Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-27
4 TRIP SOUTH.

No. 8.

day afternoon, when we took one of the ele-
giant Morgan Line of steamers at 3 o'clock.
The first thing that struck our attention on
going aboard was clear, beautiful whistle, but
on looking around to see the young ''ebony"
who produced it, we were somewhat surprised
to discover that the sound was not the result of
human skill but proceeded from the throat Of
mocking bird, which belonged to the Cap.
tain of the boat, and for which he had been
offered SIS. have no doubt if the bird as
| in New York it would readily command twice
that sum. 1t would whistle quite variety of
tunes which had been taught it by whistling
them in the birds hearing. l hardly need
say that these songsters are natives of
Louisiana and the other Gulf States. They
are almost as abundant as our robins, and
make the woods and trees melodious day and
night. Their nests are sought for with great
avidity, as from them the northern market is
supplied, it being impossible to breed them
North. One man told me he had paid $40 to
obtain the location of a nest from which he
had got six birds. The one month old birds
sell in the bird stores in New Orleans for
Sl.50. For two months they have to be fed
with boiled potato and eggs, mashed fine, by
| hand, and much care taken with them. After
that age they arrive at sufficient discretion to
know enough to help themselves when hungry.
| They are troublesome to raise and to keep
alive, owing to their tender constitutions
which will not bear rough weather or unsuita-
| If irIs
are taken north by dealers every spring. In
this city Washington they are quite plenty
and keep so continual singing by night as
well as by day that they are to some unmusi-
cal aud to weak nerved persons a great nui-
sance.
Our boat took what is called the inside pas
sage to New Orleans, keeping in shore and
passing down Mobile Bay into Mississippi
Sound, by Ship Island through Pass called
Rigoletts, into Lake Pontchartrain. The ride
was beautiful one, especially in the evening
when the moon rose in a cloudless sky. At
o'clock we had fine supper on board; but
unfortunately for several of the lady passen-
gers about that time, the steamer was passing
between some of the larger islands which sep
aratc the Sound from the gulf and the sea
was too rough to allow perfectly enjoyable
meal. Everything on the steamboat was kept
: scrupuously neat and the Captain, whose
] name we are sorry not to have learned, was
/ model skipper" The cline" we under
! stand is owned principally by New York capt.
talists This route is altogether the most en-
, joyable, unless a person has a dread of sea-
sickness, as you will get very comfortable
nights sleep and avoid the mosquitoes which
, infest the swamps through which the railroad
passes, and renders $50 we were informed)
the passage by rail a very harrassing opera
ton.
We arrived at Lake Porte shortly after sun
rise. Here we disembarked and got on board
the New Orleans & Lake Pontchartrain Rail-
road. After ride through the mournful
cypress swamps of seven miles we came to
the famous Crescent City. The early morn
ing air was redolent with the perfume of
flowers, and crowds of working men and wo-
men and market people were thronging the
streets. The railroad passes along by the
celebrated French market, which is only par
ticularly famous on Sundays, when it is kept
open as on other days until noon.
Leaving the cars we passed along Canal
street, the principal thoroughfare of the city.
The first object which particularly attracted
our attention was an immense solid block of
stone, covering an entire square which, had
we been in Egypt or Babylon we should prob
ably have hailed it as a monument of past
grandeur; but imagine our surprise when we
were told that this great Bastile was the IA
nous q might truly say infamousl New
: Orleans Custom House building 1t is built
of Quincy granite, and was commenced in
lS47 and work continued up to the breaking
out of the war. Since the close Of the re-
bellion work has been resumed, and it is now
proposed to finish it on modified plan at an
estimated cost of $620, 900. To complete it
on the original plan would cost over $4,000
900 in addition to what has already been ex-
pended. Up to July, 1870, the building had
cost the Government the enormous sum OF
S3,500,000 None of the interior is finished
only temporarily fitted up for the accommo-
/ daton of the Government officials, and the
) roof is very light wooden one, covered with
gravel and tar. In ls45 the plans we're invited,
: and General Beauregard (the late rebel Gen
I eral,) was placed in charge of its construc-
Q ton. The accepted plans were those of a
3 State prison convict named Wood, who draft
ed them while in the Louisiana Penitentiary
and was subsequently pardoned out, l suppose
on that account. The thing was conceived in
, iniquity and always will be an abortion This
, building illustrates in forcbe manner the
former influence in our Government of the
Southern politicians. That they should have
been able to have started such building so
long ago seems almost incredible, when we
consider that the city of New York is now
doing its commercial importations through
the doorways of Custom House not more