New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-07
"POSSON JONE.
BY GEORGE w. CABLE.

POISSON JONE."
BY GEORGE w. CABLE.
To Jules St. Ange-elegant little hea
then-there yet remained at manhood a
remembrance of having been to school, an(
of having been taught by stony-headed
Capuchin that the world is round-for OK
ample, like cheese. This round world is
q cheese to be eaten through, and Jules
had nibbled quite into his cheese world al
ready at twenty-five.
He realized this as he idled about one
Sunday morning where the intersection OF
Royal and Cont streets some seventy year:
ago formed central corner Of New Orleans.
Yes, yes, the trouble was he had been waste.
full and honest. He discussed the matter
with that faithful friend and confident, Bap-
tiste, his yellow body servant. They con-
cluded that, papas patience and tante's pin
money having been gnawed away quite to
the rind, there were left open only these
few easily enumerated resorts: to go to
work-they shuddered; to join Major In.
nerarity's tilibustering expediditiOn; or
else-why MOTTO try some games Of con.
fidence. At twenty-five one must begin to
be something. Nothing else tempted; could
that avail! One could but try. 1t is noble
to try; and, besides, they were hungry. II
one could make the friendship" Of some
person from the country, for instance, with
money, not expert at cards or dice, but, as
one would say, willing to learn, one might
find cause to say some Hail Marys."
The sun broke through clearing sky,
There had been a hurricane in the night.
The weed-grown tile roofs were still drip
ping, and from lofty brick and low adobe
walls rising steam responded to the sum
mer sunlight. Up street and across the
Rue du Canal one could get glimpses of the
gardens in Faubourg St. Marie standing in
silent wretchedness so many fearful Lucre-
tias, tattered victims of the storm. Short
remnants Of the wind now and then came
down the narrow street in erratic putfs
heavily laden with doors of broken boughs
and torn flowers, ekimmed the little pools
of rain water in the deep ruts of the Ut
paved street, and suddenly went away to
nothing, like juggers butterflies or
young mans money.
1t was very picturesque, the Rue Royale.
The rich and poor meet together. The lock-
smiths swinging key creaked next door to
the bank; across the way, crOuching, men
dicant- like. in the shadow of great i'm
porting house, was the muddy laboratory
of the member of broken combs. Light
balconies overhung the rows of snowy
shops and stores open for trade this Sunday
morning, and pretty Latin faces of the
higher class glanced over their savagely-
prOnged ratings upon the passers below.
At some windows hung lace curtains, fan
mel duds at some, and at others only the
scraping and signing one-hinged shutter
grooming toward Paris after its neglecttul
master.
NJ. St. Ange stood looking up and down
the street for nearly an hour. But few la.
dies, only the inveterate mass gOers, were
out. About the entrance of the frequent
Gates the masculine gentility stood leaning
on canes. with which now one and now an
other beckOned to Jules, some even adding
pantomimic hints of the social cup.
N. st. Ange remarked to his servant with |
out turning his head that somehow he felt |
sure he should soon return those boas that |
the mulatto had lent him.
"Wbat will you do with them?"
'1Me" said Baptiste quickly; II will go |
and see the bull fight in the Place Congo"
"Tkere is to be bull fight! But where
lie NJ. Cayetano!'
"Ah, got all his affairs wet in the tornado
Instead of his circus they are to have a
bull fght-nOt an ordinary bull fight with
sick horses, but buffalo and tiger fight.
would not miss it"
Two or three persons ran to the opposite
corner and commenced striking at some
thing with their canes. Others followed.
Can NJ. St. Ange and servant, who hasten
fOrwsrd-can the Creoles, Cubans, Span
ards, San Domingo refugees and other
oungers-can they hope it is fight! They
hurry forward. Is q man in fit! The
,rOwd pours in from the side streets. Have
hey killed so-long snake! Bareheaded
'hopmen leave their wives, who stand upon
hairs. The crowd huddles and packs.
Those on the outside make little leaps into
he air, trying to be tall.
What is the matterF'
Have they caught real live rat?"
"Who is hurt?' asks some one in Eng
ish.
"Personne," replies shopkeeper; "a
mans hat blow in the gutter; but he has
: row. Jules pick it. See, that is the
nan, head and shoulders on top the RESI-"
He in the homespunw asks second
'hopkeeper. "Humph. an Americain-a
Vest Floridian; bah!'
But wait; st! he is speaking; lsten!,
ITO who is he speak"
''Sh-sh-sh! to jules
Jules who!'
Silence, you. To Jules St. Ange, VIVA. I
owe me bill since long time. Sh-sh.sh!u r
Then the voice was heard. e
It's owner was man of giant stature. |
nth slight stOop in HE shoulders, as If he J
vas making constant. good natured at
empt to accommodate himself to ordinary L
oors and ceilings. His bones were those Of {
n.ox His face was marked more by a
'eather than age, and his narrow brow E
'as bold and smooth. He had instantan- :
ously formed an opinion Of Jules st. Ange, =
nd the multitude of words, most of them l
ngual curiosities, with which he was rasp- }
x the wide-open ears of his listeners.
gniied, in short, that. as sure as his name s
as Parson Jones, the little Creole was a Q
plum gentleman
NJ. St. Ange bowed and smiled, and was Q
Don't to call attention, by both gesture and
,eecb to a singular object on top the still
lcovered head, when the nervous motion
the Americait anticipated him, az, throw u
g up an immense hand, he drew down q
rye roll of bank notes. The crowd laughed,
e West Floridian joining, and began to 7;
sperse.
"Why. that money belongs to Smyrny | g
1urch, said the giant |.
"You are very dangerous to make your hi
oney expose like that, Misty Poisson
me-" said st. Ang,, counting it with his b.
as.
The countryman gave a start and smile M
surprise. til
.Hew d'dyou know my name was Jones9v ~
asked; but; without pausing for the Gre m
70 answer, furnished in his reckless way 70
ne further specimens of Floridian Eng 70
!: and the c0nciseness with which he pre-. be
ted full intelligence of his home, family,
ling, lodging house, and present and J h