The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-25
THE PRESS CONVENTION.
Louisiana Newspaper People at
Thiba daux.
FULL E
Addresses Of Welcome, Poems, Essays,
and Resolutions.

ayune and the New Orleans Tim~es-Democrat.
THrBoDAUx, La, May Is, 1SS9.-The
ninth annual session of the Louisiana Press
Association met here at $50 p. m to-day.
The train which left New Orleans at
11:25 this morning brought quite a number
of members from North louisiana and the
East bound train also brought a large con-
tingent from other parts of the State. The
proverbial hospitality of this thriving lit
tie city is sustained on this occasion, for
everyone with whom the members have
come in contact has been ansparing in
little courtesies and attentions.
Fireman's Hall, where the convention is
held, is handsomely decorated with flowers
and plants. The ladies of Thibodaux
grace the convention by their attendance,
and they have also actively attended to a
venience and comfort of visitors.
Among those who have taken great in
terest in maintaining Thibodaux's hospi-
tality, and who have materially assisted
the committee, are Mis-. Lambert, Mrs.
Curtis, Miss Binning and other charming
ladies.
charge of Hon. /. D. Moore, and he was
assisted throughout BY the above named
ladies. A splendid upright Emerson
piano, kindly loaned by Mr.. Junius Hart,
the music dealer Of New Orleans, sets in
front of the stage.
The committee of arrangements is COM
posed of about thirty citizens Of the parish,
who selected an executive committee OF
five, composed as follows: s. T. Grisa-
more, chairman /. d. Moore, f. w. Mich
OILS, H. N. Coulon and ]. L.. Aucoln. Too
much praise cannot be given the commit
tee. especially the indefatigable chairman,
for their zeal and energy in arranging all
the details necessary. The members of
this committee met the trains at Schriever,
furnished visitors with cards to their re-
spective places of entertainment, then came
to Thibodaux, where carriages awaited the
guests. Numbers of ladies and gentlemen
were at the depot, and when the train ar
rived the band struck up a lively air, and
there was a general waving of handker-
chiefs and hats.
So perfect were the arrangements that
the visitors were soon comfortably quar-
tered in the hotels and at private houses.
The executive committee was ably assisted
by DR.. John Gazzo. T. Roger, OscaJ LIE
pine, L. lei. Calfiouet and f. Samoan.
Arrangements had been made for an
excursion forty miles down the bayou on
the steamer Lafourch for next Wednesday,
but the bayou being too low for her to
come in, the steamer Alice Leblanc, a
lighter draught vessel, will take the visi-
tors q short distance down the bayou, where
the day will be spent in a picnic.
The afternoon was spent by the visitors
strolling around town, taking in the sights
and forming the acquaintance of citizens.
The clock in the town hall, which the
committee claims strikes the hours of de-
and night in ten languages, was an object
of great curiosity. Even the jail was
viewed from the outside VIII great inter
est, and the general impression of Thiho-
daux upon the minds of the visitors is
certainly q favorable
The proceedings this evening opened
with music, and the programme included
a number of fine vocal selections, rendered
by q chorus of twelve or fifteen voices,
conducted by Prof. Chol. The large hall
was crowded with visitors and citizens,
who listened attentlvely to addresses Of
welcome by J. L. Aucoin, mayor of Thibo-
daux, and s. r. Grissamore, president Of
the police jury.
The mayor spoke as follows
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press Con-
vention-It is my pleasing duty a chief
magistrate of ThiEodaux TO extend to you
d welcome TO our walls. We deeply ap-
preciste the compliment involved in the
selection of our town as your place of
meeting, and we realize the many and
great advantages to be derived from the
presence in our midst of so influential q
body as the Press Convention OF the State
of Louisiana. We recognize the tremen-
dOus power for good of the pen Gben
welded by an editor of correct principles
and by one who is thoroughly conscien-
tious in his noble avoeation. We know
that upon us devolves the duty of enter
tanning you with genuine Southern hospi-
tally, and that the gsod impression which
we hope to make on you will depend upon
our efforts to please. Preparations have
been made to render your stay with VI as
pleasant as possible, and from what /
know of the warmshearted and liberal
character of our people, / am safe in prom
Using yon every attentid4 to your comfort
sire TO please can dictadyto a people. You
will find in Thibodaux no ruins associated
with memories of heroic deeds, no grand
and imposing structures, but you will see
neat and trim garden spots with every
variety of flower and shrub in bloom j on
will find q system of sidewalks second to
none in the State, perfect cleanliness in
thu streets and in the cutters, a church
which will compare i~avorably with that
of any other country town in the South,
and above all you will become acquainted
with people who know how to dispense
hospitality to the stranger within the
gates. again bid you welcome and trust
that when the time comes for you to take
your departure, you will carry with you
none but the pleasantest impressions of
cur town, our section and our community.
Loud applause
MR.. GRIsAMoRE's ADDRESS
was then delivered, as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Louisiana
Press Association-The duty of extending
to you q welcome in behalf the citizens of
Lafourche parish il devolved upon me. 1t
Is q source Of much pleasure and some
thing unusual in the history of this parish
TO have assembled within its boundaries
such an able and talented representation
coming from all parts Of Louisiana, and
the people whom / represent on this occa
sion ere gratiied that an opportunity is
given them TO extend to you the right
hand Of friendship. and to greet you as
fallow-citizens of one great State. II will
afford thempleasure to exhibit to you some
of the natural beauties, the vast resources,
great capabilities and the outward evil
dences Of prosperity that the parish of
Lafourche possesses. They viii be pleased
70 form your acquaintance and to receive
from you valuable information concern.
ing those pats Of our State that Won
severally represent.