St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-02-07
Grand Prairie Not Illiterate.
Mr.. Editor:

Schools" while praising the noble work
done by the school located in Grand Prairie,
contains the statement: The Grand Prai-
RE Agricultural High School, in the very
center of a community which, in years gone
by, was one Of the most illiterate in this
parish"
I beg to call your attention to the fact
that this statement is entirely wrong, and !
am sure that the error was not an inten-
tional one. Such errors will creep into a
newspapers columns-errors which a news
paper man sees and understands. The gen
eral public, however, oblivious to the fact
that it takes much skill to produce a paper.
is prone to ~criticise the least slip made by
an editor.
Of course there may be some illiteracy
in Grand Prairie. For that matter there is
more or less illiteracy in every community
of the entire country. But when one goes
back over the record of the people of Grand
Prairie, noting that it has furnished this
parish with some of it's best and most en-
lightened citizens, what little ~illiteracy
which may exist there is lost sgiht of. We
glory in the fact that the fine school located
in their midst is making such splendid prog
|ress In the way of ending for all time any
illiteracy which may exist. We hope this
school will continue to flourish and do good
for many years yet to come.
However. let US enumerate a few Of the
fine old citizens Of that locality. Some of
these good people have passed to the Other
Side, while others of both the old and
younger generation remain on these earthly
shores. Perhaps one of the most prominent
of the older ones is Mr.. Ozeme Fontenot,
veteran and splendid citizen, educated and
refined. There is quite a long list of Grand
Prairie Fontenots who have won fame in
many walks of life, some Of whom remain
on their native heath, while others have
moved to other places. There was j. Bite.
Fontenot, who held office as parish judge,
justice of the peace, parish recorder of
mortgages and as school teacher. One of
his sons, Gus. E. F%ontenot, is clerk Of court
OF Acadia parish, and it is a we'll known
fact that he is a political power in his adop-
ted parish. There were several other sons
of this old citizen who have been prominent
in other spheres.
Then there is the Stage family, many
of whose members have Won renown in pol
education. professions, and who are
rightfully regarded as being a fine type of
and refined citizenship. The origi-
nal Stagg Phillip, Sr.) came from New
York. He was the family of a large num-
Der of children, one of whom, Louis, was a
in the Confederate army and who
subsequently elected to the state legis-
lature, though he refused to sit in that body
with the negro members. Another son,
.dolphe, is a Baptist minister and was
to the Louisiana House of Repre-
,entatiyes from this parish in 1892. Other
sons were soldiers during the civil war and
n times of peace farmers, merchants and
men. Another descendant of
he Stage family, Rev. Father Stagg. S. J.,
s a brother of pat" Stage, present city
Jerk of Opelousas.
The list of good citizens which Grand
Prairie has given to the state and parish is
long, Mr.. Editor, that it would consume
much of your valuable space. The few emu
above will suffice to prove your
statement an error. But it would not be
miss to mention that Grand Prairie has
this district a congressman, DR.. La
arc, who has also served on the parish
chool board and as a member of the state
enate. There are, also, the large and in
uential Vidrine, Guillory and Deshotels
one from the last named, Hilder-
ert H., having been elected sheriff of this
arish in 1886. Hon. E. B. Dubuisson of
'pelousas, former district attorney, mem.
er of the constitutions conventions Of
1893 and 1913. president of the Opelonsas
Bonk, is also, we believe, q native 1
Grand Prairie. !
This old community. instead of being J
of the most illiterate in the parish, is,
the contrary, n Of the most l~iterate
nd refined. Its solid citizenship has moth :
lg to be sorry over in this line, and in a !
liet way for long years these good people
ave strived to keep abreast of the times. |
luch might be added in the way of a trib- j
to these people and their community,
at surely nothing could add further fame I
the old or young generations. 9
believe, Mr.. Editor, you will gladly '
r.