The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-17
CITY TOPICS.

I Mr.. Witt, Democrat and . gentleman, who Is
not ashamed to let bis actions be recorded for the
inspection of the whole world, yesterday moved,
iu the lower house, that the clerk be directed to
furnish to the reporters of the various city papers
List of the votes cast for and aganst all import.
ant bills. But the osrpstbsggers and scalawsgs
whose deeds are evil. naturally fear the light,
therefore most promptly voted the resolution
down. But they need not imagine that by these
means they will keep their deeds hid. In this
| column, which is specially devoted to the de.
nouneement of all sorts of knavery. they may
rest assured that they will not be forgotten. but
that their several weaknesses will be chroncled
ss they are psrpetrsted--which is daily. The
poor subterfuge of refusing to furnish the CON.
plete list of votes will hot save them from being
held mp to the scorn and execration which they
deserve OF the hands Of all honest men.
To one who has lived ten or twenty years in
New Orleans, the change in the characteristics Of
the negro race. brought about by emancipation,
is an interesting but most melancholy subject of
contemplation. The freedman of the present day
is no more fit to compare to the eleany coDtented,
cheerful, lusty laborer on the neighboring planta
tons who used to bring the products of disclosure
hours to market on Sunday mornings for his own
profit, than the man-of.wsr's man on cruise TO
the same individual on shore liberty. Every rick.
ETY. tenement about town is occupied to repletion
by negroes Of every age, all living promiscuously
together. st. Thomas and Dryades streets, the
neghberbood of the markets and the State House
are their favorite localities. There is another
place where the dsrkeys cluster 10 hundreds-snd
that is the Freedmen's Savings Bank on Caronde.
let street, near Poydrss. Here is a fair chance to
study them. Their dress is Of every description,
from the gaudiest and newest suits to dirty rags
which can hardly be held together What they
do here all day long II is impossible to conceive
If the bank transacts business with all of them it
must have more work for its clerks than any other
monied institution in the city.
There are hundreds of negro rag-pickers about
town, and before the war there wasn't one.
These are as filthy as the heaps they investigate.
Nothing, even of the foulest description, comes
smiss to them. What do they do with all this
offsl? VIII the soap boilers buy it Do they dis
pose of it for manure Or do they feast upon
what is estabIe! Back OF town, near the old
canal, there is place of deposit for the town
scayengers. Troops of the negIo chifoniers,
men and women and children, hover around the
town carts like SO many csrrion crows, which
they resemble in color, in obscenity, in ragged
covering, and in nastiness, and pick at the con-
tents-driving the weaker and more timorous
away. When the load is thrown out, there begins
a squsbble and struggle, which ends only when
the whole mass has been infinitely sfted.
During the hot weather, the negroes favorite
pastime is fishing in the sluggish waters Of the
canals, or from wharf at the steamboat landing.
He cares little or nothing for the delicate fish of
the lake and gulf, or the clear streams of fresh
water. With long piece of Irvine he makes
drag line, with stone at one end for an anchor,
and three or four large hooks at intervals, which
he bats with pieces Of meat. One heave, and the
work is done. Tying the end around his waist, he
stretches himself on his back, 10 the full rays of
the sun, and falls into sleep which knows no
waking, except the tug of huge catfish. If the
fish ia caught, and proves too big for his own
use. be sells or Swaps" whatever he can spare
to his neighbors.
Sermons during Lent, we learn from La Renais-
sance, will be preached in the Catholic churches
as follows:
--.--. vs,uvurar-puv. rarner UupIy
will preach on Sundays at high mass,
specially for gentlemen, during the whole of
Passion week until Palm Sunday. Sermons to
commence at 6 P. NJ. Gentlemen only will be ad.
mitted in the church, except on Wednesdays and
Fridays, On which days the church will be open to
all.
St. Mary's Church--On Sundays at high mass
sermons by Able Perche. Tuesdays and Thurs.
days at 81 O'Clock P. NJ, by Rev. Father Dalply.
st. Augustin Chureh-Rev. Father Chocarme
win preach on Sundays at high mass, and on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at O'Clock P. NJ Ser.
mons for gentlemen only every Sunday evening
ct O'Clock. commencing on the second Sunday
In Lent. Gol 800 |
st. AIMS Church.-Sermons as usual, at high
mass at hslf-pas. A. NJ. instruction on Mon
days and Wednesdays at half past P. NJ. On |
Fridays at the same hour the stations Of the cross
Church of st. Rose of Lima. Sermon by Able |
Millet, Vicar of the Cathedral, at s O'Clock P.
r., on Sunday, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Church of the Immaculate Conception.-On |
Sundays, sermons in French, at the 7 O'Clock
mass, and in English at high mass and at 7 |
o'clock P. NJ. On Mondays and Wednesdays SER
mons in French.
Church Of st. Vincent de Paul.-Sermons in
French BY Able Perche on Mondays and Wednes-
lays at half past O'Clock P. M, and in English |
IN Tuesdays and Thursdays, by Able Foltier,
,urate Of the parish. ~
Trinity Church.-Besides the usual exercises,
ermons in German on Wednesday, at o'clock
;. N.
The CRESCENT cannot TOO warmly approve the
ction of the Mechanics society in inaugurating
ourse OF lectures on the physical Sciences and in
'uttiDg into practical effect schools and classes Of
drawing, and introducing series of
ectures on natural history, mechanical inven-
ions and other subjects of scientific interest This
! an enterprise which has long been sorely needed
q this city. The gentlemen who compose the
ommittee appointed by the society are earnest in
heir efforts to carry the matter to a successful
PRACTICAL issue. 1t is their desire to open commu-
ication with architects, professors, lecturers on
be various sciences named, and in fact with all
nen Of theoretical or practical knowledge who
nay be interested in this most prsseworthy I'M
ertaking. The opportunity of training young
Mechanics and students in the principles of their
nfooo |