New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-07

NUMBER FIFTY ONE.

uehlPauleu ny TWO infantry companies, under tn
orders of Major Pernas. Thus, we have the frs
indication of the name Of one OF the down town
families, whose estates still attest the activity
dc successive members of one of the old spanisl
settlements made in the vicinity of our city. The
a family mansion a two-story building of very mod
est appearance, was pointed ont to us, but quite
recently, somewhere in the neighborhood of the
sugar refinery, of which we have already indicated
: the location.
81 lin 1916, found several other Spanish families
who had settled in the lower districts of the SUI
burhan precincts Of our city-in fact, this nation
atty seems generally to have preferred the lower
localities for Improvements to those of the upper
Districts no doubt, because in the latter circuits
more active more stirring movement was re-
! quired to keep up with the never ceasing compe-
tition of the new arrivals of Northern immigrants
These old Spanish families have almost lost them
selves by frequent intermarrages with the even
more ancient families of French colonists and all
60, or are designated by the generic name, Creole
families which means, indeed, those descendants
of former European colousts born or raised in
the country-in other words, the natives of the
land,
Many descriptions have been given of the modes
of life of these native populations in the time of
the first arrivals of the Northern people from the
States in Louisiana, after the acquisition of the
| country and when We set our feot upon the soil.
we foundthese descriptions generally correct, for
little change had been wrought during the first
decade after the advent of the American regime.
Nay, it is our impression that the manners and
customs of the inhabitants of the country would
have continued the same for an indefinite period OF
time hadtnothe for the immense influx of foreign
population into the various sections and regions of
our State. In the beginning strangers or foreign
ers would generally adopt the modes of living of
the native population, but when the immigrants
| began to outnumber the old inhabitants a con-
trary process took place, and the manners, Gus
toms and language of the new and more active
members of Louisiana society obtained the upper
hand Hence at this present day, and particularly
in the city of New Orleans there is such variety.
such an infinite assortment, as it were, of all
| national customs, usages and tongues, that the
greatest eosmopolite will assuredly meet with a
full satisfaction of his DESIRES in this aggregation
this conglomeration of human society of ali
fashions, sorts and sizes. And if this process
OF immigration continues, without Interrupt
tomas there is every probability in the present
perspective, thissame infinite variety will continue
to offer the most curious and interesting social
spectacle in the world We have already stated
in former numbers, that the names given to many
of Our city and suburban streets and thorough
fares are connected with historical events, as well
as some of cur former remarkable men or active
members of society, and therefore should not be
obiterated or changed upon slight OCCASION
There are two small STREETS in the vicinity of the
upper cotton presses, between Tchoupitoulas and
st. Thomas streets, one called Rofignac, and the
other Beechasse streets. These streets were named
after two former personages, who had, during
several decades, figured in the foremost part Of
the active social elements ofthe New Orleans com
munity. J. D. Degoutin de Bellechasse, we have
already mentioned as of the testamentary exc
outors OF the late Daniel Clark, of whom he had |
been, IN fact, one Of the most intimate friends |
and whose unlucky fate he seems to have shared : /
for after very brilliant career in legislation etc.
ETC., being one Of the city delegation in the terri
torial convention that framed the State Constitu
lion in 1872, we find, that after that period his
name and reputation all at once seems to have
vanished, and we have indeed been informed. that
having miscarried in most of his landed specula
lions in the up town lots, he finally withdrew to
Havana, or some of the West India islands. The
other parsonage, however, NJ. Rofignao, met with
better success, he, as well as BeIlechasse had ,
argey speculated in the newly laid cut suburban {
own tots, above Delorde street. which plots were
lia OUT IN 1870 or there about; and whilst for b
mole decade, that isto say, from 1910 to 1920 b
lere was not the least stir of an Improvement in s
ie up Town suburban real estate value Rofignac f
as lucky enough in preserving the greater part ii
ms acquired vacant lots, upon which he man il
'eo 10 nave some tobacco warehouses erected. n
once, wnen ABOUT that time, new era dawned o.
Jon ne" orleans by TINS sudden expansion Of
Q COTTON culture and the late Samuel Jarvis I'll
'tefs' 1nen new beginner in the grocery line, W
Is looking ABOUT Tor some down town assistance al
forwarding MS plan for the Improvement of the d.
per sections OF the city, in which he foresaw 70
~ me real prospect Of future activity and th
'fce would De continued, ne formed with Rof- so
nae men an alderman like him in the city coun sI
, closer connection, and enlisted the latter Sc
nus views OF pushing ahead the public works ga
Undertakings for the benefit of the general lif
oilc ~ wen as individual advancement. So it tn
ne' elat ny the influence Of the Peters interest,
lnguac was elected mayor OF New Orleans, and of
uer nus administration, Samuel j. Peters, the Gil
= hio'er' 1ne acuYe member for long years in ste
Guy council brought about the wonderful ste
9"se ana Une great enhancement of the value tn
to@i estate IN all our city sections, ca
= nus. particularly IN the upper portion thu
llAS SUBURBAN district. then tn lga,