The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1905-06-10
The Press Association at Thib-
OdauX.

The Goth annual meeting of the
Louisiana Press Association was
held on the Oath, 25th and 26th
of May, in the beautiful town of
Thibodaux, on Bayou Lafourche.
1t was one of the most largely at
tended meetings ever held, and,
from every point of view, one of
the most successful. Elaborate
preparations had been made weeks
in advance by the hospitable citi-
zens to properly entertain the
visitors, and Acting Mayor Aucoin
had issued, as far back as May IL,
a proclamation in which it was
ordained and decreed "that said
days be set aside as public holi-
days, and that all public build
ings, places of business and resi-
dences be appropriately decorated
in the colors of the Association,
white and blue, as we'll as the
national colors, red, white and
blue, in honor of our distin-
guished guests These recon-
mendations, or rather, these in
structions-for this document was
worded like IL Russian ukase-
were implicitly observed in letter
and in spirit by the entire popu-
lation, who We'd with each other
in showering attentions upon their
guests, and the popular and i'm
petuous young pro tenn thus had
the satisfaction of seeing his en-
thusiasm infused into every one
of his fellow-townsmen.
After the call to order on the
oath by President Davis, Rev. A.
Dubourg, formerly of Opelousas,
pronounced the invocation, which
was followed by cordial addresses
of welcome by Mr.. Aucoin and
Prof. CaiIlouet. Reports we're
read, a number of new members
were admitted, dues were paid,
and at 4:30 p. m. a reception to
the ladies of the party was given
by the ladies of Thibodaux at
the g. X. of A. hall, while at the
same hour the men were being
entertained at a smoker at the
Acadian Club. And what whole
souled and generous entertain
ment it was! Besides an abun-
dance Of good things to eat, there
was ii superabundance of good
things to drink, and so persist
ent, insistent, persuasive and Sc
ductive were the appeals of the
"waiters' (among whom were
Judge Caillouet, Senator Coignet,
DR.. Smith and other leading citi-
zens) to take ''just one more" F"
that one of the visitors was after
wards heard to remark that he
had "taken his last glass just
eleven tines! At night an open
air concert was given on the fine
lawn of Judge Taylor Beattie's S
residence, just across the bayou,
and for hours the Thibodaux Con-
cert Band, without doubt the best
in the State, delighted the vast
throng with their excellent high
class music. Father Dubourg is
member Of this band, and so
are a number of the most promi-
nent citizens. The whole town is
proud of it, and we'll they may be
Next morning, after the trans
action of routine business, Presi-
dent Davis delivered his annual
address, a paper by Mrs. Wilson
of Homer, on "Women in Jour.
nalism,' was read, and President
Miller, of the Audubon Society
of Louisiana, delivered moss
eloquent and scholarly address
He made powerful appeal fol
the protection of all our birds
and demonstrated that they were
of inestimable service and value
to the farmer. Every farmer in
the State should read this ad
dress, which was published in the
| New Orleans papers of the Goth
General Jastremski's paper OF
"Cotton" followed, and was .
masterful effort, replete with val
liable suggestions and aboundine
in food for deep thought. s'Ramb
ling Thoughts ON the Educationa
Development Of Louisiana by
Mr.. G. +. Schwing Of Plaquemine
an excellent and timely paper
closed the morning session. Al
the afternoon session the mair
features were a poem by Mis-
Bentley, Of Donaldsonville; al
address on "The Relation Of tn
Press to Industrial Education,
by Prof. Stephens, of the Lafa
yette Industrial Institute; eth
Country Publisher" by Mr.. Tay
lor of Thibodaux; and a stronj
and scholarly paper On ''The Re
lation of the Press to Goo
Roads," by the "Old Man Elo
| uuent" of the Association, th
Youngest old gentleman in th'
State, and "walking encyclo
pedia' on every subject of cul
rent comment, the Hon. Joh1
Dymond, of New Orleans. A
these were attentively listened t
by large numbers of Thibodau
i ..~J ,ol 1ocarxya m opo h n