The Opelousas courier., 1903-06-06

the bowels or the eartn, Whefe a
fairyland scene met their enrap-
tured gaze. Far as the eye could
reach and on every side stretched
long, vaulted aisles of glittering
salt crystals, sparkling and twink
ling like so many diamonded arch
ways in the CLEAN of numberless
candles that shone like stars at
night in the inches on every wall.
It was like some great cathedral,
with walls of jeweled stones and
candles of devotees burning at
the shrines of unseen saints.
Overhead fretted roof of shin
ing chalcedony gave back every
glittering reflection of the lights
below and about, and beneath Our
feet the pathway was of glitterlng
pearls.
On the return to New Ibfl' ria, q
number of the leading citizens Of
that enterprising city met the
party with carriages and drove
them over the principal streets.
A delightful reception was then
given them in the fine parlors of
the Attakapas Club, some of the
leading ladies of the town, among
whom we were pleased to meet
the Misses Estorge and Miss Rose
Deblanc, assisting in the enter
tainment of the guests. Delicious
refreshments were served, Mr..
Jules Dreyfus heartily welcomed
the visitors in graceful I'M
promptu speech, and Messrs.
Bentley and Mcclure, the secre-
taries of the two Associations,
responded in u most felicitous
manner.
The next step was at Lafayette,
where a most excellent dinner
the best meal Of the entire trip
was thoroughly enjoyed.
! San Antonio was reached on
Friday morning. After breakfast
Mr.. Kight, of the Business Mems
Club, took charge of the party
and escorted them to the various
points of interest in and about
that historic city - the famous
Alamo, the old but beautiful San
Fernando Cathedral, the first
Spanish Governors palace, the
Veramendi palace, where tool.
James Bowie, for many years a
citizen and freehoIder of st. Lam,
dry parish, won his wife Che was
killed with Travis and David
Crockett in the Alamo), San Pc
dro park, the fair grounds, hot
sulphur wells, etc.
! San Antonio was settled in 1855
by Spaniards, who established &
military post there in 1892. It Is
therefore nearly 100 years Older
than Opelousas. 1t is now the
largest as we'll as the most beau
tiful city in Texas, with a popula
tion of about 10000, a complete
sewer system, IS miles of pavec
streets, and IS miles of electric
street car lines.
Just before dark, after a bus.
day spent in sightseeing, th'
Press special left on the return
trip. On account of the della,
occasioned by freight wrecl
near Houston, that city was no
reached until 8 o'clock. After {
hasty breakfast, the city-a bus
and thriving one-was inspected
from the street cars, and in les
than two hours the train wa
moving toward Beaumont, whicI
place was reached early in tn
afternoon. Tho special was a
once backed out to Gladys, tn
forest Of derricks and monste
tanks on Spindle Top being i
full view nearly all the way, an,
there the party alighted to get,
nearer smell of the strong scent
for which the place is noted an
to set food on the famous height
where so many sudden fortune
have recently been made. Afte
u pleasant ride through the cit
and out to the fair grounds, th
party was delightfully."- entertaine
for several hours in the elegar
; parlors of the magical Oil City
most fashionable club, where tn
elite Of the place had gathered t
welcome the newspaper people {
their two sister States. Wit
! music and song, reeltations an
dancing, the hours sped swift
/, away, and it was nearly 10:l
when the palatial train which fe
three days and nights had bee
our home departed for an almo
uninterrupted run to New O
leans.
NOTES.
4 Travel and sightseeing, and,
the conditions that obtain nov
: adays, are to most people gel
il r1ine delight. How much mo
delightful is such an event as v
y have briefly sketched above c;
D only be dimly surmised by tho
+ who have never participated
. one.
e It is true that on this occasit
:, we were particularly favored wi
v the presence of two of the pror
= i a q :