The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-06
LETTER FROM MOBILE.
"A Gala wholesome Public Buildings-Fes.
viies by the Odd Fellows and Home MIL
fary.

tfvt les BY the Odd Fellows ana Home MI
MOBILE, April 80, 1875.
Dear Buuetin-The week now drawing to
close will long be remembered in Mobile. t
it has been one continuous holiday, each d,
bringing some new excitement, some fres
Monday-in addition to the ceremonies
memorial Day." Of which I wrote you-w,
also duly celebrated as the anniversary ,
Odd Fellowship, that noble order which, fe
ffty-six years, has been constantly increasin
in strength and numbers, silently spd i
secret working untold good to humanity.
The members of the various lodges il Nc
bile assembled at Odd Fellows Hall at 1913
A. NJ. and forming in imposing procession
paraded the principal streets, returning Il
the hall where the impressive anniversar.
ceremonies adopted by the last meeting of tn
Grand Lodge Of the United States were per
Termed, concluding with an eloquent ORATOR
delivered by Alexander McKinstry, Past Crane
Representative. In the evening full dress
and masquerade ball prolonged the celebra
ton until daylight dispersed the happy but
merry dancers.
On Tuesday we rode out to Spring Hill. five
miles from Mobile, to visit ST. Joseph's Col
lege. This institution was established on Its
present site forty-fve years ago by the Fathers
of the Society of Jesus. The original build
ings were totally destroyed by fire in 1869.
By this sad calamity the institution lost ev-
erythinp it possessed. An extensive library,
including many rare and invaluable old vol
umes and manuscripts which money can not
replace. the museum, even the clothing of
the Fathers, all persisted in the flames. The
buildings have been rebuilt on much i'm
proved plan, scarcely to be excelled in point
Of elegant exterior, substantial structure, con-
venience of accommod ation, and facilities for
thorough ventilation. The present library,
however, is but the merest nucleus of the
collection appropriate to such an institution,
and the same may be said of the museum.
The Convent or Academy of the Visitation
offers less attractive external appearance,
being enclosed on all sides by high, forbid
ding brick walls; the small, deep set windows
devoid of shutters, and all tightly closed
having prison-like aspect that deferred us
from asking admittance.
Tuesday evening we listened to very in
teresting lecture by DR.. Michel, of Mont
gomery, the subject being Paul II. Hayne
and his POEMS" The lecture was polished
address, sparkling with native wit, contain
ing many exceedingly interesting reminis-
cences of the poet and illustrated by numerous
choice selections from his published poems.
several of them charmingly rendered bv a
young lady of Mobile The lecture closed
with the welcome announcement of forth
coming volume Of recent poems, from the
publishing house Of E. J. Hale, of Boston |
Tuesday was also marked by the opening |
of the Agricultural, Mechanical and Horticui. |
tursl Fair, of which more anon.
The excitement of Wednesday was the
arrival of the Montgomery Crews" their
reception by. the Mobile soldier boys, their
parade and subsequent sumptuous entertain
ment at the Battle House, and the grand ball
in the evening. Armory Hall was elegantly
decorated for the occasion with garlands Of
evergreens and flowers wreaths and notices,
huge vases Of roses and magnolias, while the
walls were literally covered with Confederate
mementoes in the shape of oil portraits of our
loved heroes, Lee and jackson, Beauregard
flags presented to and carried by the Mobile
companies; spirited engravings of various
battle fields, both Confederate and foreign.
Among the most conspicuous ornaments
was an oil painting Of the Alabama with the
beautiful sword presented to Admiral Semmes
by the officers of the Royal English Navy.
The rooms of the Mobile Cadets German
Fusiliers, Washington Light Artillery, Mo-
bile Rifles, Gulf City Guards, ETC., were all
thrown open to the guests of the evening,
and were found to be handsomely decorated
in the late war; streamers in.
scribed with the names of the battles they
fought in, battle flags stained with gore and
pierced with bullet holes, and numerous
,ther sacred mementoes.
Conspicuous among the guests and par
icipating freely in the festivities of the eve
ming were many Federal officers in full uni
orm-the blue and the gray apparently har-
cordially. The sombre black of
ordinary evening dress was decidedly at
scount.
The committee of arrangements carried out
heir programme to perfection, and the record
f this ball will fill brilliant page in the his
DRY Of Mobile festivities.
On Thursday morning the soldier-boys
gain assembled at Armorv Hall to partake of
sumptuous repast prepared for them by the
aides of Mobile. In such abundance were
be good things of life provided, that, after all
I'D Toasted to their hearts content, enough
emained to form a noble donation to the
rphan asylums, whose little inmates are not
ften RECALLED with such astronomical deli.
acies as formed the staples of this feast.
They then repaired to the Fair Grounds,
18th banners waving and bands playing,
here, under the admiring glances Of thou
lnds of fair ladies and brave men, they
ent through the manual of arms and evolu-
ltions, executing the various movements
18th soldierly precision.
After the parade, they repaired to the Bat
Q House for the parting feast After gener-
IS ibations of Krug and Heidsieck, toasts
I'd speeches, the drum beat the long roll,
I'd the grays marched to the depot amid the
q glare of red lights and the echo of deafen-
g cheers taking their departure for Mont
mery by the 1I:3O P. NJ. train.
J. NJ W.
Great enterprises are springing up all over
Q world. Besides the Mount Gents tunnel
Q Alps are being pierced by still greater
re under Mont ST. Gothard. The Suez
nal finds a counterpart in the projected
Ter oceanic canal across the Isthmns of