The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1901-08-03
~ The Press Association.
ITS MEETING AT MINDEN-A VISIT
TO SHREVEPORT-RUsT
CHAUTAUOUA-THE INDUS
TRIAL SCHOOL.

CHAUTAUQUA-THE INDUS
TRIAL SCHOOL.
The Louisiana Press Associa-
tion, organized ut Baton Rouge in
1880, held its twenty-second an
nual meeting last week in the pic
turesque town of Minden, Web
ster parish. President John Dy-
mond, one of brightest and
brainiest men in the State, pre-
sided with his accustomed ability
and grace, and Secretary Linden
L. Bentley, than whom there is
not in Louisiana man bet
ter fitted for he difficult
position, gave him most valuable
assistance in the prompt dispatch
of business coming before the
meeting. Many valuable and in
structive papers were read, the
mental pabulum thus provided
containing much food for sobea
and earnest thought, among which
we may mention those of Mr..
Trimblc, of Farmerville, of Mr..
Steidley, of Lake Charles, Of Mr..
Chevis, of New Orleans, of Mr..
Scott, Of Crowley, and of Presi-
dent Dymond, of PIaquemines
parish; while the palm of excel
lence was unanimously awarded
to the efforts of the two ladies
who RECALLED the association with
the choice and dainty products of
their bright minds-the half hui
morous and half pathetic and al
together exquisite recital, by Miss
Peters, of Vinton, of some Of the
trials and tribulations Of the
country editor having enjoyed the
extraordinary distinction Of being
read twice, by unanimous request,
while the stately and majestic
lines dedicated to the press, by
Miss Bentley, of Donaldsonville,
who seems to have inherited the
shining mental attributes of both
her talented father and brilliant
mother, were universally conceded
to be Byronic in their strength
and elegance.
After two days delightfully."-
spent with the hospitable people of
whose committee of ar
rangements, with Mr.. Kent at
their head, were untiring in their
efforts to promote the pleasure
and comfort of the visitors, the
Association boarded the train for
Ruston, whence it promptly de-
parted for the Chautauqua, some
two miles away. There, among the
signing pines of Louisiana's S
(summer) Athens, refreshed and
reinvigorated byits coolan spark
ling waters, and apparently catch
ing new inspiration from the
very atmosphere of the spot
which for the last decade has been
consecrated to the diffusion of a
higher education and a broader
culture throughout the State, the
Association held its last two ses-
sions. President Dymond being
ineligible for reelection, the As
sociation did the next best thing
and chose Mr.. W. A. Steidley, of
Lake Charles, as his successor.
He is one of the brightest men on
the State press and will doubtless
make an excelleat presiding officer.
Mr.. j. d. Kent, of Minden, was
chosen first vice-president and
Miss Gertrude 2. Callahan, of
Washington, second Eiee-presi-
dent. Mr.. Bentley was reelected
secretary and Mr.. Trifnble treas
urer. Alexandria was selected as
the next place of meeting and
''fiowery April as the time. [As
in the cooler North it is "flowery
May and ''leafy June, so we in
Dixie can appropriately say flow
cry April and leafy May.]
Back to- charming Ruston the
Association went in the late after
noon, when Judge Allen Barks-
dale and Hon. s. D. Pearce Sc
cured carriages for q ride through
the town, before which. however,
d visit was made 10 the Industrial
School near by. There the en-
CINE, the forges, the lathes, etc
all the apparatus and parapherna-
liza with which the boys are prac-
tically taught how TO work up
Wook and iron, were inspected,
and many specimens of the handi-
word of hespupiIs were exhibited,
some of which (mantels, desks,
&c.) were remarkable for their
elegance and beauty. The print
ing office-a very complete outfit
and the departments for draw
ing, bookkeeping, typewriting,
teIegraphy, banking, &C., were
also visited, and then the new
and eommodious dornlitory, q few
acres away, was Inspected. The
unanimous verdict Of the visitors
twas that the State was doing q
noble work at Ruston and that
the very considerable sum invested
lin the Institute was money well
and wisely spent. May we soon
have as striking and as convincing
evidences of the same fact at
II afa rnffn y