St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-06-26
COLONIAL ENTER
IAIlS VISITORS.
Ihe seaall H0Hla saar washington The Seems
Of i Pleasant AFFAIR on Last Monday Elghf.
0RATI0NS And GOOD CHEER
Prevail Wishing Speakers Charmed VIM
this Section Of the South, and Predict
Great Future tor 1t.

The reception at Washington las
Monday rendered to the party 81
PennaYlYanians who were here tt
prospect this section of the South
and the Sehen Canal in particular
was d huge success neyerY particular
The invitation was extended BY Mr.
aud Mrs. Sehell, the former the pro.
moter Of the canal scheme, and The
reception was held at their attractive
Colonial home near Washington.
The beautiful lawn Of the Colonial
home was beautifully Illuminated with
gasoline lamps and Japanese lanterns.
Seats we're placed en- the lawn for the
comfort Of those who attended, music
was furnished by Perrodin's Band OF
0pelousas.
The PennsylVanians expressed them
selves as carried away with the peo-
pie Of Southwest Louisiana, who had
not let up IN their entertainment
since they had arrived, and many 81
them hoped to come here and make
their homes some day.
One gentleman IN particular said
that he knew full well that Il be ever
brought his wife here she would
never want to return to Pennsylvania.
And such were tbs praises shoWered
on our country BY these gentlemen
who came among us with the view of
investing IN some Of our enterprises.
Speeches were made By a number
of gentlemen present.
Hon. Geo. Hanley, Mayor Of our
sister city acted as master Of eere-
monies. and introduced first, Hon.
inc. n. Ogden, Of 0pelousas, who, IN
his usual easy manner and eloquent
language thanked the visitors for che
interest they had taken ii our country;
for their kind words Of praise. and
for the money they had invested Id
the Union Irrigation Co.'S great sys-
tenn, stating that il was their push,
energy, brains and money that was
making possible the development of
our great natural resources and he
hoped that some be them would see
ft to come and dwell with rs, make
their homes here, where they should
find genuine Southern welcome.
The next speaker to address the
audience was Rev. Minniek, of Roa-
noke, La, a former Pennsylvania,
who IN an interesting talk, told how
rice was first made ID what IS now
the rice belt, and how it was now
made, showing q wonderful deVelop-
ment Of this great crop, IN the plant
ing, urigating and marketing. He
stated that it was not an easy matter
to make rice without the great irri-
eating systems Of to-day, and bow
important it was that this system
now being erected, be rushed to com
pietion. TT means a great deal TO
your people, and you should lend your
every assistance to complete IT,
The next speaker was Mr. John W.
Lewis, of 0pelousas, who made short
address dwelling Oh the Importance
Of this great work, and laying special
stress on the great courage, persist
ency and wonderful amount Of energy
Id the body of the man who is eng
neering this undertaking to a success
ful climax, Mr. Schell.
Rev. Howe, on behalf Of the visit
ors, next addressed the assembled
people. Rev. Howe was a resident
Of New Iberia some years ago, com
ing from his Pennsylvania home. he
recently returned to the Quaker
State, and was among the party here
last and CHS week. His address
touched the hearts Of every Loun
auaian present, and brought forth ap-
plause from every member of bis Own
party.
Ha stated the impressions tas
were forced upon him about Louisiana
before be came here and saw for him.
self, and where he made bis home Fol
four years. He was MAIDS To believe
that the water was d terrible thing
hers, and that as soon aa he would
take q drink &C it he would Be sent
back 60 Pennsylvania i corpse. But,
says Rev. Howe, z shall never forget
my first drink Of Lpnisiana water from
4 cistern. 7 filed ny glass, looked
at it, it looked good; snelIed ii, IL
sneIt good; tasted It, it tasted good.
and drank ii, and every drop be il
went down. and { was refreshed and
still lived. / never have gone back
on your Louisiana water since. Twas
made To believe that right down here
in Louisiana was a million great big
mosquitoes waiting To pounee on ne
as soon as crossed the line. f came
FL saw, I conquered. Slept under
mosquito bar aud didn't know theirs
was any mosquitoes ID the country
Told me that 7 would have yellow
fever as soon as | bit the State anG
that they wouldn't even allow ny
corpse to go back 10 Pennsylvania
bat I came, went back to pennsyl
vanis and here I am again ID Louis
lana tonight. and / hope 60 come