Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-13
PERE ANTOINE's DATE PALM.

Near the levee and not far from the
old French Cathedral, in the Place
d'Armes, at New Orleans, stands fine
date palm, thirty feet in hight, spreading
its broad leaves in the alien air as hard
lily as if its sinuous roots were sucking
strength from their native earth. Sir
Charles Lyell, in his Second visit to
the United States" mentions this exotic:
THE tree is seventy or eighty years
old; for Pere Antoine, Roman Catho-
lie priest, who died some twenty years
ago, told Mr.. Bringier that he planted
il himself, when he was young. In his
will he provided that they who succeeded
TO this lot of ground should forfeit it if
they cut down this palm"
Wishing to know something of Pere
Antoine's history, Mr.. Charles Lyell
made inquiries among the ancient Creole
inhabitants of the faubourgs.
That the old priest in his last days
became very much emaciated; that he
walked about the streets like mummy;
that he gradually dried up and finally
blowed away, was the meager and unsat-
isfactory result of the tourist investiga-
ton. This is all that is generally told
of Pere Antoine.
In the summer of 1861, while New
Orleans was still occupied by the rebel
fsrces, l met at Alexandra, in Vir-
ginia, lady from Louisiana - Miss
Blondeau by name-who gave me the
substance Of the following legend touch
ing Pere Antoine and his wonderful date
palm. If it should appear tame to the
reader, it is because / am not habited in
black-ribbed silk dress with strip Of
point lace around my throat like Miss
Blondeau; it will be because | lack her
eyes, and lips, and Southern music to
tell it with.
When Pere Antoine was a very young
man, he had friend whom he loved as
he loved his life. Emile Jardin returned
this passion, and the two on account OF
their friendship became the marvel of
the city. One was never seen without
the other, for they studied, walked, ate
and slept together.
Thus began Miss Blondean, with the
air of Fiammetta telling her prettiest
story to the Florentine, in the garden of
Boocaccio.
Antoine and Emile were preparing to
enter the church. Indeed, they had
taken the preliminary steps when cir
cumstance occurred which changed the
color of their lives. A foreign lady,
from some nameless island in the Pa
ciGc, had few months before moved
into their neighborhood. The lady died
suddenly, leaving girl of sixteen or
seventeen entirely fFiendless and un-
provided for. The young men had been
kind 10 the woman during her illness,
and at her deeth-meltiHg with pity at
the forlorn situation of Anglice the
between themselves to
love and watch over her as if she were
their sister.
Now, Anglice had q wild, strange
beauty that made other women seem
tame beside her; and in this course OF
time the young men found themselves
regarding their ward not so much like
brothers as at first. In brief, they found
in love with her. They strug-
pled with their hopeless passion month
after month, neither betraying his secret
TO the other; foF The austere orders
which they were about to Sgsume pre-
ciuded the idea of love and marriage.
Until then, they had dwelt id the calm
air of religious meditations, unmoved
except by that pious feryor that in other
ages taught men to brave the tortures of |
the rack and to smile amid the flames. |
But blonde girl, with great eyes, and a !
voice like the soft notes of vesper |
hymn had co'ae in between them and
their ascetic dreams Of heayen. The !
lies that had bound the young u1ep TO-
gether snapped silently one by one. At
ength each read in the pale face of the
other the story of his own despair.
And she1 If Anglice shared their
roubles, her face told no story. 1t was
ike the face of a saint on a cathedral |
window. Once, however, as she came
upon the two men, and over
heard words that seemed to burn like
ire on the lips of the speaker, her eyes
rev luminous for an instant Thea she /
laGsed on, her face as immobile as be-
ore, in its setting Of wavy golden hair:
"Entre or et yous.
Dieu ct les longs cbeveux."
One night Emile and Anglice we're
Missing. They had fown-but whittier,
lobody knew, and nobody save Antoine
AIRED. Il was a heavy blow to him, for
le had himself hslf resolved to confess
lis love to Anglice, and urge her to fly
nth him.
A strip of paper slipped from q vol
lme on Antoine's prize dieu, and tut
cred to his feet.
HD6 not be angry" said the bit Of
,aper, piteouslyi forgive Us, for we
ove."
Three years vent By YEARLY enough:
Lntoine had entered the church, and
Tas already looked on as a rising man
ut his face vas pale and his heart
eaden, for there was no sweetness IN