New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-19
Communicated.
A TRIP TO THE LAKE.

i UlcSSCU cSAOAA9 w.
Cant-get-away" and the Little-or
| nothing-to-do" clubs, it suddenly struck m.
J busy mind that an evening excursion to tn
lake via the Morgan railroad would, in thes'
hot melting days, refresh my boiling brains
So, on Saturday, I gathered together my Ut
tie "chicks,v and, accompanied by thu
madam, we proceeded en- masse to the depo
at the foot of Lafayette street. When W.
reached there, to my great disgust, my new
black alpaca suit had grown twenty year
older-it was perfectly gray. To get to thu
cars you have to wade your way for fifteeI
minutes, knee deep in dust, which, being
raised in the air by the wind, powders yor
up in style. Our party looked like so many
rats emerging from barrel of -four.
Soon we entered the wagon. The fire
horse at the tap of the bell snOrted, blew
it's nostrils and darted off at the unprece
denied rate of-five miles an hour.
After a good deal of rocking, jumping
and jolting we were landed, without limb
injured, opposite the Washington or Dene
chaud's hotel. The consequence was the
unpleasant prospect that if we wanted to
see the lake we must walk in the sun, on
the wharf, the distance of at least mile.
Bravely we pushed forward, and soon shell
| tered ourselves under one of the long shades
built there expressly to be yearly blown
down by gales.
The air was delightful, the sight splen-
did hundreds of little crafts were sailing
around like SO many graceful ducks, cOlors
flying the sum went down, the horizon was
in a blaze; no human writer can ever de-
scribe such magnificent and glorious
scenery.
The "chicks" then begged ''pa" for a
bath. Thinking it would look funny to see
them jumping and sporting in the water
like young pOrpoises, l took them to the
Family Bathing House." expecting to find
a decent, we'll kept establishment where
ladies and gentlemen are generally atten-
lively and politely cared for. What mis-
take. Ugly and fat, communicating
women, rough and impudent fellows to
wait ON you, and nasty, cut-throat OF
"Dago" acting doorkeeper. Implanted
boards, filthy four feet square ooffins, called
rooms; hard, common bench; small
hatch-way, with perpendicular ladder to
60 in the water; such are the comforts
offered to visitors. 1t takes a Blondin
to descend these ladders, and as am not
even a miniature "Turnour," with all the
care took, l missed one of the bars, and
down L went like a dropping shell, knees
brent and nose badly skinned, to the great
delight of my little ones. ....T
Night having set on, called for some
light; no such a thing allowed water being
very scarce, they are afraid Of fire.
We did our best in the dark, and entered
the dressing room to put the last touch to
our toilet; to our great annoyance, the
crowd burst out into stentorious laugh at
our aspect. We hurried out, the madam
had on my roundabout, and was CARRIED
in her sack" Those ridiculous laughs are
still ringing in my ears.
The pleasant wind, the walk, the bath
had highly sharpened my appetite, and sol
itary dropped into Bondro's old place, the
balance of the family preferring to listen to
l settled myself comfortably in front of
a clean and snowy little table, next TO a
window opening on the lake. which gave
access to delicious breeze, and called for a |
g croaker," half of spring chicken and
nalf bottle of claret. After thirty minutes
patience the victuals were prepared, and |
vent to work. Everything was exquisite
md admirably put up. l felt so contented
hat, with smile, remarked to the "gar
on that would come back often.
Like a well satisfied gourmet l
marched to the counter with a couple of
lollars to settle the little bill, and rendered
he shingles. The cashier tthey keep regu-
ar cashiers in those places, being sound.
old banks, where money is coined by the
ushel,) looked up at me, and in an awful
rokejaw English, said: 1.-TWO dollars
nore, please, four dollars in all; very
heap, never Overcharge our customers-the
heapest restaurant about here, SIR
"What," said 1, ''four dollars; very cheap,
ternal cheap I shelled out without an
Their word, for if you start discussing with
hose French walters, they will talk, talk,
ab, jab, and finally prove to you that you
re in the wrong, and summing up again the
tile bill, will add something more to it to
ay for all the talking they had to do.
as about to exit, when he offered me a
Duple of black cabbage leave tobacco
gars, with ''Only fifty cents apiece, Mon
eur; cheap, cheap" l bolted out, and
topped only within gun-shot of this cheap,
cry cheap concern, hotly pursued by the
hole family which was under the impress
on that some hornets or wasps had been
tinging me, or some of the Metropolitan
olice were after me to take little look in
de my pocket-book. The ''minks" en-
,yed much when l related what cheap Il
inner l had just eat; the youngest one re-
arking that if l had bought him cakes and
INDY it would have been much cheaper.
he madam looked harsh at me- seemed to |
" nothing, but could read through her
'ul. She was murmuring inside: 'Humph! |
our dollars. Wretch "
The Morgan train arrived-great institu-
ION for people residing up town; we all
lmped in, tightly boxed, sardine fashion,
nd OF we started. Thirty minutes after
re came to dead stand at the old Third {
district depot and were informed that the
rain went no farther; new simmer arrange
,ents had been made. Now. Just you mag
IL how agreeable this sounded. A grumbling
ady groaned, male children using profane
,nguage against the owner of tbe road.
Inc little fellow, believing, felt tired,
7anted some cakes and candy at eleven at {