Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-29
THE BARREN DATE TREE.
A Legend of New Orleans.

In the old French quarter of the city
of New Orleans-that strangely quaint
section of the town which, with its tropi-
cal fruits and flowers, its ancient houses
and its narrow streets, reminds one of
the cities of Spain-grows, at a certain
street corner, a tall, gnarled and barren
date tree, which has stood there for more
than seventy years. 1t is enclosed in a
yard, and stands in a small court at
tached to the Misunderstanding of old
fashioned houses. This house, like its
fellows of equal age in the quarter in
which it is situated, is built of material
called adobe, is of one-story in hight,
and is covered with the red tiles placed
there nearly a century ago. 1t is vener-
able in appearance, and bears about it a
forlern look, quite in keeping with the
dismal story attached to it. Above the
roof, the date tree rises high in the air,
its long, pointed leaves gathered in a
bunch at the top, and its whole length
rough with knots and excrescences. For
more than half century have people
passing it gazed upon it, and the dismal
house to which it is attached, with thrill
of delightful awe. For here was it in the
time when the flag of Spain waved from
the old cudrtel in Chartress street. when
the Spanish drums beat at the parades in
the Place d d'Armes; when the evening
cannon was fred, calling upon all good
people to return within the ramparts;
when the last buccaneers of the Spanish
main came surreptitionsly, at intervals,
to the city to dispose Of their silken trea-
sures and ravished spoils; when the gen.
tlemen of the town collected at some
Royal street cafe and sat in chairs upon
the pavement in front of it, slipping their
wines and orange flower water and play
ing at dominoes-here was II In those
memorable days of the old colonial city,
that the Tree by mysterious hands was
planted, and the Traitor met his doom.
Who he was or whence he had come
no man knew. He made his appearance
\ in New Orleans suddenly. A hand
some man, black-bearded and of bronzed
hue, of elegant look, OF haughty bearlpg,
attired in sombre black velvet Marquis
coat, with black satin knee breeches, and
black silk stockings-he was person
who, from his distinguished air and the
reserve of his manner, speedily became
tho subject Of gossip upon the prone.
nades and at the cafes, Ihe arrival OF
this mysterious and unheralded person
age soon grew to be the sensation of
the hour.
The stranger almost Immediately upon
his arrival secured the house which ]
have described, as his place ofresidenoe.
1t was unoccupied at the time, and he
entered it at once. At that time the
Date Tree was not planted, and the
rays of the burning sun beat down,
through the long summer days, upon
the red tiles Of The sloplng roof pnim-
peded by any obstacle. But in the
small court the wide, tapping leaves of
the banana plant made cooling shade,
beneath which the solitary recluse was
wont to sit, with strange, far-of, medi-
tatiye look in his eye, listening to the
noises ip the street and to the voices of
the little children who played upon the
walk in front Of his door. The stranger
never appeared in public places Of the
the town, or, indeed, upon the streets
anywhere. An old negress, whom he
had hired on his arrival, took charge Of
all those duties Of daily necessity which
occasionally compelled mingling with
the people-shopkeepers and others; but
she knew nothing more Of her employer
than that he spoke French fiuently
French at that time was the almost uni
yersally spoken language of the city,
and that sho bad heard him sometimes
speaking to himself in sn unfamiliar
foreign tongue. This woman never re-
mained-over night in the house, but
would. in accordance with the instruc
tions of the stranger, take her departure
each evening when her days work was
done, to reappear at sunrise of the next
day. All these rumors only served to
add to the interest which the stranger
had excited on his arrival, and If any
thing had been needed 10 intensity this
interest, il would have been found In the
fact that the attendant seemed to be
plentifully supplied with money on her
periodical visits TO the shops, and that
her payments we're invariably made in
coins Of southern Europe.
In this condition Of mysterious seclu-
sion on the part Of the stranger, and of
increasing curiosity on the part Of the
people of the town, the days Of summer
passed into the days Of autumn, and the
doubt that surrounded the recluse re-
mained unsolved. From conversing
upon the subject Of the mystery. the
neighbors, after a while, commenced to
prepare plots. and weave tolls, whereby
some glimpses into his daily life could
DO obtained. Il was not enough that the
stranger suffered himself 70 be stared at
from the windows of neighboring houses
as he sat in the yard in the shade cast
by the declining sun, although at times
he seemed TO be disturbed BY this scru-
tiny, and on these occasions retired into
the house TO escape the eyes Of the
curious gassTs when the attention had
become too prolonged 10 be borne in
patience, but the neighboFs began to
put into practice various little arts and
contrivanoes, which, It vas hoped, would
make the mystery Of his inner life clear
to their comprehension. Thus, at odd