New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-22
Nsh 0rleans 4ailp Gresttrd.
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY %, 1860.
TEE VOIKsFRsR.

The great annual May Festival of our German
population, which began on Sunday, at the Hop.
kins plantation, on the GENTLY RIDGE in the Third
District was continued yesterday and last night in
perfect blaze Of glory.
The attendance on Sunday was tremendous
there could not have been less than twenty thous-
and visitors, for they were going and coming in
denseycrowded car trains from midday till nearly
| midnight Extensive were the preparations
made by the Pontchartrain Railroad Company,
through their energetic Superintendent, Mr. Pan
dely (these arrangements including the whole re-
sources of the road) there still not accommo-
dation enough for the multitude. The extra Volks-
fest train consisted of nine passenger cars and
/ twelve trucks filed with benches. The regular
lake train of its usual size, also with string of
| trucks and benches. These were not only jammed
with people, but the standing room was likewise
jammed, and the end platforms supported clusters
Of people who hung to each other more than to
1 the cars. We never saw such trains.
/ The discomfort and trouble experienced by
many, especially the ladies' and children, in this
providing of the cars, made the visit to the yoks-
fest an expensive one physically, if not pecuni-
arily. Besides those who patronized the cars,
| great numbers went down in carriages and ether
vehicles and beyond these, again, not a few, in
4
Teuton population, dispensed with all things that
went on wheels, and reached the festive scene on
their own good grayel-scratchers.
| The vortex of fun, merriment and spring time
hilarity was full, perfect, overfowing altogether
complete and glorious.
We should say something of the formal inaugu-
ration of the Volksfest on Sunday. Beneath a
large pavilion erected for this exclusive purpose,
4 1, 80,
| of the German singing clubs, under the lead of
| Prof. La Hache, gave number of airs and cho-
4 ruses appropriate to the happy occasion; great
multitude deserving the other excitements to hear
and enjoy.
! Lieut.. Gov. Hyams being present, was brought if
| not forced forward, and made the opening speech
| Of the day-brief, but appropriate and happy.
| The German orator of the day, Sebastian Seller,
Esq, delivered his Grafton, in German, with telling
effect. After this came the Grafton in English, by
our popular and talented young friend, Mr.. G. H.
Braughn It gives us pleasure to publish this gem
| tleman's remarks, in full
| GRAFTON OF Mr.. BRAUGHS.
Ladies and Gealeme,s-In busy city life there
| are some pleasant "reminiscences, which cling to
| man till the dull earth is shut frem view; some
events around which memory fingers, cheering him
onward through toll and tightening the heavy bur-
den which he bears.
While important events here and elsewhere-the
endless strife for place and power; the upheaving
Of political vagaries and the downfall of old dynas-
ties interest most of u.s. and should instruct US all
when the bros Of dscordant factions are serving
to rupture the ties with which people are bound
and when party strife and blind ambition are tear
ing asunder the only, bonds by which the great
center Of the body polite is made surewhile the
cares Of yesterday and the coming ones of to.mor-
row press heavily the heart, 1t is well to turn
from this beaten and dusty road to walk in the
En1I ~, a,Af I.
of everyday life, and breathe Gods fresh air with
deeper inspiration.
So to-day let us throw of care. Let our hearts
expand-break through the, prison bounds of the
city, where they have been cramped SO long and
reYel for little time in the gardens of poesy and
song. Such day is this for you, my friends The
voluntary outpouring of the public feeling shows
this sentiment to be both Just and natural. We
have assembled this day to effect two.fold OBJ
ject. We have turned aside from the dull routine
of every day life to enjoy again those pleasing re-
miniscences which our forefathers were wont to
celebrate with SO much zeal and energy, and at
the time that restore their ancient custom
we tighten the heavy burdens which we are accus-
toned to bear.
A welcome to you, friends This assemblage
fills me with pride and pleasure. Here are happy
faces and glad hearts-smies and good will. The
Of Germany, emulating the example Of their an
cestors, have again assembled to join in that Nav.
day festiyty-that feast of kindred sympathy and
flow of brotherly feeling which unite them as a ma.
tion wherever two or three meet in another land.
On gala day like this, no more appropriate
time could be selected in which briefly to view its
origin, necessity and effect In the dim twilight of
fable, long ere the muchabused doctrines OF Epi.
Gurus commanded the attention of philosophy-
when religion was myth, and before the South
had been oyerrun by the innnmerable tribes who
swarmed like locusts over that fair land we hear
faint echoes Of songs and wonderful legends of
great feasts and feats.
Those beautiful fables tell us of Fauns, Nymphs.
Satyrs, the Muses., and the gods, and the religion
10 Will r1nr not fp hnI
the wild and the beautiful. The ancient heroes
and bards, the gladiators, athletes, and chariot
racers, were great center around which the
people and the mobiles of those old DAYS clustered
and Worshipped. The sports, dvested somewhat
OF their brutality, were doubtless carried back by
the conquerors of Rome into the wilds of Ger
many where, from generation to generation, those
barbarous practices disappeared before the lipht
of Christianity, giving place to harmless games Of
strength, agility and feetness: and the lighter
amusements OF poetry sprang up and bloomed
from the rough seed sown centuries before, until
here to-day we see them hand in hand with virtue
and philanthropy-for these manly games, while
combating and conquering disease throw off that
gross and stupid languor which clogs the brain
and develop body and mind into the perfect man.
The great feast day of Italy. the Garnival-the
hunting parties of the Western wds, when for
days the savage wanders over prairie and glen,
resting only, when he lists, by the pure founts of
nature - the innumerable oases in life are but
counterparts Of thissour festival. Song and dance
are as old as the hills. Our forefathers danced
before us, and theirs before them, and why may
| not the weary worker, toiling from dawn to dewy
eve seek "respite and nepenthe = once year?
The necessity of healthful exercise and outdoor
sports is important, and the influence on the char
acter of such nature that it seems strange that
arguments are necessary to convince any one.
The people of this country above all others, (and
it Is more remarkable in great cities) give too
little attention to athletic sporfs; they are BRAIN
working people, forgetting while their lives are
ebbing away, and the mental fire consuming them
that little pure water from the well of wisdom
would bring health and long life. 1t is absolutely
necessary in developing that wonderful grasp Of
mind which rules camp and court, to teach the
body to expand and act in harmony with that which
gives it life In fact unless the active mind is re-
freshed by bodily recreation, it will seek to renew
its vgor in the deathmparting use of other stmu-
lants. Many noble soul has been debased and
ruined by alcohol and opium for lack of few rec
reation days like this.
Exercise is to the mind what train Is to the flower
Man, like child, requires variety. He may in.
dulge in our sports to-day, and will feel stronger
happier, and more like battling with hydra headed
Care tomorrow. Happy. indeed is he who can
| whistle and sing as he hammers away on the great
| anvil of occupation Letus then cherish this good
old eustom-not in that sensual gluttony which
| revels in broken limbs and MANNED humanity
when the fame Of fstic honors is in one scale and
death in the other-but with hearty and honest
desire to please and be pleased; to excel, but in
SO doing to elevate, and not degrade, mans noble
nature.