The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-01
LETTER FROM BOHEMIAN.
correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch. ],
NEW oRLgAYs-Irs FESTIVITIES OF "AARD
GRAS.n
NEW ORLEANS, February Is, 1866.

NEW oRLEANs-ITs FESTIVITIES OF "aAR
GRAs."
NEW ORLEANS, February Is, 1866
: For time at least, I am domiciled in the
% Crescent City," and have taken furnished
lodgings near Jackson Square. MY windows
look out upon the Cathedral walls and upon
the garden In the rear; while down the alley
can see the square with Its tropical foiiage,
the equestrian statue Of Old Hickory, and the
ships and steamers beyond. Near by IS the
old town hall, looking for all the world like
some German rat house, with its ancient plas-
tered walls, its massive stone pillars in front,
and the carvings above the ancient portico:
Ten to one that II you saw photograph OF
the scene you would say there was no such
place in America. It has decided foreign
air--it Is foreign.
Imay as well state now-for shall have TO- do
II some time-that there are two cities here, In .
stead Of one, as iaid down on the maPs anu
described in the books, two as separate and dis !.
tinct cities rs they could well be, separated
only by q broad street, and lying adjacent TO
each other. Canal street-a broad and ele-
CANT boulevard, with the finest OF sidewalks
and russ pavement, lined ON either side by
magnificent stores and dwellings. and Two
rows Of shade trees In the centre-is tho diyi-
ding line. To 60 still further into particulars,
ding line. The river at this point makes a
bend, doubling almost on itself, and in this
bend the city il located. Nine out OF every
ten who come here imagine the city to be
upon tho W66tcIu UnuA Va tuO sANCi uuu
no il seems on account Of the bend, which,
taking the points OF the compass as a guide,
and facing north, brings the river on
the right hand side. A steamer leaving for the
Delta starts nearly due north, While one
going 10 st. Louis runs southwark Tor some
miles. This bend leaves q narrow strip OF
land between the river and Lake Ponchar-
train only Ave or six miles In width, and upon
tins the city stands. Directly In the centre a
stree1ts laid out, running straight as parallel
9 nMtuds towards the lake, but at present
~ sNa.nafang at the City Park. In the middle
~ - ssFset are two railroad tracks for
sE :, row Of trees ON each side, and q
Inere are then two streets. one On sither Eide
e ~. mnIosd. 20 IL can be said mat sach city
49, ~ SAnnt street. All above C,anr1 s,ra:g,
ee,onee - Mew Orleans; all below H. tn E,.as;I
= DsseeAs Ihe former y an American citw ~
1919 =. ~, xas 81. % Cssole city. In formsr
Eetpect, but In the process or time ths A vssry
NAxqn race has encsOached upou the 1sih. io.
ana has forced The latter TO adopt. ~ Ssss, y.
j sonne dsgrea, his customs, manners, ana Is,, -
GnAge. 6tui the rrench portion OF the c,t~ =
= Nufto different from the American. and - =
H6lEemegr, blindfolded and Get down frst in ous
md tAen IN the Other would never believe
fh1y were tho same. In the lower town
yo1 hare nothing but French and In
~ 1ppeE nothing but English. In the
! eg4 town he houses are All In the
Cd 1seneA styie; q the upper they are
- e1d Amfkicnn. RatweeE thess tw0 tOwns
81 1ese spleltO teal0usy sxists, and there are
1eu0 sh4 hsys been han6o6 down from
9esssstion % esnerstion. One = conserve.
~ denoerssie. yhs Fssnsh sllsg y thsly