St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1902-03-29
High school Continues.

and the school officials, that the
good and generous people Of the
town of Opelousas would not per-
nit the st. Landry High School to
close its doors ut the end of five
months, that when the question
was asked by interested parties if
the term would end then, the reply
"No, it will run eight months" was
at once forthcoming.
And it was no idle talk. AL
though the outlook was somewhat
gloomy on account of the seeming
inertia of the people, when they
did arise things went through with
a rush. The poster call for meet
ing for Tuesday night was we'll at
tended, and movement was at
once set on foot that succeeded in
bringing about the desired results.
Some twelve hundred dollars have
already been subscribed by the cit
izens and patrons OF the school,
and we have no doubt that the ne
cessary eighteen hundred dollars
will be raised in due time.
The mass-meeting was called to
order by Mayor b. A. Littell, who
was made permanent chairman of
the meeting. Misses Bilelle He
brard and Belle Dupre were made
secretaries.
On motion of Mr.. Thos. H. Lewis,
committee composed of six ladies
and six gentlemen were appointed
to solicit subscriptions from the
citizens of the town and the patrons
OF the st. Landry High School to
maintain the said school for the
full term of eight months. The
chair appointed on said committee
Mrs. g. l.. Dupre, Miss Hilda May
er, Mrs. E. S. Taylor, Mrs. Bode-
muller, Miss e. Ealer, Mrs. Henry
Lastrapes, Messrs. Thos. III. Lewis,
F. Charleville, L. S. Richard, A. S.
Brown, III. E. Estorge and Capt. j.
j. Thompson.
On motion of Mr.. E. B. Dubuis-
son, committee of five was ap-
pointed to wait upon our repre-
sentatives and senators and urge
upon them the necessity of chang
ing the present school law insofar
as the apportionment of funds is
concerned; and that the same COM
mittee wait upon the Police Jury,
with the necessary petition, at the
next meeting of that body, and ask
that an election be ordered through
out the parish for the levying of
three mills tax for the support Of
public schools.
This resolution created consider
able enthusiasm, as it suggests the
only solution of the school problem
in this parish. 1t takes money to
run schools, aRd taxation is the
only means of raising that money.
This parish la behind her sister
parishes In educational lines, but
have you ever stopped to think
why? The school board is not res
ponsible for the short term. It is
the people, the taxpayers, who have
SO far failed to levy tax, and
thereby furnish the Board with the
necessary funds, who are to blame.
Calcasieu, st. Mary, and the other
parishes who are blooming like a
rose in the educational garden all
have special tax. There they
don't stand ON street corners and,
like fools and idiots, curse the
School Board and allow their
schools to prematurely close. They
go to work and give the Board
money with which to run the
schools, and there is no trouble.
On motion of Mr.. F. Charleville,
amended by Mr.. r. Lee Garland,
tue Board of Aldermen was re-
quested to make an appropriation
for the maintenance of the st. Lam
dry High School, and also urged to
set aside two mills OF its ad valo-
rum taxes for the purpose OF edu-
cation.
Addresses were made by Messrs.
Thos. Ell. Lewis, e. b. Dubuisson,
w. B. Prescott, Laurent Dupre, r.
Lee Garland, w. J. Sandoz and T.
Charleyille.
The meeting was a success, and
the fruit it will bear will rebound,
we feel assured, to the good OF the.
entire country.
Fer sale.
A thoroughbred Jersey bull and
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