The Ottawa free trader., 1877-03-31
ON THE WING.
Antiquities of New Orleans
--Cypress Swamps and
Sugar Plantations
of Louisiana.
Across the Gulf of Mexico TO Gal.
weston, Americas Paradise.
Its Founder, the
Pirate Lafitte.
san ANroylA, TEXAS, March 18th, 1874

san ANroHIA, TEXAS, March 18th, 1871,
I, was lovely morning, aud the river, spark
ling IN the sun, rolled along past New Orleans
at rate that would have done credit to coach
and four as foated down the tide till reach
ed the foot OF the old
FRENCH MARKET;
And having Il few minutes to spare before taking
the ferry, ! coGld not resist the temptation OF
making tour through this modern Babel
though maHy time and often before had done
the same. Perhaps there is not on earth another
spot like it, and few If anywhere there is such
| o confusion Of tongues, such scenes OF odds and
ends, amusements, and great a mixture of
nationalities-a!l buying selling, and shouting
in their native dialects, proclaiming the merits
Of their wares Ia q manner tha; l. simply
uproarious,
! Al the OTHER end of tie French market is the
old Jackson Square-a spo. never to be forgot.
ten, not so much for It's present appearance, per
haps, as It's past history and though now it con
! tainS beautifully graded walks, fragrant orange
! trees stately Inagnolias and brOad-lcafed bana-
mas, rs well as luXuriant vines and cycrgreens
all Of which add 20 the natural beauty of the
pIdNtN Otb ~ lhldSlht tldN lIi tlNCS UisJ mere
languisLnS Spanish beauties, French bellies and
sweet.faced maidens from storicG Greece and
Italy, and other climes, have listened to
the witchinS tale they love SO much 10 hear,
and that the tender romances, begun matured
and consummated under the fayoring shade OF
these trees, would form Of the tales Of fiction,
we seldom know, but often hear about, gives
the spot peculiar interest.
Across the street from this square stands the
OLD FRENCH CATHEDRAL,
The strokes Of whose clock have sounded in the
oars Of generations forever passed away. This
is one OF the Oldest churches in America, aud is
now relic Of antiquity, but having been re-
paired from time 20 time, is yet in a good state
Of preservation. Here for generations chimes
have been rung for marriages and funerals, vic.
tories and defeats. Before its affairs fair brides
have Lncl' on the very spot where their mothers
and graudmothcrs had pledged their vows, and
were in time carried TO receive the last rites Of
the church. Here the old hero Andrew Jackson
bowed the head and bent the knee amid his
, veterans, as the re Dcum ascendcd for the vic.
tory OF our country.
Indeed, this old cathedral seems TO have been
the house OF prayer which ali denominations,
irrespective Of religious prejudice, chose as a
place in which 20 offer public petitions or hymns
Of praise in all cases when common calamity or
success urged devotion TO the Great Director OF
human affairs.
A shrill whistle summoned Us aboard, and in Il
few minutes the "Acme," of the Morgan line of
steamers, glides out into the rushing torrent OF
the majestic Mississippi, hiding from our view
those antiquities whose historic "reminiscences
take US back 10 ages when things looked blue
for the republc,-and to later days, when, after
the occupation by well known General, there
was found to bc a lack OF spoons in the city.
As we advance towards the opposite shore
grand view of the lcYcc is to be bad, with its
hustle and hustle Of business, .hppine and
seen will never be forgotten.
couple Of "toots" and Chew, chew, to. back.
her. brings Us along side the dock at Algiers,
which is no great shakes Of a place, except for
aguc-and here It is that they shake with
vengeance
In Il shor; space Of tim" everything is changed
from the ferry to the cars, and q couple Of more
"soo;s' and away goes the train, leaving all that
IS beautiful o! the Crescent City behind. ride
of eighty miles brings us to Morgan City, where
We take - steamer for Galveston. This road pass
G. through % section of country known as the
SUGAR PLANTATIONS
OF Louisiaua-a region where the white man
was never known 10 labor, aEd few OF them ever
wished to live. As The train gldes along, IL is
curious 10 note the Little old log cabins in the
lane" which the "Sons OF Ham" are compelled
to occupy-many Of which wouldn't make even
eomiOr,able hOg.peDs in the north, and are no
more IL for human beings to live in than mud
holes. But 50 long rs they are satisfied why
; should any one find fault. Lookin. at it from a
civilized point of view, il seems "cruclty 10 ami
lnules' 10 compel american citizens" to dwell
in such novels. am sure people IN the north
would not consider most Of them us ~ places
iof Their quadrupcds. The most amazing feature
which have noticed ls that not Que Il, q hun
dred oi Them have windows, not even 4 pane of
: glass 10 give them light | WIS curious enough
TO ASK al Old mig the reason o! this aud his re.
: ply was, Black man want no window: he look
: better ID dc DARK II is a well known fact that
the height OF 4 negro's ambition is To live in q
log hut aud drive mule; and consequently We
are not much surprised az their desire 10 live in
dark cabins.
y As this is the PLANTING season FOR sugar, il !.
:, quite sight to see how The "old thing workt