The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-25
Second Days Proceedings.

CnarlSS IOHt"eeTotHs, - We S"Ao"' @oSA0
Pilot.
Second Days Proceedings.
TH1BoDAUx, La, May 14.-This the
second day of the Louisiana Press Conven-
ton, was opened at $50 a. m. by Presi-
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; E.
M. Goode, Thibodaux Sentinel; John B.
Taylor, Lafourche Comet; O.. Facque,
Thibodaux tentinel; L, P. Bauby. New
Orleans Progress; j. E. Rivoire, Franco
Louisiana: A. T. Naquin, Lafourche Com
ct ]. S Boatner, Monroe Bulletin E. II.
Mccormick, Alexandria I0wn 1alk H. o.
Tanner, Bunkie Blade L. w. Stovall,
Franklin NeW Era; L.. s. Scott. Welsh
Crescent; VIM. Cary, Jennings Reporter
M. G. Rewes, Pointe Coupee Banner T. E
Davis. New Orleans P6oywne; ]. N.
Gourdain, St3James Courier; q. L. Ever
EFT, Lake Charles american; Norman
Walker. New Orleans Times Democrat /;
H. q. Carver, Lafou1che Comet John
Dymond. Louisiana Planter; P. H.
Lewis, New Orleans HatSano,A americana ;
Mrs. Sallie E. J~astremski, Louisiana
ReOieU; w. F. Milsap, Ouachita Isle-
graph.
The applications of Tbos. Mcintyre, of
New Orleans, and Fl. N. Sandoz, of Ope-
~lousas, were rejected, as the applicants
are not eligible under the constitution.
The discussion "1Ae Best Plan Fol
Procuring a Steady and Healthy
GROWTH OF IMMIGRATION
into Louisiana" was entered into.
At the request Of the convention, Mi.
John Dymond offered suggestions for the
accomplishment of immigration. He.
drew a vivid picture of the scenes recently
enacted in Oklahoma, where 80, 900 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
proclaimiDg 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 1t.
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.
MRS. NJ. LOUISE GARNER, <sn7
of the (Lake Providence) Carroll Banner,
read an essay on the Influence of Woman
on Literature"
The mental vision, she said, ranges so
far aield at the mention of a 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 recssding ripples of that
subtle essence We call influence, in its
bearing on modern bought and sentiment.
Successful writer's are those who have
felt the pulse of their generation and sung
in harmony with its beatings.
Marie EdgS~orth, with her simple tales
of virtue suited to boarding school misses,
was as much the product of her day as
George Eliot and Mrs. Humphry Ward
of our own. The time was when it was
mot considered so fine a thing to write as
now. A modicum of reserve and desire
for appreciation has always chung to our
seq, and in proportion as it was possessed
did the shrinking horror of that genus
femme, g 'blue stocking" prevail. En-
~Iightenment has brought its calcium radi-
ance upon this, as upon many other pref
udices, which once numbered that mighty
censor-Pablic 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 I" blue
stocking " for the sake of the wizard
power of George Eliot or Charlotte Bronte.
But this bespectacled ogre no longer
frightens timid yotsries of either Minerva
or the muses.. Old ideas, like the goblin
stories which chilled the small boy into
subsection, have lost their virtue and
become submerged in the e~xigencies of
slime and circumstances.
A prime minister of England once said
that q wousn should appear on the plat
form but once In a lifSfime. 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 confreres, are here addressing
this honorable body. Though it
upon us as . kind of annual execution,
our audience seems to enjoy the spectacle,
and we would die many times daily for
the pride that is in us for the profes. ion.
Truly we have come to the realization
of the prophecy of Victor Hugo that the
ninete enth century
is woMANs CENTURY,
and its greatest discovery has been
womans approach to q 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 q manner as to make us
proud that they were women. That Mrs.
Stowe was largely instrumental in break.
ing up q system and melting a nation to
civil war is In incident too fraught
with Consequences and passion for
MS to discuss. The lesson of George
Eliot's life gives us precepts of sim
gleness of purpose In literary work;
her genius is shown in nothing so
much as the manner in which she has left
her own dwarfed moral nature out of her
works. Nothing distressed her more than
the restless longing of womankind to be
up and doing. That their aim was to
accomplish noble ends in no way palliated
of9he attempt to do that for which they
were unqualified. Shs says: "No good
can come to women while each aims at
doing the highest kind Of work which
ought to be held in sanctity. IS only the