Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-06
HOME THE BEST PLACE.
A FEW PITHY REMARKS CONCERNING OUR
CITY AND ITS CUSTOMS.


bee, and othcrs-who are leaving home,
to seek employment elsewhere. Alas
boys, the money-making, good place will
always be just ahead of you. Better
work as hard here as you will there; en-.
Joy home comforts, and make just as
much money in the end as you will of
in land of strangers. Remember the
thousands who left mt the close of the
war, to make homes and fortunes in
Mexico, Brazil, and the West Indies
How few realized their expectations, and
how many returned impoverished by
the experiment. We resolved to die,
"where the Old United States nsed to
be-" and we have never regretted the
resolution.
Where can you find such soil, such do
lightful climate, such variety Of pro-
ductions and resources, as In our own
Louisiana If you think our govern
ment deficient, stay and help us make it
better. Look 1T our educational advan-
tagcs, which ought to DO attractive to
the young: Where can You find such a
library and such facilities for learning
ut the same rate, as in the Louisiana
State University The Uniform worn
there, besides being bot), pretty and
becoming, is the chedpcst d Iess you can
buy! The material of VIII }ch it is made
is next in durability to that worn by
the children of Israel in their journey
through the wilderness, which "waxod
not old for the space of forty gears"
Not a month in the year but affords
us at least one kind of fruit, and plenty
of vegetableI Every seed sown yields
an abundant harvest. Even dishrag,
that plebian but necessary article, here
grows upon luxuriant vine, full of
gorgeous blossoms. No waste of time in
a search for an old breechss leg, to scrub
kitchen tables; but when needed, 90 to
the arbor and gather a: dishrag from tho
"o'er hanging vines"
Time sadly changes mahy homes and
scatters the loved ones who once gath
cred around the same hcarthstone.
"Ah" sighs the mother, as she packs
away the little drum, tho miniature
tool-box, the books and toys of her
youngest boy-hcr Benjamin-''if I had
my boys back at home, I'll never scold
about muddy boots and stay hats
again. The wind N playing with the
glass pendants on the old mantle candle
sticks, making the srmc sweet, tingling
music as when l took my boy in my
arms ana let him touch them with his
baby fingers. The tea-bcll rings, and
we-thc old man and I-answcr its call.
7mo plates are on the table, too cups
and sauccrs, and the lamp casts t,oo
shadows on tho wall; but where are
the noisy prattlers who, "A little while
ago. gathered around this board, and
made these old walls ring with their
merry voicess' The empty corner,
where the last trunk sat, to be packed
for the journey, is a sacred spot.
SO many places are having tleir local
histories writtcn-thcsc quiet, imper-
ccptbls time-changes noted we won-
der some one does not write up Baton
Rouge. There are residences here near
ly century old; the scenes of ronlanccs
in tho "Spanish dayt'; these legends
would be extremely interesting. An old
corner house, has, in few years, chang
ed its occupants four times; each one
leaving u history. Eight years ago, a
father, with his seven children, lived
there. They all loved books and study.
We have often seen three little curly
heads together, looking at paper pic
lures, or studying next days lessons !;
sitting on the top of tho &ep-lad-
der, under the street lamp-post, little
dreaming of the changes and separations
in store for them. Now, ono sister lives
in Utah, two in Texas, one here with
the old father, one son in New Orleans,
one on the Jackson Railroad and ono in
the Sandwich Islands-a scattered house
hold !
In taking Sunday afternoon stroll
around Baton Rouge, we arc sorry to
see ball-playing; hope it will soon be a
thing of the past. In ii |c outer suburbs,
where the descendants Of Ham, or Cush,
edo most congregatc," the Sabbath is
observed as IA day Of rest" Occasion
ally you will see an old dame, with a
kinky head on her lap, while she is in
tcntly searching his hair, indulging in a
still hunt"-not for game; but the little
animal which Burns has immortalized.
A hard pull, on her part, is always pro-
ductive of a dodge on that of the victim,
followed by realization of his cxpecta-
tions in the way of sound pop on the
cheek. Whcrcupon he turns the other
cheek, not so much in obedience to the
Scripture command of "turning the
other, when one is smitten' as to pro-
sent "a new base Of operations" and
"fall back to stronger position"
LOCAL.
The N. o. Picayune says, attached to
the forward column of the ladies' cabin
of the Natchez is magnificent pair of
elk horns, which were presented to Capt.
Leathers by "a friend in Louisville" !"
They are the largest and finest we have
ever seen. Suspended between the an
flaw, :, , yor,- bondcome mini,furo hole