The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-09-16
Opening of Public Schools.

With the exception of the Oak
Grove agricultural high school and
the McElroy school, which will open
Monday, Oct. 2, all of the public
schools of Ascension parish began
the work Of the 1912 session last
Monday morning. The attendance Of
pupils at Gael. of. the various institu-
tions was the largest on record for
the opening day, and if the bright
prospects with which the schools be-
gin the years wolk are realized III
fair degree. the PENDING session will
Prove one CT the most notable ana
successful in the history of the par
ish systeia.
The Gonzales high school opened
with an attands nee of 1856 pupils, and
the enrolment is expected to reach
3U0 before the close of the session.
Prof. D, W.-Ga'dWell is serving his
fourth successive term as principal
of the school, and has for his as
sistants this year Misses Knox, Sal
HE Clement, I.orine Sanders, Euphie
Odom, Nettie Bonicard and Minnie
Dawson With such an able and eff
cient faculty, a splendid years work
The opening exercises consisted of
an address on the value of educa-
ton by Principal Caldwell and a brief
talk by Representative Joseph Con-
zales, who promised full and hearty
cooperation in the school work on
the part OF the patrons, many Of whom
were in attendance.
Eighty pupils matriculated at the
Calbasse school on the opening day,
and it is anticipated that the max
imum attendance for the session will
approximate $780,
Rev. J. M. T. Massardier. the be.
loved pastor of the local Catholic
church and chaplain of Ascension
Council No. 1887, Knights of Co1um-
bus, who has been abroad for the
past four months, is expected home
on or about the 25th inst, and a
movement is ON foot among the
tend him a cordial reception and
greeting upon his arrival. According
to the tentative program adopted,
the knights will proceed to the de-
pot in a body, in vehicles, to meet
Father Massardier and escort him
to the presbytery. At o'clock D. m.
reception will be rendered the be-
loved prelate on the grounds of st.
Vincent's Institute by the Sisters
and pupils Of the Institute and the
Brothers and pupils of st. Joseph's
Commercial Institute. There will be
music, songs, Rotations, and adj
dresses by Mayor Charles Maurin,
Hon. r.. j. Chauvin, w. d. Park and
others. At O'Clock p. m. banquet
will be given in honor Of Father Mas
sardier by Ascension Council at its
hall in Mississippi street. 1t is de-
sired to make the homecoming Of tn
popular pastor an suspicious event,
and ito that end the members eff
Ascension Council are earnestly re-
quested to attend the functions pre-
pared for his reception and assist
in making the occasion a success.
L. A. Duplessis. postmaster OF Du-
plessls, and Bazlle Berteau, a well-
known citizen OF the seventh ward.
were in town Wednesday on business
and complimented The Chief with al
pleasant visit. They report that the
crop outlook IN their respective local
tiles is unusually promising as 70 \
cane, but that the prospects for corn
and hay are somewhat uncertain,
both these crops having been in
jured to a serious extent by the re-
cent rains. However. the conditions
as to corn are much less discourag-
ing than had been feared, and quite
fair yield OF this crop is being OBJ
tanned, albeit the output is not near
what it would have been had the
weather conditions been more propi-
tious during the growing season.