The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1889-03-02
The huston Convention.

tuo otnef Two delegates 1nu ont what pleas
ant time we had. they will regret that they
did not go too. En- route Mr. Blackshear told
me that he had notified that princely banker
IN Shreveport Mr.. Jacobs, (wllose no BILE wife
is his c0usinj that he would call on them en-
pdsSant. When we arrived there fo und the
most magnificent mansion | have ever seen in
the South, or North either. And what was
still better, IN all my travels through the
world 1 had never met with family more
agreeably elegant, kind and hospitable, than
1 found amid it's enchanting splendors, and
there we were entertained in the most elegant
and Pheasant style from Saturday night until
Monday morning.
When the train pulled out from the depot
at Shreveport for Ruston in Lincoln parish
there were OIL board, Lieutenant Gov. Jeffries
Col. Moorman, President State Immigration
Association, the sprightly little shorthand
reporter, Miss Childress, Col. 5Breaux, State
Superintendent of Education, &c Shreveport
delegation. Mr.. Grosjean and Mrs. Rule
(Pansy) of the Times, Mr.. Hargrove, the po
lite reporter OF the Picayune, and good many
other ladies and gentlemen, and brass band
also. AS we swept swiftly along the hilly
country of North Louisiana, our Gro wd con
tinued to swell at each of the numerous de-
pots, towns that have sprung up like magic
along the ", s. s. t. II. r., and as we neared
the mbitious little city of Ruston, 'ghich Co
lossss like strides two hills, we discovered a
profusion of bunting streaming from every
thing that could hold it up and waving a
hearty welcome to us, and when We came to
a stop at the depot with which the Il. r. Go
hnmlliates the tasteful town. we foud the
intelligent, hospitable and generous citizens
massed there waiting TO receive us, with open
arms, and press us to warm hearts. While
the baud was playing we were escorted up to
a large room, over the front of which was in
scfibed i'll large letters Headquarters of Del
egates' where were in readiness clerks with
registers to enroll our names and youths uni
formed in Confederate Gray waiting to con
duet ms to our respective " homes" to which
we had been assigned among the kind and
hospitable private families, where the latch
string didn't only hang outside, but the door
just stood wide open all the time, for us to en-
ter and enjoy sumptuons hospitality.
A few minutes after Mr.. Blacksheay aud
had been ushered into our parlor at Mr.
Lewis, one among the best men in one of the
best towns in North Louisiana, his excellent
lady Mr.. l.. being busiy occupied at his
thriving storel came in and said "nOW we
want you to feel like you are at home" We
assured her that We did, for We did, as
soon as the cheerful light of her benign
face shone upon us, and our stay there salts
lied us that the committee had honored St
Landry parish by placing her delegates in
the home of such family, and we enjoyed
their liberal and pleasant hospitality as well
as We appreciated it highly.
At II IN. on the 18th Lieut.-Gov. JeHries
with short but handsome speech opened the
Convention, which Col. Mooreman then turn
ed over to the delegates. The Rev. Mr.. Faun
tleroy offAred a0rost eloquent and approprl
ate prayer; and then the Convention proceed
ed dir6stly to its business, which was con
eancted in the most harmonious and pleasant
manner l had always thought that st. Ian
dry was bY far the best parish in the State,
and thinkJyet it + decidedly so, and, as each
ala ia at
and set forth In glowing terms the great, and
heretofore not suffciently-knoWn merits OF
his particular parish, concluded that the
State OF Louisiana must be emphatlealIy the
Excelsior of the U. S. Each delegate, true tt
his allegiance, robed his own parish IN suct
rich and attractive beauty that, Judge Barks
dale, tof Lineoln) who presided over the Con
venton in the most suave and satisfactory
manner, seemed or pretended rather, to be
come little Jealous in his loyalty to his par
ish, and would frequently remark on intro
dueing a delegate to the audience, that ut
would turn him loose to speak the praises o1
his own parish in the stongest and most cap
tiVating terms he could command; but he
must not say his parish was better than I'm
cotst. But the delegate, who spoke for Cial
borne parish, rather turned the Judge down
He reminded the audience that Lincoln ant
several other parishes once belonged to Cla1
borne. but she had given them away at differ
by exclaiming land who ever heard OF an.
body giving away the best they hads Clal
borne had only given away her inferior terri
tory and kept the best for, herself. ..s.,
That brings to mind the case of our iittl
/ daughter Acadia set Oft down on the south
west corner of eur empire and you recOilee
that was "a sort of runaway match-the unsus
/ pecting little thing was gather stolen ava,
/ while we were asleep, and the proud lltti
4 bride has been fattered by SO many admirer
! from the northwest that, she, ike Lihcoin
! and more so ven, claims not only full snar
/ of attention, but rather monopoly. wei
/ We old folks ike 10 see our children doihs
4 well. But some OF those north. estern pee
4 pie have been so captieated by onr less attrat
4 tive daughter Acadia, what wonld be the iat
4 of the others If they were TO become acqualnll
!! ed with the other charming beauties fe'1eia
/ ing yet at home
had been booked to present the supelIo
1 claims and captivating charms OF ~, LahIIH
4 and being wholly unaccustomed 70 pupi,
/ speaking, / had written down much ~ ne :
praise. But unfortunately, / left home aul.
! unwell and continued SO throughout au
4 when the name of my parish was calico, ~. u
] dertook to read my address anyhow. Dae @
found that my voice Was so weak and loW
could rot reach one.feurth OF that. large ~ -
4 intelligent audience which had cheered u
call for the Empire Parish, showing that 81
:.
. not being wiilng3tO lower her in the least d.
pree by failing to read out her praises lou
enough Co be heard distinctly and fully By
urase1t, begged leave to submit my man
sefipt without reading it further-s But, Whe
B the large volume of valuable Information re-
dered In to the Ceny entione by the delegate
! from the different parishes De published an
distributed broadcast all over the countr
st. Landry will loom up and stand out in a
ftractiye beauty, and winpbng elegance, an
real merit, and substantial worth.
Besides the vast amount Of interesting an
valuable information contributed by the del
rates from the different parishes to the hist
rv and statistics of the State, tho bringing
gather of representative gentlemen from c
srv mart Of Louisiana aud other States,
form each Others acquaintance, and cnltiva
each others friendship, and exchange yle'
on various topics. is very enjoyable and II
portant. 1t makes US feel that the humi
family is, and ought to be, q great brothe
hood bonded together TO promote each othel
we'll being and happiness, and the genef
| GOOD Of the whole. Life becomes moro plea
, ant and the future prospects more cheerin
!, No man who eoops himself up within himse
and neither knows iler cares for others, c;
be happy. There is social principle implaf
ed in the human breast by cur kind Heaven
Father to draw us together IN delightfai !
tercourse for mutual enjoyment and prom
, ! tion Of each others good.
! Plaisance,s Feb. %, Sy. u. W. FOSTER
Prepare for the accidents and diseases
. stl,a Navr yaar Rny a hottie of DIR, Ticheno