Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-29
From the Correspondent Of the Portland I'D
pertiser.
THINGS IN NEW ORLEANS.


from the graves to the gambling -houses. Of
the last had heard much, land with another
| Portland friend, Of whom there are not Q lev
here. 1 began patrol about o'clock. r. NJ =
Wherever we heard the clink Of dollars, we went
In. Some played roulette, which is an indescr'o-
able, because to me an incomprehensibie game
and some were PLAYING faro. or IN the Pharo' IN
faro banks. am not versed ~ the etym"iogF or
nrope, terms. We went into five or SIX. some
we're in the streets, with only intervening 'ehe
| tan blinds. A few were up stairs. inoee"
:. n,nison Iousr," gambling house. with proper
directions. is posted up boldly on the corners o'
many street. | am told there are eiSn' Oh '"ese
licensed gambling houses, and 'na' 'ne "A o'
each is 5000 dollars per annum' wh'cn 'unG y
ven to a charity hospital. Many eoh'ehu .or !ne
utility of these licensed estaoiishmen.s' sey'S
,h., ,hey are the safety valves OF the city,"
and suppress minor establishments. put 4"ee'
1or men play cards here the levee in broad day.
and often in the shops on the street,-an'i b'i-
! lard room is as public as need be.
| The nlayers in manv OF the houses were ''row'
dies. as they are called, scurvy fellows in de-
cent clothes perhaps, but vulgar anu Pro'ane'
with an abundance Of slang and slang whans'ng
Occasionally man very respectable IN appear
auce might be seen, a stray sheep perhaps from
good flock. | was told the company was not
SO good as usual. Indeed, one af the establish,
ments looked much better than the others,-an"
this was said to be the fashionable establish
ment. where IS the best characters resort-ont
saw none Of them. Spectacle men and cigar
men were there. The stakes we're chiefly III
specie.
Toyisit New Orleans, and not visit the Frcnch
Theatre. was out the question. therefore post
ed 10 this scene. The Theatre itself Is very
good. The company was large and brl'llant,an
Usually attentive. Every representation was "f
course in French. | did not hear even among
the spectators word spoken in English, except
such as came from my eompanon The Creole
ladies were tastefuly and elegantly dressed
Many of them are very pretty, wi'h oeau''fu'
forms and engaging faces They we're in the Sc
cund tier Of boxes. Above those we're the quad
rooms, or in French Quaf'e-uns. many OF "h""
were quite white, with fine cast OF countenance
aud figures as one ever beheid M white tompa
nv was allow ed to mingle with them,-and their
doors were guarded only for the admission OF their
own class. They were also elegantly and tasteful
ly dressed. Above them were the negroes, who
crowded there in masses.
After tiresonne comedy, not worth listening
to even in English, much less in French, where
one must make an efor, to follow a story.-the
Ravel family delighted US with their dances aud
exercise. [ have never seen this family before,
and as they aamc good boat walk IN the. water,
so one may name the family, the walk .in-the-air.
The feats we're most surprising. from the youngest
child TO the oldest man. They dance on the rope
and take pigeon wings as Others do on the fo"r
Jean Ravel displayed great fcats ct muscular pow
er, such as suspending himself BY his arms hor'-
znniall, in the air from pillar erected on step,
and there continuing some time
Next we had the play Of Jocko, with an abun
dance of amusing and interesting monkey leafs.
the Ra,els performing the parts o the monkeys
wit. fue .ffect,-aseending trees, climbing the
scenery. and going up almost any where among
the bnxss. The pith Of the story Is. that Jocko
ia mischevaus monkey,-but during ship
wreck, con,Iives to save drowning child dearly
beloved by its father, after nursing il, and
carefully guarding II from huge snake with
fcrked and fiery tongue, that pursues him over
the stage, is shor by pursuers, much to the grief
of the caid and pain Of the father;-and then
Jct 10 dies 10 great agony.
never nave seen in an American theatre 50
much propriety Of conduc, aud good behaviour as
l witnessed here. The pit wa, qnet and res
pectabe. The boxes were crowded with pretti
ness aud fashion, and though every Frenchman
talks with all his might and main. yet all vas or.
ueTs dit pTOpTietNs p'eSe"te", ''"' '"'s
spectacle worthy Of imitation TO American mana
gers
This theatre is open, usually. three evenings
week; one Of which is on Sunday, when there IS
the largest attendance.
This morning came Within one Of being pre-
sent at duel across the river, where combatan.s
so-but they gave u the slip by naming false
hour. Since have been here. less than week,
there have been two duels fought. and probably
the average is two week or more, Judging from
the best information can get. Dueilins is
very common occurrence here. The Il ~ heads
fight without much ceremony. Almost every III
tie erie vance is redressed with pistols, and so
common are these duel,. that even the newspa-
pers take no note OF them. People laugh and
joke about them.-anG many go as to witness
farce. Such is public feeling!
The parties whose shooting was going to VIII
ness. for go every where when any Thing IS I"
be seen, were-one merchant from NatcheZ,
aud the other merchant in New.Orleans. They
exchanged, TO use the ierms Of the dav, three
shots-and the New Orleans man was wounded