scrambling for fertile lands,
and in substance said that in his travels
through the West, he found that univer-
sal attention had been attracted to that
section. The people believed that it was
the promised land, and had taught it to
their children. The press is constantly
proclaiming it. What is wanted is for the
Southern press and the Southern people
to do the same thing by their country.
This, he said, is the best country in the
world and we want to make the world
understand it.
Other members spoke upon the subject
Several showed what had already been
done in their respective sections by immi-
grafton which had been induced by the
local press and private enterprise.
Captain McGrath, of Baton Rouge, and
Capt BRYAN, of Lake Charles. made
interesting addresses, showing the devel-
opment that had taken place in their
respective parts of the State.
HRS. NJ. LOUISE GARNER,
of the (Lake Providence) Carroll Banner,
read an essay on the 'tInfuence of Woman
on Literature.
The mental vision, she said, ranges SO
far afield at the mention of subject so
outreaching, that outlines only must now
suffice US. Ghostly figures of almost obso-
lete authors rise out of purple distances
and appear as receding ripples of that
subtle essence we call influence, in its
bearing on modern thought and sentiment.
Successful writer's are those who have
felt the pulse of their generation and sung
in harmony with, it's beatings.
Marie Edgeworth, with her simple tales
of virtue suited to boarding school misses,
was as much the product of her day as
George 711ot and Mrs. Humphry Ward
of our own. The time was when it was
not considered so fine thing to write as
now. A modicum of reserve and desire
for appreciation has always chung to our
sex, and in proportion as it was possessed
did the shrinking horror of that genus
femme, ''blue stocking" prevail. En-
lightenment has brought it's calcium radi-
ance upon this, as upon many other pref
udices, which once numbered that mighty
censor-Public Opinion.
There is scarce one of US who pur-
sues the very respectable occupation of
writing for newspapers who would not
bear up under the opprobrium of 90 blue
stocking for the sake of the wizard
power of George Eliot or Charlotte Bronte.
But this bespsctacled ogre no longer
frightens timid votaries of either Minerva
or the muses.. Old IDEAS like the goblin
stories which chilled the small boy into
ubjection, have lost theisp virtue and
become submerged in the exigencies of
time and circumstances.
A prime minister of England once said
that woman should appear on the plat
form but once in lifetime, and that was
when she was about to be hung. He was
doubtless applauded for his remark. Yet
in the face of it we lady editors, by invi-
tation of our confreTes, are here addressing
this honorable body. Though it comes
upon us as a kind of annual execution,
our audience seems to enjoy the spectacle,
and we would die many times daily fol
the pride that is in US for the profess ion.
Truly we have come to the realization
of the prophecy of Victor Hugo that the
nineteenth century
Is wOMAN's CENTURY,
and it's greatest discovery has been
woman's approach to consciousness OF
her own powers. George Eliot, Harriet
Beecher Stowe and Mrs. Humphrey Ward
have been the three literary Titans of the
age. 1t is our purpose in brief to inquire
if they have used their God given oppor.
tunities in such manner as to make us
proud that they were women. That Mrs.
Stowe was largely instrumental in break
ing up system and melting nation tc
civil war is an incident too fraugh1
with consequences and passion fol
us to discuss. The lesson of George
Eliot's life gives us precepts of sin
gleness of purpose in literary work
her genius is shown in nothing sc
much as the manner in which she has left
her own dwarfed moral nature out of hel
works. Nothing distressed her more thar
the restless longing of womankind to bc
up and doing. That their aim was tc
accomplish noble ends in no way palliated
for the attempt to do that for which they
were unqualified. She says: "No gooc
can come to women while each aims al
doing the highest kind of work which
ought to be held in sanctity, as only the
few can do we'll" She thought none
should write unless they felt vocation OF
call to it then. to do good work WAS the