The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-08-23

l retired, / thought the shades of
night would leave me in some rich,
productive valley in Missouri, but
daylight disclosed nothing scarcely
but rugged cliffs and barren limestone
hills. However, we soon entered the
valley of DeSoto, with its fertile soil
and healthy vegetation. Still the en-
ergy of the inhabitants is not up to
the times, as evidenced by their old
fashioned log cabins, somo of which
have no doubt existed over q hundred
years. Two or three I noticed of pc
suliar construction. The base is built
up about eight feet, and for the re-
naming fous the logs are crossed SO
as to make an octagonal. They are on
elevated positions, and no doubt
served the purpose Of fort and dwell
ing,
The train landed me in St. Louis at
~ A. NJ. stopped at the Southern
Hotel, bathed, breakfastcd and found
every thing in abundance that is re-
quired for convenience and comfort.
1t is one of the best hotels in st. Louis,
and is conducted as the New Orleans
hotels. ! then visited Lafayette Park,
now the principal one in the city. It
has natural grottoes and fountains.
also artificial lake, fountains and
monuments. Near the centre is an
arfor made of the natural branches of
trees, with matched straw roof.
There is a bridge Of the same mater
ial near this, aud a small natural lake
and fountain, the latter aided a little
by art. In the western part is a large
lake, with small boats for rowing, and
on and around the lake may be seen
swan, wild geese and ducks. There
is music stand near the lake for the
bands, and it serves as Il register for
those donkeys who wish to be rcmcm-
bered as having visited the place.
Two monuments stand near, one of
Benton and one Of Washington, both
bronzed iron, the former by far the
largest. The park is well shaded,
watercd and improved, with many
interesting flowers and plants, among
them several century plants, about
which surprised an old gentleman
by telling him that they bloom in
Louisiana in twenty-five years. This
park is the principal resort of the poor,
and is we'll patronized.
Compton's Hill, four miles west of
the river, is an elevated tract, COM
mands fine view of tho surrounding
country and contains the reservoir of
the city watcrworks and many elc-
CANT residences and churches, among
the former one built by the late John
j. Roe, the pork king OF st. Louis.
Lower Grove Park is just COM
menced, and is destined to become a
very fine park. 1t is now simply laid
out and a few Improvements made.
The roads through the park and vi
cinity are in splendid condition, but
not equal to the shell roads of New
Orleans. This park contains about
three hundred acres.
Shaw's Garden deserves to leave
upon tho mind of any person a more
pleasant recollection of the Queen
City of The West than all the rest that
may be seen. A perfect little para
disc of flowers! You think while
there that you are in some other
sphere. Every thing is perfectly quiz
ct, the flowers so numerous and beau
tlfully arranged, the shrubbery and |
sidewalks in perfect order. 1t is no
use to compare, for l am sure there
is nothing like it on the continent.
There is collection of all or nearly
all of the tropical plants and fruits,
and specimens Of vegetation from ev-
cry country. This is the finest bo-
tanical collection in the world, and
any one visiting st. Louis should not
fail to see Shaw's Garden. There is
1 building in the garden from which
you may see.most of it, and in which
you will find the names of most of the
;ools who have honored the place
With visit. The Smiths, Jones' and
are we'll represented. The
garden is open all day for visitors free
If charge.
! returned to the city and visited