The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-12
aha 8ew Orleans Grsstsut.
The Voyage orthe OrIean. Theater Company
OF IS34-35.

On the 23d Of September, 1884, when steam
ships we're not so plentiful as they are now, the
shin Cecilia left Painbeuf for New Orleans, with
fhirty.two passengers, nineteen Of whom be.
longed to the Orleans Theater company. The
following extracts from letter published at the
time in French paper may be pleasant and in
feresting "reminiscences to many Of our readers:
The trip lasted iity-four days-a ladies' trip,
The sailors sad-snd was disturbed only by two
OF three days of squaly weather. Few trips
have been pleasanter than that of our country
men, whom Mr.. Davis, the son Of our director,
had surrounded with the most delicate attentions.
Breakfast was set at ten o'clock, and consisted
of from ten TO twelve different dishes. We dined
al halfpast four, more than twenty dishes
being served at this meal. On Sundays and
Thursdays a dessert terminated the repast, aud
the yeTitsble wine Of France, champagne, would
flow TO enven the guests and revive their recOl-
lectiOns Of the country which they were leaving.
Every evening, after dinner, coffee and cordials
were psrtaken Of on deck. The day was spent in
reading, fencing, card playing and smoking
circles were formed and concerts organized. On
Sundays and Thursdays, those two privileged
days on board, at eight in the evening, there was
dancing until ten or eleven, as is practiced at
family party.
The captain and skipper had taken their
precautions TO render the trip an agreeable
one. There were on board COW, $50 fowls,
2OO0 eggs, "a hogs and sheep, calves, 300
cases of preserves, green peas and pdueS de
foies gras $50 cheeses, casks of wine,
40 cases Of Bordeaux and champagne wines, 20
cases Of cOrdals, 500 pounds OF sugar, coffee,
Chocolate etc. The Cecilia arrived at the port of
New Orleans on the 18th November. The director
had caused magnificent breakfast to be spread
for his new guests, together with Doctor AntO-
march,, one Of the passengers. This city is i'm
mense, all the streets are perfectly straight, aud
few Of the buildings are more than two stories
high. room costs ut least ninety francs a month.
Washing is extremely dear, is reckOned by the
dozen, and does not cost less than six francs per
dozen. negress eXacts one hundred francs a
month, exclusive of board and lodging. No mes
sage is delivered for less than twenty five cents.
Strangers abound in New Orleans, all nations
being represented 1t is probably owing to this
mixture that the quarrels which occur daily may
be attributed. Eight, ten, twelve duels occur
every twenty.four hours. The killing of from
four TO Iive persons for trhes are mentioned as
very ordinary events. There is no police 10 the
country; liberty is excessive. Everybody car
Ties a swOrd-cane, dagger or pistol In the midst
of quarrels mems brains are blown out in open
coffee houses That ia the unpleasant
feature Of the city; but artists are very much
liked, and those who can forget France lead
pleasant life, especially if they have secured
sufficient salaries 70 permit them TO follow the
customs Of the country.
The letter is certainly somewhat highly coored
but the exsggerstions are not as great al those
who were not living in this city at the time might
imagine.