The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-06-05

when a reception would be given in honor
of the visitors.
The reception at night was we'll attended.
Quite a large number of ladies were present
and made the reception a delightful affair.
Frof. Trudeau spoke briefly and to the
point. He stated that Superintendent
Latiolais was absent on account of illness in
his family he acted in his stead. The pro-
fessor was followed by Hon. Chas. ID. CAT
fiery, who delivered an eloquent address of
welcome to the teachers. He said:
ttMr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
In the name of our local authorities and in
fact for all the people of this community,
extend to the teachers from the Normal
school and other teachers of the public
schools of this State, here assembled, most
cordial welcome.
''Your mission here is to hold a term of
school wherein teachers are taught the art
of teaching, and when we know this, we
ask to know no more; we say welcome,
thrice welcome! to our midst.
"The work in which you engaged is to
my mind the most important, ay! the most
vital to society and to the world of any
other but one in which civilized man is en-
gagged. and for that reason, if for no other,
we rejoice because of your coming.
s'You belong to the educational depart
ment of government; you are engaged in ed
ucational work, and there is calling that
ought more certainly to command the
gard of all other people. The work of
educating the young and the development
of plans having that end view, is an is
sue of worldwide and growing importance.
The agitation of that issue, and the discus
sion of ways and means to achieve success in
this broad field of labor, has achieved and
will continue to receive the attention of
thoughtful men everywhere, but especially
in these United States.
SIT may seem to some. stale and fiat, if
not Improbable, to argue the importance of
education at this time, but if there is one
thing above another that should combine
enthusiasm with steady, urrem;tting thought,
it is how shall the youth Of this land be
educated. 1t is a fact, however, most err
couraging to you and all Others engaged in
your calling, that the truth is spreading,
that the educated man will lead his unedu-
Gated brother in every walk Of lie, whether
it be the farmer blowing his fields or the
soldier fighting in the ranks.
'*The educational system of this State.
vastly improved in the past few years, is
still far in the rear of some otker States OF
this Union. Our teachers are poorly
paid, orr school houses are miserably
furnished, and in point of architecture,
barn like affairs that reflect credit
upon the people. The reason of it all
would seem to me to be that have not
come to appreciate to the fullest extent that
the burdens of government rest more easily
upon those who pursue a liberal policy in
this direction. 1t is as certain to me as
any thing can be, if we give more for edu-
cation we will give less for jails, hospitals
and asyluns. Parodoxical it may seem,
but true it is. that if we give more for
education we will lay less taxes for all
purposes. Money spent for good school
houses and we'll paid teachers, is better than
paying expenses in criminal cases, and if we
do the one we, to large extent, escape the
other.'
Prof. A. L. Smith responded on behalf of
the teachers. Prof. Smith is a bright and
original speaker and, usual, he enter
tanned the audience with apt illustrations
and splendid argument.
The affair concluded with a pretty selcc-
ton on the piano executed by Miss Lizzie
Mudd.
TUESDAYS MEETING.
work in earnest. Everyone had a notebook
and pencil and the room busy
bee hive.
After several attempts ''America" was
sung with enough life and melody to suit
Prof. Smith, who is an advocate of opening
exercises.
The question, care Opening Exercises
Beneficial ?'' was propounded and left for
further debate on the rlorrow. 1t was un-
derstood that religious beliefs would be
elima tcd from the discussions.
The subject of local history was next
taken up. The fact brought out that
the first settlement was about two and one
half miles from the present town on the
plantation of a Mr.. Martin, bought from
| Indians, to whom Mr.. Martin paid two
blankets and some sort of a coffee pot, show
ing how little the Indians realized the
value of land. Quite an interesting discus
sion on Indians then INDUCED in, which