The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-15
an give you two hundred dollars in cash,

said L.
ssShe frowned worse than before, and said
that wasn't the way she wanted to settle it,
'Directly something came right into my
mind seemed to see plain. l studied and
considered. Then cleared my throat Wild
der, says I, will you have me!''
Il give that rascal jenkins fifty dollars for
his share, and the widder took me for hers-I
had kept her unlawful prisoner for nigh four
months, but esquire she had me onder arrest
for mighty nigh seven years!''
Ienquired if he had been at last compelled
to separate from her. He simply pointed to
the Grape of his hat and the same strange smile
filtered about his mouth. He only added
II Judge she got little more than even.''
A GLOOMY PICTURE The Orleanian draws
state of affairs in the Crescent city. Let us
hereafter have no more grubbling on account
of the dull times in Shreveport:
Little know, ande less care, perhaps, the
wealthy ones of our city, of the vast bodies Of
men, at this dull, nothing to do period unem-
ployed and the manner in which they exc out
a casual existence To become acquainted
with the former fact, let them leave on any
morning of our work-day week, at early light,
their sluggard couches, their beds Of elder
down. and repair to that broad mart, the levee
1t must be before the sun has doffed his dress
ing gown, and made his matin tolet-ere he
has emerged from the leaden clouds which his
advent is converting into deep cerulean hue,
and which have canopied him in since the
cleaning of previous evening, then, standing
thereon, let them witness the trooping crowds
of stout, athletic and labor embrowncd men,
who come hurrying from streets, and alleys,
and i'll ventilated positions, to this common
focus. See with what eagerness they journey
onward! anxiety strongly marking the ainea-
ments Of many countenances, and when the
point is attained, to which all hastily wend, a
telescope view is had, and nearly its whole
circumference encompassed by outstretched
and longing gaze.
AT once, and by quick perception they notice
while their vision droops, and their hearts be-
come saddened and spairng-that no vessels
"have been taken up'' since the preceding day,
no steamers have arrived save scant and
meagrely loaded fewe from the coast, and their
decks are darkencd with numerous shadows
of the groups Of stalwart toilers. who clamor
for work, and appear disposed to labor for any
compensation. The noise and hustle of trade
which make music in winter time for the ears
of many-more animating to them than Mar
se1laise to the cars of the Gael, and more
spirit-stirrng than the bugle notes of the battle
charge to the warrior, are now hushed and Sc
rene, are as calm and still as the noon Of night
in some lonely hamlet The ghost of COM
merce has been ]aid-S' S'exorcised," as the
ghosts of men 'beyond the Red sea, or some
other sea, as we were wont to hear it expressed
in our inexperienced years, in other far off
| lands.
The quest Of the searchers for remunerating
toll is nugatory for there is no stir on shpboard
broadside to the wharves, siestaing, as it were
on the turbid waters, TRANQUILITY float the tai
masted vessels, neither loading nor discharging
butlistless, like the men who congregate aroune
them for something to dp,"
1t is dull and trying tsme in New Orleans
very dull, especially, on those whose daily
bread is obtained from daily wage, as all de-
pendent on them well know.
/ The numbers who, each morning, at the peer
of day,sseek work, after having made a tour o.
the evee, and travelled over its broad extent
and wherever ship or steamboat is seen, only, il
would appear, to be disappointed and dispirited
collect together in little knots, and seating them
selves on spars and panks, tell of their struggles,
privations to each other Quite picturesque, ifit
were not so saddening, tits to gaze on the collect
ed bands, their apparel clean and spotless, and
of varied colors, the first rays of the emerging
sun glistening on their dropped forms, and tint
ed gold. Poor fellows! there they linger in sor-
rowing converse, communing with each other,
and deriving solace from common lot, and
common misfortunes, until the fiery beams OF
Sol, now resplendent with brightness, and
charged with calorc, compel them to disperse.
And this is the disurnal routine, from Monday s
ushering in, till the week has run its round of
days, and Saturday terminates the scene.
"I'm taking home to my family tonight,
for my weeks work. two dollars and fifty cents -
were the remarks CT levee laborer to another
son of toll in our hearing about fortng ght since.
"Y IRE better off than | am for did not earn
a single cent this week" was the response of the
person to whom he had addressed himself, and
how it is they manage to subsiSt, at this season,
is marvel, for heretofore in winter time, work
was wont to be abundant, whereas, last winter,
there was dearth of it, and with all their
object which the more provident among them
never neglect, viz-the laying by something for
a "rainy day"
~ Our old friend of the Orleanian forgot to add
that nearly all, if not ALL of those who roam
the levee in quest of work, are newly arrived
Europeans, and that to the immense mmigra-
ton of foreigners more than any thing else is
to be attributed the scarcity of work and great
distress now experienced among the mechanics
and laborers in our large cities.
--~~~~~~-~o-~~~~-~-~~~-o~~
The lake Superior Journal has the following
description of a natural curiosity about which
many exaggerated stories have been set afoat
The account is from a,,surveyor VINO lately Wis
tied it:
@'The Arched rock of lake Superior is ca
vern followed by the action of the water in the
sandstone rock, resting on a belt of conglome-
rate. The opening faces the lake to the north,
and presents. an arch of singular regularity
and great beauty, with abutments more less
perfect on either side. The arch does not spring
Immediately from the water, but stands upon
- u Il