The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-11

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hanging over them, il needs but breath Il
renew their prosperity, and make this tn
most thriving city OF the republic
THE LEvEE,
with It's ST.. of life and ever changing kaleldc
scope Of color. is the most CHARACTERISTIC
sight that mortal man could wish To looF
upon. and the most wonderful place TO TAX
ramble through. know OF no place In thi:
country or Europe to be compared 10 II; ahC
no place where, al single gIahce' 5" grant
Is panorama can be seen.
The steamboat landing is at the loot OF
Canal street, and il is often that over one
hundred boats are III al time. FROM the
deck OF one we get view Of the entire levee
To the right and left forest OF mastS Is Wis
able, while anchored out in the fast running
stream can be seen many steamers, shipS OF
war and IN iron.clad monitor. Beyond, near
Algiers, on the opposite side OF the river
may be seen numerous crafts OF all dllneh'
slOns, from whose lDas!-heads noat the Ndgs
Of their nation.
Casting our eyes "landward,' We behold
the vast levce before US, rising abruptly from
the waters edge, and extending back at least
1000 tcct to The buildings along the river
front
The lcvcc is covered with thousands OF
bales of cotton, sacks OF corn, cotton SEED
and freight jnnumerablc, MI In apparent uh
diStngU lshable confusion; little flags, now
ever, arc stuck in al different centres to when
the swift moving Steyedores rapidly carry
the destined goods Millions OF dollars
worth of goods arc handled and disposed OF
in a day.
Ii is interesting to note the various foreign
shipping, with queer NAMES, curious hulks
and paint; and to listen to the language there
spoken. 1t you are u llngui,t, here is the
place to refresh your memory, by talking to
these representatives of all nations. You
may bother your brain over the patoiS, not
French, Spanish or Italian, the Llngua Fran
ca OF the Mediterranean or be utterly con.
founded by the Congo French, or mixture oil
negro, AS the name denotes.
II i curious to sec the thousands OF little
schoOncrs running to the West lndias, ana
returning with bananas, CoCoanuts anu pine
apples Those only who have eaten the be-
mana in this section Of the eounTy knows
now delicious It is, as rank tart Is FOUND
when ripcned in a northern cline.
There arc rcCollectiohs that force them
selves upon us, as we stroll along, OF the
memorable occasion when the Union men-ot'
war. having passed the lower forts, made
their appearance in the river IN battle array,
IN front of the city, when the citizens IN IAN
ced security were suddenly surprised ana IN
an angry tumultouus throng rushed TO the
water front, but seeing how matters stood re-
signed themselves to their fate, while Butler
"baslc" took conrro! of the city.
New Orleans Is blcst with more handsome
public squares than any city OF lis size III
America The city proper Is bounded by
spacious streets $50 feet wide, and ornament
ed with beautiful shade trees, presenting at
all seasons q very handsome appearance. AS
u review of them would take more space than
YOU would allow, and time with me is short,
| will not attempt II description; but cannot
pass without referring to
JACKSON SQUARE,
the handsomcst and most historic IN the city.
THIS beautiful pleasure ground was once
called the Place d'Arms, but received its last
cognomen when tho statue of the Old Veteran
was erected in it, When Ben Butler had
command of the city he had carved in the
granite base the words of the old veteran,
Jackson: The Union must and shall be pre-
served" This was done at the point OF the
bayonet.
Divcrgng from the statue in all directions
are beautifully graded shell walks, bordered
with tie choicest flowers OF the south, luxu-
riOus vines and cvergreens, which at all sea
sons OF the year present pleasing picture to
The eye; magnificent orange trees with their
golden fruit, stately magnolias, clustering
bananas under their gigantic leaves, birds OF
rare plumagc, and the notes of hooking birds
mingling with the voices of merry children,
the tread Of pedestrians, and the morning
echoes of the old cathedral clock, whose
strokes have sounded in the ears OF genera
a.; nd If
the most interesting places in the land OF sun
and flowers
The historical "reminiscences of this old
square would OF themselves make large vol.
umc, while the tender romanCes, begun, ma
tured or consummated under the cool shade
of its trees, would, we presume, form more
thrilling tales than were ever conceived In
the brains Of the most vivid writer of fiction.
Languishing Spanish beauties, piquant
French bellies, sweetiaced daughters from
classic ltaly or stored Greece, the women of
every cline, have in this spot listened TO the
witChing tale they love to hear; while brave
soldiers have been drilled, arms stacked or
distributed to the defenders Of the stars and
stripes, and those who battled for the "lOS,
cause IN fact all the phases OF human Joy
or woe, honor or disgrace, hope or fear, have
been enacted and experienced in this old
jackson square.
New Orleans has no lofty Mountains tower.
ing in majestic proportions to the skies; no
wales lingering between snow-cappcd hills
90 musical streams meandering over rocks
and Cliffs to the ever surging sea. But il has
broad savannas aud fertile plains bearing
immense wealth, the most exquisite foliage
and the most beautiful flowers Of the earth
enriching the air with their perfume and
causing the sweetest zephers TO float gently
through the leaves, bringing calm delight "a
all that's beautiful IN nature
If there Is heavenly driye" upon earth
1t is the Shell road in this city; and is as well
kept as a race track. 1t is the most attractive
drive have ever had the pleasure of seeing
lined on both sides With handsome reslden
ces, surrounded with beautiful gardens, the
finest in the southern country; and richl,
ioliaged trees which throw delightful shad,
on the way, and mrrored in varying shades
and fantastic shapes.
In this drive we take in the cemeteries OF
Greenwood, Cypress uroye, St. PatrickS anu
| Odd Fellows Rest, all containing tomb,
w nf ilrt ha