The Opelousas courier., 1896-03-28

of the convention and the few days allowed for
preparation there were not as many voting del.
egates present lis ilsual-last year we numbered
81, this year Is. The reports of work done III
the various districts were encouraging. Mrs.
Pharr's district again carries off the banner 1of
best work done and largest number new mem
bers acquired. State officers elected were
President. Mrs. M. r. Goodale.
Recording Secretary, Mrs. +. A. White.
Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. A. M. Fable.
Treasurer, Mrs. Lily Blanks.
Vice President, Mrs. ii. NJ. Pharr.
Miss Willard, Mrs. Smell. Miss Belle Kearney,
Mrs. Tomlinson and Miss Anna Gordon made a
galaxy of speakers worth going hundreds OF
miles to hear. Miss Kearney's speeches were
enthusiastically received, especially by the
gentlemen. Her arguments are deeper, her
versatility wider, her flow of language more
graceful and her sympathies more feeling with
each year. Mrs. Smell preached three able ser
mons to immense audiences. Oh! | tell YOU,
we We're proud of our Southern women! The
Methodist church doors were thrown wide open
to the Won't II and the ministers applauded ana
helped. Owing to delicate health Miss Willard
could not address us often; two or three snort
little talks and one magnificent lecture denver
ed Oh Sunday evening were all we could expect
from her. | wish | could depict to you exactly
this WOmanly woman; this woman VINO py
Gods grace and her own effort has a world
wide fame and has laid at her feet more heart
affection than any one person In the WOrlu
this woman who has been honOred by kings and
princes and yet preserves the sweet, unassum-
ing air of the perfect American gentleWoman.
AS SIG SlOOu tHC1t jill tUc DldlLOIH VI III Il"
Jones Tabernacle with that immense sea OF up
turned faces before her, l could not but think
o all the undevelOpei powers and resources
of the world, the power which lies in true wom-
anhOod is surely the greatest and the most un-
realized" On this beautiful Sabbath afternoon
her subject was Social Purity She paid trib-
ute after tribute to the American home; she
depicted the beauty of Truth, real Truth, not
the worlds standard she showed the horrors
of the double standard of morals, and all so
gracefully, so sweetly, so simply. in language so
choice that the most prudent could not be Of
Tended. She received perfect attention and sat
down having won every heart. How l WISH
every one of yOu could have heard her, and
when I tlink-Opelousas was entitled to it all
and would have ladlt-if only there had been
a few more workers! What an opportunity lost!
Doubtless some will ask: How did she looks
Well, her face is sweet, calm and serene, with
purity shining from every lineament; her feat
ures are straight and regular, her soft brown
hair ripples back from her face, giving her a
much younger appearance than one would ex-
pect from her pictures. She is rather large in
stature and well proportioned many remarked
the beauty and shapeliness of her hand; her
waist is by no means waspish, and tho l didn't
ask. I am certain it's g%n!ltless of corsets.
Miss Willard is travelling at her own expense;
money raised by collections, etc, goes toward
advancing the work in that State. She is Civ
ing the South a winters work. | could write
much more but am afraid ".ye editor won't
like so long q letter. W. had the honor to be
the first one in Monroe upon whom Miss Will
lard pinned a white bow. On Monday we fin
ished up the convention work and said goodbye,
each feeling glad she had been there and thank
full for the gracious hospitality accorded us in
this beautiful and growing young city on the
banks of the Ouachita. l must not fail to say
that Monroe is a dry town. On Monday at p.
m. we found ourselves In Vicksburg, with a
wait Of two nights and a day forour down river
boat. Another time I'll write You about our
visit to the beautiful National Cemetery, but
for the present-good-n night. r. X. S.