St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1890-11-29

so that he succumbed to the last sick
ness. He had an excellent constitu-
ton, and but for the suffering caused
by the loss of his leg, he would no
doubt have lived to very old age.
| He is now at rest, or if he lives in
| the hereafter the suffering Of the flesh
| has been left behind.
Posters announced that female Minis
trels were to perform here at Perrodln's
hall last Tuesday night. The posters
did not detail the wonderful acts that
were to be performed. But rumor
supplied the details. Females and
male children were not to be admitted.
A performance or show by females and
no females to be allowed to see it,
caused great deal of suppressed ex-
citement among the male element, es-
pecially among the bald heads and
gray heads. Boys from ten years up
and even younger, contended they
were not children, and therefore could
not be excluded. For that matter it
has been patent here for long time
to observant people, that there are no
| more children )" they are thing OF
the long ago young-ones are now born
grown. However, females and children
| were not excluded by the terms of the
| posters, but rumor said SO. Such a
rumor meant that the performance
was going to be erich" one. A petit
ton to the town authorities, to pre-
| vent the performance, was circulated
and numerously signed by the ladies
of the town, but it did not stop the
procession" It added fuel to the
flame. Some OF the old ones who re-
side out of town and always go home
before dark, for the sake of their
health, for fear of taking cold these
chilly evenings and having the "grip, y
or "epizootic, Or pneumonia and maybe
be hurried off to that bourne whence
no traveller returns" fingered in town
on this afternoon until the shades OF
night concealed them and then wen-
ded their tottering way to the rendez-
vous. The days are now really very
short, but that was a long day to the
expectant ones. They we're feverish,
anxious, and impatient to see what
rumor had promised them for the
bills had said nothing. The bolder
Young generation filled the hall first ];
| they did not care what goody-good
people said, and they got there ir q
hurry to be sure to take it all in. The
old fellows went later, so as to conceal
themselves in the crowd. A bystander
says when they. reached the steps, fear
ing that they were not in time to see
the opening piece, which might be the
best, they did not ascend the steps in
quiet and dignifed manner as be-
comes age, but that they just "fell" up
the steps in their scramble to get In.
But if they thought they were going
to creep in quietly after they got up
there, and see without being seen, they
counted without there host /; for the
| "boys" were already on hand in large
force, and this accession made them
feel like they were in very respectable
company, and each arrival was greeted
with cheers and yells that were enough
| to lift the roof. An outside listener
says the piano music was very good,
| but the singing execrable. 1t is said
that the E'talk" and sights" of the
| performance, while not nearly so In
decent as rumor had promised, We're
merely the blackguardism and inn
modesty that are frequently heard and
seen in eircuses and other shows. The
house was crowded with males, from
the town crop of boys of twelve and
fourteen On up to hoary age. There
was good sprinkling of white heads
and baldheads. The very respectable
element, as this world goes, was there
in its proper force. But there was
ldisappointment. Dame Rumor had
lied. She had not only told actual
lies, but had inspired the imagination
| with the eye of faith to paint certain
| pictures behind the curtain on that
| dramatic stage, and when the curtain
was raised, these imaginary pictures
did not materialize. One dollar head
and a crowded house for blackguard
show; and Opelousas has no public
schoolhouse.
| Thursday, thanksgiving day, was OBJ
served here by the closing Of public Of
fees, public schools. and the hold
| ing of services in the churches. The
interior of one church was beautifully
decorated with a profusion Of all the
available fruits of the earth, that are
good to be eaten without being cooked.
Such a sight is pleasant to the eye, es-
pecially to the eyes of the owners of the