St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-20
The Press at Natchitoohes.

OLHle Ecss GEsuCidtiou ut ~ toiNhAeo~hCo
on the Sth, 9th and 10th of May was
highly pleasing to those who we're 80 for
tunate "a to attend.
The Courthouse, where the first and
last sessions were held, was elaborately
decorated with flowers. flags and bunt-
ing, and on the walls were the notices
in gilt letters: National Educator, the
Press" knowledge is Powcr,H "The
People must be E,lucated-Tbe People
Rule" and "The Pen is Mightier than
the Sword The Natcllitoches Brass
Band furnished delightful music ut each
session and every night these same in
defatigable artists regaled large assem-
blases with a concord of sweet music
sounds on two occasions literally dis
pensug some splendid dance music at
the spacious and elegant hall of the Co.
mus Club, whose members, as we'll as
those of the 13 Climb, were untirlng in
their attention to the visitors.
The Association was welcomed to the
old town by Mr.. d. c. Scarborough, Of
the local bar, in most hearty manner
and he was felicitously responded to by
Mr.. L. L. Bentley, of the Donaldson
Vile Chief, iu behalf Of the President
and members. Then Mrs. NJ. r. Field
(Catharine Cole) read her latest chef
d'eurre," ,"Old Europe and New America
a remarkable essay which the people OF
Natchitoches insisted upon her reading
q second time three days afterwards,
aud which the New Orleans picayune
will doubtless soon lay before its read
ers. Mrs. Addie McGrath Lee (ViviaD)
also read an original poem, Pen and
Ink" in which tardy justice was done to
the last named member of this old firm,
and which made SO decided hit that
it's repetition was insisted upon the next
day. Both these gifted ladies, who are
as unpretentious as they are taleuted,
almost always attend the reunions OF
the press people and invariably make
an appreciated contribution TO the ILL.,
tellectual feast spread before them on
such occasions. Aud the Association is
not ungratetul to the sex, for the ladies
captured, or, more properly speaking,
had thrust upon them, three of the four
principal offices in it's gift-tLe two vice
presidents aud the secretary and treas
urer-and had it not been for Gen. Me-
Grath's good looks, his smile so child
like and bland, his talent az racon-
teur Of war stories aud his ability to sit
down on "Brer' Gilmore, one of them
would have doubtless beeu compelled
to accept the presidency.
At this session seyeral ladies and gen
tlemen were proposed for active men,
berssip and Miss Addie NJ. Humble, of
Washington, was proposed as an honor
ary member. They were all accepted
the next day. Miss Humble is one of
the DEMOCRATS most talented contrib
utors, and is destined to make her mark
in the literary world.
The next session was held Oh the fol-
lowing day at the State Normal School,
" hen Gen. Jastremski read an excellent
paper on "The Editor" Col. d. +,
Boyd read q fine paper on 1.-The News
paper as an Aid to Education NJ" Gen.
Cosgreve, Col. Jones and Judge Hicks
cracked few jokes the committee on
resolutions reported, and the business
features which were to be engrafted up
1n the Associations plan Of work grace
fully faded from view. A thorough in
spection Of the improved modes Of
!eachipg employed at this noble educa-
sional institution having been
made by the editors, and its needs
md shortcomings having been brought
10 their attention, the following resolu
ions, offered by Col. Jones, were unaui-
nously adopted:
Resolved, That the most conspicuous feature
with our visit TO Eatchiteches and
)ur association with its people and acquaiEt- |
ince with its enterprises and institutions has
,een the wonderful disclosures in relation to
he great State Normal College located here
lton of it's opportunities, the grand results it is
and its pressing needs. We as
certain, with great pleasure and satisfectou
;itzen z Of Natchitoches an and surrounding coun
ry, one of the first and most important ele |
nents Of success. We find il presided over by
Christian gentleman aud scholar who main |
aims with ability and dignity thoroughly mod:
,rn and approved methods of instruction, and |
most admirable and perfect discipline i'll |
very detail OF its management in the class
'oom and dormitOry. and during the hours Of |
'ecreation. We find him assisted by corps Of |
killed and accomplished ladies and gentlemen |
u every branch and department Indeed, we !
ind 1t operating with as much smOothncss, as |
S2fiEtaCtiNn
,ther State institution. We recognize in it no |
ocal institution but Il great state college. i'll !
which our people are all alike interested and to |
which they should pledge their unqualified |
Resolved, That upon a single point we lind |
ust cause for serious complaint, and this is in |
10 wise connected with its management or |
hose connected with it; During The session lot OF
,een occupied, and indeed the institution has |
'een crowded to its fullest limit by pupils from
III sections Of the state: more still, we find the
lormitories lily suited for the habitation Of the
,irls of our state and totally inadequate and in
ut1cient for the required purposes. 1t is scarce
y less than disgrace TO our state that better |
Resolve further, That We pledged ourselves to |
lse every effort to secure such state appropria- |
ions rs will enable 1t to continue to grow and |
,nlarge in lts numbers and Its capacity for ef. |
ieient work, believing, as We do, that in no |
expenditure Of public funds more good can be |
more wisely or prohtably made. We find, fur |
her, that its boarding department, the peren. |
liai source Of anguish and distress in All simi-
ar COLLEGES under the management OF Mrs. A. |
.. Donoh0, its matroD, conducted with marked |
kill, performing, as she does, the almost i'm.
possible feat OF giving thorough satisfaction to |
boarding school. |
After adjournment the visitors took |
he train for Grand Ecore, four miles off, |
ID Red river, where Fort DeRussey |
n 4 e. lbasx \ h. a E.