The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-20
LOUISIANA LETTER.


LOUISIANA LETTER.
The following. though addressed to
Us, we give to our readers, knowing that
it will be read with interest by many per-
SONS who are acquainted with the writer.
ED.
NEW ORLEANS. Nov. @, 1879.
MRS. HouaHToN:-Havingr reached the
end of my journey and being quite set
tied, / will jot down some of the Incl.
dents by the way while they are fresh in
nv mind. Ihsve never been SO much
impressed with the great contrast be-
tween the North and the South, as IN my
last trip in passing from one to the 9TH
er, and in so short q time, just crossing
the Ohio River. I think crossing the
ocean would not make one feel more
thoroughly in another country. A for
eigner who did not know the history Of
the two sections, would be sadly puzzled
for the cause of so sudden Q transition.
In passing from Wellington to Cincin-
natl, the little villages and large towns
are so closely connected that they hard
ly seem to need but one name, and that
would be Ohio City all the way through,
while tho many beautiful churches, neat
looking school houses, college buildings,
etc., betpeak an educated Christian peo-
pie. Then not only the thrifty look of
the country shows culture and refine
ment, but the general appearance of the
people. Through Ohio it seemed to me
the passengers on that train were just
from church conventions, associations,
and temperance meetings, as the conver-
sation was principally on those themes;
las it was after election, politics seemed
taking q rest.) -"
Leaving Cincinnati for New Orleans,
after securing my ticket, that called for
a first-class car. and found it SO till got
to Louisville, as was still on the north
side of the Ohio River. There had to
change cars. passed through one car
and found it crowded with, I hardly
know what, but no vacant seat; passed
on nearly through the next, when a gen
tleman from the North gave me the half
of his seat, for which was very thank
full. On looking about me, / said to
him, "Is this q smoking carr" 'Oh, no."
he said, "but don't you know you have
crossed the Ohio River, now you are in
the land Of Southern chivalry." When
the conductor came round, handed
olm mY ICkCt ooo oolo, buAuA Suos Soiio
for fret class car" Certainly, madam"
'.Weu," l said, .'if this is first-class.
what would q smoking car bes" He
straightened up, looked about him and
called out, mo smoking allowed in this
car" at which some half dozen or more,
held their cigars down by their sides till
he passed out, then resumed them again
with q laugh at their smartnets; and yet
the smoking wss not the worst feature
of the case, for in that same car l saw
at one time six bottles being passed
abou. in the different groups, and all
partaking, men and women, aud then .
little was turned out in their travelling
cups for the children, Of what they called
whisky, without q seeming thought of
shame. / will not say without q blush,
for some of them did blush very deeply
before the end of their journey. Then
as the morning light broke in upon US,
what change presented itself. No more
thrifty looking towns, but as the cars
draw up to the gloomy looking stations
the surroundings consist Of one or two
groceries, where there are always wines
and liquors advertised, few struggling
houses with the chimnies built up out
side, from ten to fifteen mules hitched
about that have brought their mulish
looking riders to the station to see the
cars come in. Then If there is any church
in view, surmounting it Is almost always
the unmistakable sign of the Catholic,
but very seldom any appearance Of a
chool-house, and that think tells the
story of the grea, difference in the two
sections of our country. the lack of COM
mon school education among all classes,
both white and black. The whites are
retarded in education by the priestly
rule that oversh adows the South like
dark pail, they are SO much afraid of the
people being contaminated with Protes-
tantism and especially the Bible instruc.
tion, that their dupes are forbidden to
enter any but Catholic schools. The mass
es of the colored people are still under |
the iron heel of their oppressers, and
they, I think, generally maintain the |
same feeling as in the former phase of |
education Is dangerous |
element for them to possess; and now as |
fast a. possible the few public schools |
that were established during the short |
rule of the Republicans, are being closed. |
Thus You see our banner of freedom |
comes far short vet Of sustaining what IL
prsclaims to in freedom of opinion with
education and its attendant blessings for
all; and who but the Christian women Of |
our land Is ever to carry on this work of |
lifting up and alleviating the woes of the
down trodden of our own countrys |
Ought the mothers and sisters to neglect
to give their interest and sympathy, to
forward the work for which the brothers
and sons have fought, suffered and died'
Bot feel that shall intrude upon you
in writing 30 much. / am very well, but
quite hurried; the work looms up like q
giant before me. My felIow-worker
from Delaware, il to be here the third
week in November.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. A. n. RYDER,
N a. a 4 Il