Dogs in church and hens in beds
Sun, 03/16/2014 - 12:00am
Jim Bradshaw
Home town news was — and still is — the backbone of old time weekly newspapers in south Louisiana, and there were many weeks when life in little communities just didn’t yield a big story. When that happened, editors turned to gossipy little paragraphs about the goings on about town that were not what we would call news, but that, as we read them now, give insight into small town life back when.
These items are from the “Local Lights” column of the St. Martinville Messenger in the spring of 1886, but in substance and tone could have come from practically any of the community papers published then.
- Vegetation is putting out in all directions and the birds are singing a delightful welcome to spring.
- Every field on the east bank of the Teche and fronting on the public road is plowed up and ready to be sowed.
- Fewer drunken men are seen on the streets of this town than on those of any town of similar size in the state.
- Mr. J. A. Hitter is making the hats and belts for the members of the [fire] company. The hat is partially conical, with double visors, trimmed with gold, and crouching on the hat is a golden dragon holding in its beak the number 3 crossed by a hook and ladder. It is prettily conceived.
- Mr. Louis J. Voorhies having been appointed teacher of the public school … will open same on Monday next, in the building where he lately kept his store.
- Mr. S. B. Joyner has established a library in the town. Mr. Alphonse Guerin will be the librarian. … One dollar is the price of subscription for two years.
- We witnessed a trial of a washing machine the other day, of which our young friends Felix and Eugene Olivier are the agents, and pronounced it, without hesitation, a good thing.
- Rev. Father Jan, in his sermon last Sunday, paid his respects in very expressive language to that crowd who are in the habit of congregating before the Church during service to discuss passing events, thereby causing great annoyance to the faithful during their devotions. It is sincerely hoped that the Rev. Father will continue his efforts until this custom is broken up.
- A lot of mangy dogs infest the aisles of our Catholic Church every Sunday and by their antics disturb the devotions of the faithful, and are disgusting in other respects. They are led by a bob-tailed cur which ought to be indicted for malfeasance. Steps should be taken to abate the nuisance.
- Hens may be a little backward on eggs, but they never fail to come to the scratch where flower beds are concerned. And this is just about the time of the season to keep an eye on them.
- A ragged and not over clean specimen of humanity walked in at Mrs. Castillo’s hotel and demanded … the best room in the house. … The last heard of him he had been accommodated with the best room in the town lock-up.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jhbradshaw@bellsouth.net or P. O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.
- Log in to post comments
