The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-10-02
Notes from Aunt Chats Portfolio.

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ences Mt the Famous Watering Place.
Lose BRANCH. N. j., Aug. -, 1880.
EDlToR CHIEF:
| We had pleasant run from Wauke-
shaw to Milwaukee, where we took q
drive while waiting for the Chicago
train and obtained some idea of the beau
|ty Of the city. The buildings are built
Of yellow brick, producing fine effect,
aud the avenues are very spacious. The
Miiwaukeeites are very proud Of their
city and are much given to hospitality.
DIR. Fulton was Rector Of Christ Church
several years, until last Winter, when he
accepted call to St. Louis. The sleeper
from Chicago was crowded-it always
seems as if every body goes our way. II
you want to see human nature az naturel.
see it in all its phases, see the good and
bad, the charitable and the selfish, the
rough aud tender sides of it brought out
in bas-relief, just. travel in crowd-al-
most every one strives to be first and get
the best. Whenever there is any thing
to be gained, there is a general rush, and
if jostle and push will accomplish it,
why, jostle and push are vigorously re-
sorted to. Each one for himself seems
to be the motto,. and the ordinarily
courteous and gentle, are transformed
into the roughest of beings. No body
shows any surprise at all this; it is
looked upon as simply the travellers way
of doing things, but to me it all assumes
the shape Of the most repulsive selfish
ness. Why not 60 along quietly, take
what comes and extend to the companion
de voyage genuine heart politenessi Alas |!
the golden rule is not practiced by trav-
elers; nor is that charity which St. Paul
defines so beautifully. saw All example
of this on our trip. A woman with three
small children got on the sleeper and
took section. She was delicate looking
with hollow, sallow checks, and though
well dressed, showed plainly enough the
lack of wealth, culture and refinement.
Two Of the children were indeed pitiable
looking objects, their eyes tightly closed,
inflamed and fostering. Poor little
things! as they moved their heads around
in their midnight and fretted, they re-
minded one of two-day-old kittens. The
passengers seemed as nervous as if a
plague had appeared and by many the
most piercing looks were directed to the
group and remarks expressive Of the ut
most disgust and dread were made. They
did not reflect that the woman, perhaps,
possessed beneath rough exterior soul
sensitive and delicate III organization,
yearning for the warmth Of sympathetic
hearts. It would have been strange in
deed if among such number she had
yearned in vain. There were some who
passed not by on the other side, but,
filled with the spirit of Christ, were true
Samaritans. They talked with the tired,
wearied, but patient mother, helped her
care for the little ones and scattered seeds
of kindness which bloomed in her heart
and snffused her face with smiles of
gratitude.
A contrast to this gloomy picture was
that Of a bridal couple. How happy they
looked! She, young, pretty, refined and
gentle as dove; he, fine looking,
seeming combination of the requisites of
mans nature, strength and tenderness.
They evidently hoped to deceive tho
public, but methinks that is an impossi-
bility-something tells at glance when
the knot has recently been tied. Iloved
to watch them it wore off the tedious
ness Of the hour. He pretended to be
much absorbed in reading large news
paper which he held before their faces,
but oh, ye mirrors! what tales We some
times teil-he wa. not reading at all he
was slipping the honey dew from her lips,
looking love into large, lustrous eyes
that looked only love, and vowing con-
stancy and fidelity. How beautiful is
youthful devotion! My thoughts sped
away down the grades of futurity-I
wondered how it would be with this
couple when the fervor had passed-if he
would keep his word and if-well, I |
must not sentimentalize.
We reached Long Branch nicely-had
fine sail from New York to Sandy Hook,
where we took cars to this place. There
are So many hackmen at the depot bawl-
ing out the names Of the numerous ho- ,,
tells that one is quite puzzled which to
patronize. The West End is the largest |
and most fashionable. The Brighton is
just as elegant but smaller and perhaps |
better suited to the quiet, refined taste
If l was disappointed in Waukesha l
more than realized Long Branch. It is
perfectly fascinating and diverting. One
can be amused all day without moving
from the piazza, watching the people,
their dress and their ways, some walking, i
some riding, and some driving "r, one
may ignore all the frivolities of the hour
and feast the eyes on the immense stretch |
of deep blue sea, count the pretty sail, as |
many as seventy visible at one time, and |
quite frequently view the large steamers
that plow the deep near the shore or, if
one has keen sense of the ridiculous.
it pays to sit on the beach and watch the /
multitude sport in the bring waves. One
looks with astonishment at the wonder
ful transformation Of finnres nd saa archos