Hoste, Father Louis, New Iberia, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1867 February 21

Since writing to Odin about their boys' school a circumstance has arisen. Mr. Whitaker who is not Catholic is at the head of the school; his assistant is Mr. Simons, a Catholic. Whitaker proposes to leave. Mr. Smith, a Catholic of whom Father Yves C. Rivoallan gives a good account, thinks to replace him. But Smith, who knows that the owners of the building want to have Brothers, wants to know if he could be assured of the position for a year. It is favorable occasion for the Brothers, if they could have even one provisionally, whom Hoste presumes Simons would be willing to assist. Hoste has asked for a month to give a reply to Smith. Day before yesterday, Hoste was at Salines, 12 miles from here. Yesterday he visited an establishment of some people of color Negroes with several remarkable traits. They are all free, all owners of land, with a school of their own, and well thought of by the whites. This school is 7 miles from New Iberia and two miles from the chapel at Patoutville . There are about 300 people. Hoste taught catechism and took the names of 35 children, 7 years and older. Only one had been to Confession and that only once. Could they not say Mass there sometimes during the week? They say they do not want to let them in the chapel at Patout although they pay as well as the others. The pastor goes there only on Sunday morning and returns after dinner. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.