The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-21
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 81 1876.

derive from Teutsch, because in the last cen
tury it was settled partly by German colonists
runs almost in an easterly direction, till il
mixes it's waters with the Atchafalaya. AL
| along the bayou you see fourishipg little vii
lagos, towns and plantations, the most notice
able places being Centreville, Franklin, Char
enton, Jeanerette, New Iberia and st. Martins
Vile. All these places-something novel for
visitor from New Orleans-are on high land
from ten to fifteen feet above high water.
Franklin, quite q thriving little city, is near
the centre of st. Mary's Parish, whose beau
tiful name denotes it's Catholic origin. The
chief attraction of Charenton is the vicinity
of the Grand Lake. This lake, though not
half as large, is more picturesque than Lake
Pontchartrain, and abounds in the most deli
cate fish. 1t is remarkable on account of the
white shell hills which stretch all along its
western shores. Fancy to yourself long TO We
of bills, ten to fifteen feet high, all of pure
white shells, without the least mixture of sand
or mad, and forming q perfect breastwork
aFs1nd the waters. How they were piled up,
whether by the hands of the Indians or by the
waves of the lake. is question as hard to
solve in ono way ss in the other.
New Iberia is q city in embryo, it's position
being such as to command the trade of the
whole Attakapas. Its population is almost as
mixed as is that of New Orleans.
Eleven miles further up the Bayou is St..
Martinsville, the home of Gen. Alcbiades De-
Blanc and Albert VOORHEES,, and the strong hold
OF the Louisiana Democracy. On entering the
town one is painfully reminded by the sight
of the boys in blue, that Louisiana is not
yet a free State. But the soldiers do not seem
to feel themselves in hostile country and
recprocate the friendly feelings of the citizens.
In religious matters, st. Martinsville is most
prosperous, owing to the zeal of the venerable
pastor, Very Rev. NJ. Jan. AS kind and devoted
as he is energetic, and as humble as he is gen
erous, this sanity old man, now abeut to cele-
brate the fftieth anniversary of his ordin alton,
has so administered the affairs of his parish as
to make it a model of perfection. I am told
that Father Jan was ordained in 1926 in Paris,
at the same time that Archbishop Purcell, of
was rRised to the dignity of the
priesthood. Last year Father Jan completed
his new church, which in size is cathedral like,
while in architectural style it is, in my opinion,
by far the most classical of any of the churches
in this Diocese. Father Jan is at present ne
gotiating with the distinguished painter, Mr
Humj-echt, of this city, to have the church
frescoed. If that gentleman is engaged and
succeeds as well in the design aud execution Of
his paintings here he has in those of the
Cathedral, Holy Trinity and St. Augustine's
Father JAMS church will soon be, in all re-
spects, the finest church in this State.
The people here are mostly French and
Spanish Creoles and Indians. The latter,
hardy and honest, are true to the character Of
their ancestors, who emgrated from their
Canadian homes in order to preserve their
religion. In the parish of st. Msry's there are
not a few Indians, mostly Catholics, some
living on small farms, others in the woods.
Through the kindness of Rev. Father Rouquette
they have had some specimens of their work
sent to the Centennial, where they
will certainly attract attention.
The advantages offered to the settler in this
part of the country are many and great. The
climate is salubrious, the lands fertile. All
the year round he can have fresh vegetables,
his cattle can feed out in the fields from
to December and he has ample leisure
to fish and hunt, game Astounding on all sides.
Land is also cheap, the best, high and in good
order, and fronting on the Bayou, selling at from
go to $50. All that is needed to make this the
most prosperous country in America is q popu-
lation of industrious farmers and the establish
ment of central sugar factories which will en-
able the small farmers to sell their cane at
market rates. Then the Louisiana farmer will
be the richest in the world, and with twenty
acres will live better and make more money
than Northern farmer who owns 200 acres.
ANON.