The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1899-09-02
Mayor Liable Replies.

Mr.. Weeks of the Daily Iberian pub
fishes diatribe wherein he accuses the
people of st. Martinville of discOurtesy
towards Miss Todd at all entertainment
given by that lady In this town on the
18th of August. He further accuses the
people of having insulted certain gen.
tleman driving fine horses with fly-net
and other decorations, he winds up by
series of invectives accusing the people
of ignorance etc. The article In ques-
tion is poor specimen of honest and
intelligent Journalism to say the least,
and is a pretty good demonstration of
the state OF mind of the writer when he
pennsd it. The press is great power
for good or for evil, welded by calm and
dispassionate men of lofty ideals 1t ap-
peals to mans nOblest sentiments and
brings about peace. harmony and pro-
gress, but when it is inspired by blinded
passion and prejudice. it can only in
cite to mischief, hatred and its disas-
trous results. That Mr.. Weeks placed
himself upon this occasion under this
last classification. 1t Is to be hoped he
will readily admit. It is not here my
purpose to excuse the behavior Of the
boy of this place who threw (aour on
the boy from Iberia the only episode in
this affair that deserves any cOmment)
but having Investigated the matter l
propose to give the facts.
Miss Todd called upon Mr.. Duchamp
who leases the hall, that gentleman very
cOurteOusIy received Miss Todd and told
her he was very anxious to see her cue
coed with her class of OratOry and ad-
vised her to postpone the entertainment
until next month az money at present
was very scarce, the Ladies Indus
trial School cOmpaign committee were
having entertainments every week and
he feared that she would not meet with
q large attendance under these cOndi-
tiOns. Mr.. Duchamp at no time intima-
ted that the people of st. Martinville
would not attend on account Of the con-
test for the Industrial school between
the two towns. Mr.. L. C. Duchamp
could not have made this last remark
attributed to him on the night Of the
entertainment as he was at home and
did not go to the entertainment.
Ladies who were present throughout
the entertainment say that at no time
was Miss Todd and her party treated
with discOurtesy from the audience.
The gentleman said to be hOOted at
with the decorated horses is the same
individual who was reported to the Ma
yOr the Sunday previous for carrying a
concealed weapon. Upon investigation
the Mayor concluded that as the weapon
was not cOnceald he was allowed under
the law to carry it. OF course this dis.
play of firearms becoming the Arapahoa
Indians is novelty to the people of St.
Martin and called forth. laughter from
the boys who expected the same exhibi-
ton on that day. plus the decorations.
| When the boys from New Iberia reach
ed town they made their presence known
to the boys Of st. Msrtinville by a few
yells, asked where the town was, and
made such remarks as awakened the
American blood from the youngsters OF
st. Martinville. The episode was closed
with flour throwing. Surely Mr.. Weeks
was looking for an occasion to give vent
to his bad feelings towards st. Martin
when he chooses to espOuse the quarrel
Of children and vindicates himself by
running down the Parish that gave him
birth. He makes a serious mistake
when he accuses the people of st. Mar.
tinville Of ignorance and bad manners.
The civility and cOurteousness of the St.
Martinvillian is additionally known.
This innate characteristic of the people
of st. Martinville has been acknowled-
ged and recognized for generations past
even which MIR. Weeks lived in the Pa.
IRISH Of st. Martin, by judges less biased
than the Iberian and otherwise better
qualified. st. Maftinville prides itself Of
having as many children attending
school for its population as any town in
the State. $50 children attend the Sis
tiers school while over two hundred at
tend the public schools out of a popula-
tion of 5000 inhabitants.
st. Martinville is prospecting. It Is
working for the school because it be-
lieves it will enhence its prosperity. II