The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-07-27
ALOUISIANIAN'S LECTURE.
Natchitoches Parish III Alabama

From the Livingston (Ala.) Jonrnal] h
According to announcement IN the =,
last Journal. our citizens were agree 3
ab,y entertained by a lecture 1'om .
DR.. Sam. 0. Scruggs, in Abrahams , T.
Hall, on Saturday night last, on the !;
"Manners and Customs Of the Creo'es !
of Louisiana. !,
DR.. Scruggs, u brother of our worthy ,
fellow citizen Mr.. j. l.. Scrugss, was
\ citizen OF our town in the days OF Its
infancy, but as early as Io45 ne re-
moved to Louisiana and cast his lot
with the people Of that State a%d mas
resided there ever since. The Doctor
is gentleman of education ana co'-
tiyation, also of extensive information
derived from travel and mlngl'og
with the world, both at home ana !"
foreign lands. Possessed or hoera'
views, atfable manner, ready homot,
and intelligent discrimination, ne IS
companiouable in the social cnc'e'
and not less agreeable and entertain
ing as u lecturer. o,,
Before entering upon the CHOSEN
theme of discussion, the Doctor recnr'
red to the early history Of our town
and country, as far back as the years
1894 and 1885. The town then con,
sisted mainly Of a log cabin Hotel ana
and a log cabin Court House ana J"il'
located near the "Hoit Bridge" ID
the Western part of the town, as no"
Quilt up. The present square was
\ corn field, and needed cultivation,
and the population itself was not no
wholly without like need. After
\ having looked around the town ana
, observed the changed appearance
;. Of everything, and learned that less
}. than half dozen of the ola c't'ze"s
N remained, he said he felt like stra I,
III ger upon his native heath" Recall:
Z mo few "reminiscences, he referred
R to the fist newspaper OF the county
t the Voice of Sumter, aud turning !"
in Mr.. D. II. Trott. who occupied the
~ ~ Stand with him, he told the audience
ut 70 behold their first Editor. 1t wa
y: about this time, he said, that sum<e
i.s county began to rise in 1mP"r'a"::
y: and to take IA prominent position u
he State.
= Recalling the name OF the many
his old friends and contemporaries
= Sumter, the Doctor was mueh move
T. II the reflection that they we've yea
. IL all gone to their long home.
Then takeing up the Creole Race
Do nuisiaua, he stated that no was e.
C. n4c;ally solicituus to disabuse I!
0yl. .;n.,s "f his frauds ut tn" t'nI hahn ..;
ii; error that the Creole IS a race a"n''
I'd to some extent with African o'""
v, Fins idea the Doctor repudlated
L. strong terms, and proceeded to give
&C. g: hripf history of the race, showing til
;I >; is sprung from pure and gentle olo
rs rs Of France, Castilian and Dutch rae
ma ma: which settled, peopled, founded, a
ca las gave shape and prestige to the St'
ming and institutions of Louisiana frt
10. 1894 to The present date; that
. over 200 years this people were 'so
" ted form the American races III
sos;t out Of Louisiana, by reason OF reno
'4s. ness and the peculiar c'rcumstao
o" attending their colonization inc y
- climate, restitution and their TEN
A. raj necessities. Their life was Al
70 that contact and acquaintance v
- the outer world we,e impractical
- and has fixed iudellibIy upon the'
W character sui generis. Whilst tn
* are grades Of society among II
neonle. determined, as in all conn
III mites, by wealth, education ana Gu
8 walton, yet 10 sympathies there 10
strongest bond of unity through
& ri all of them. From this race sP'
saA ak of the most distinguished Gov'
&S3 urs of the State; aud many OF
&T most distinguished and h"nored
~ resentatives in the State and natl
|1ii;3 governments and none were true
- more efficient as soldiers, or rea
=, to respond to the calls of patriot
lN Hospitality, said Doctor, is d''
o<' gushing trait in the Creole chara'
Whilst Charity is all-pervading.
II If Tito in an eminent degree, yet dec
:" v in character; strong 10 TREND
ious vet having keen eye to dis
l. and promptness to resent q olsco
" ~. High strung, they are pro-
their history and lineage, and eV
the qui rire to preserve the one
defend the other.
Whilst they have many lee
men, distinguished 10 Literature
science, yet the Doctor acknow i:
that the masses do not sutfic1
10 estimate education but that
.N, ar. more given to frolic and tb''
Measure. They live in the pr
all" their past history aud the p!eas0
the present; they give no thong
the future and hence are reck
danger, and meet death with on y,
!, dread. The women are beautlf'
s,;, dsy oted, the best house keepeI
n a..1 r. best cooks and the best entert
!" tho t in the world. The Doctor to-
No grip dispoudent young men they co
70 Pills, get wives there, OUT lucy w
but Re, their counting 10 the presents
relied nld fn,ks. inasmuch az q youn
ysic and gentleman are never left al
parlor for one moment, even
IRIS they be engaged to be Marie
L such a thing a. q buggy ride
l today. sonna ladvowhy. the I'D papa
10 direc- s"."e IS hr.k shot into Il,
fectually pu' .o''N y. .o.,.,;s. haf,re he
alleviate, O1 socn al er'o.p''oo Tha
Is or St. gave 40 interesting Inscription
habits of social lie, their Iouu'
,um. Tet- rood living, dress and dancing
Tumors, latter, he said, iuheres to the
Pimples rom the cradle tn the grave ;
preat-great- grandmothers 10
seen on the floor mingllng
1rnrn dance with her offspring to tn