The Opelousas courier., 1901-07-27
Arnaudville, La.
ST. JOsEPH's SCHOoL-oTHER ITEMS OF
INTEREST.

Juyluily ANTICIPATING thS Sipoah va ga
Catholic Schools, which for various
| reasons have been unusually prolonged
tits year. The exhibition will take
| place ON Sunday. the 2Stb, and there is
every reason to hope that though last
in point Of time it is by no means least in
Importance.
The program, which comprises charm
ing plays in French and English ; vocal
and instrumental musir, is most inter
esting, and of coursP will be executed
with the grace Vat cliaracterizes our
Arnaudyil!e chilefen.
St. Joseph's School is under the direc-
ton OF the Sisters Marianites of Holy
Cross, with Sr. NJ. OF st. Yves as supe-
%riOress. This good woman accompanied
by four brilliant members of her order
came to A%rnaudyille ten years ago,
bringing learning and refinement IN
their wake, and since then they have
diffused an air OF civility and culture
among the fortunate children contlded
to their care.
On their arrival they found only a
baby convenient even finished, but
this noble little band were not to be
dismayed by obstacles, SO they set to
work with a holy and untiring zeal; they
watched the growth of their convent
home, till now under the approving
smile OF heaven a magnificent editice
has reared itself, which is not alone in
testitging the success that has attended
the Jealous efforts of the humble daugh-
ters of the Cross in that pretty little
village which nestles costly ON the green
banks of the far-famed Bayou Teche.
In the wooded swamps Of. scarcely q
dozen years ago. where nothing broke
the solemn silence except the notes of
feathered warblers, two hundred chill
dren daily receive instruction and are
trained to virtue and culture, and are
seut forth into the broad arena of the
world, carrying with them the cOnvlc-
tion that a religious education is best
fitted to unfold the intellect and enable
its recipients to enjoy real happiness
themselves and dispense it to others.
In speaking of the good effected by
the sisters in Arnaudville, it may be
we'll to say q little Of the town itself. 1t
is located in q highly cultivated and
productive section of st. Landry parish,
at the junction of Bayou Teche and
Bayou Fusilier. 1t is a picturesque little
spot of which another Moore might say:
"There is not in this wide world a valley so
sweet,
AS that vale on whose bosom the bright waters
meet"
LII is also noted Tor the strong fallh
and rural simplicity Of its inhabitants,
who are mostly descended from the
French Acadians. Though they have
assumed the "gO-allead" Of present
times, they can pride themselves on
having kept unsullied the true faith and
piety which animated their ~forefatlers
they day on which cruel King George
hurried them to the Gasperean's mouth.
and they said in one voice "FatIer
forgive him."
They are comparatively a quiet pe0-
pie, yet they are fully aud universally
alive to. the Importance Of educating
their children, and they spare no pains
in forwarding the interests of their
schools-especially the Catholic schools.
They are also fond OF amusements and
the number of amateur ihatricals they
give speaks highly for their refinement
and sociability. There is on the sisters
grounds d spacious hall which has FREE
quentiy been the scene of dramatic en-
tertainments second to none in Lou
isiana.
ArnaudVille is only a young town, but
remarkably strong for its age /; it stands
on a solid foundation !; its business men
are pushing and wide-awake; it's re-
sources are valuable, SO we live in hope
of seeing at no distant day our dear lit
tie village one Of the leading towns of
the South.