The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-10-30
OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER

The Christopher Columbus Festival
Sambola's SalvO-Frnante Tnw-Rreaksrs
Arrest or Thee. Hradfo-t-!'oliiicsl Ex-
citement-T Theatres. Etc.
NFw ORLEANS. La, Oct 20 1880.
EpIroR CIIsr:
On Sunday, the 18th inst, the annual
celebration Of the festival of Christopher
Columbus took place here. 'and the affair
was altogether worthy the memory OF
the great and good man, who, despite
persecution and jeers, and with tho aid
Of Queen Isabella of Spain, accomplished
the discovery Of America. Like most
men who achieve greatness, Columbus
was Of humble origin, his father follow
ing the trade Of wool-comber. At thir-
ty-fye years of age, Christopher's hair
had become white in consequence of the
trials and anxieties of earlier days. At
that age he married the daughter of all
Italian navigator. and this happy event
doubtless spurred his ambition to it's
highest point, for We learn that he was
then engaged in the preparation Of maps
and charts designed to aid him in his
daring voyage Of discovery. need not
consume space with a narration of the
events connected with that memorable
adventure, for all my readers are familiar
with the history; but desire to remark
that Christopher carpet-bagged to this
country and was subjected to the same
kind Of ordeals and ceremonial receptions
that have attended the advent of our
modern carpet-baggers. The name of
Christopher Columbus is always asso-
ciated with the grand achievement OF
his carcer-the discovery of this Gland
Of the free and home of the brave"-and
we are disposed ut first blush to imagine
the private lives of all such men pre-em-
inently spotless, i'll keeping with their
public characters; but Christopher had
a great deal of human nature about him,
and human nature has not varied greatly
since his time. His disposition appears
to have been very affectionate, for besides
the love he bore his wife, he developed a
fondness for a fair signorita, one Beatrice
Enriquez, by whom he had natural son
named Fernando. AS is usually the case,
he event back on her," but on his dying
bed his conscience pricked him for his
neglect, and he made provision for the
woman and child in his will. He was
about seventy when he contracted the
alliance with signorita Beatrice, rather
an advanced age for a man to be kicking
up such capers. Moreover, Christopher
was fond of good old Spanish wine and
INDUCED so freely and frequently therein
that lie took the govt and finally the
govt took him. 1t is comforting, even
at this late day, to read that the good
old man "expired in very pious frame
: of mind"
At the very peep Of day on the 18th
the roaring of artillery resonnded through
: the city and people naturally presumed
t that Capt. Sambola was cat it again.
!, ticing his squad to boom for Hancock, as
t many supposed-he had already Doomed
for Garfield few days before this boon
; was for an older, if not a greater mar
than either of our presidential candi
dates, to-wit: Christopher Columbus
The gunners of Fifth Company R. 0. A
did their work well, as usual, having il
(. view the consideration which never fails
to secure their best efforts-one dollar
i per shot. Seriously, the procession il
honor Of the occasion was one of thu
largest Of the kind that has yet take1
g place in New Orleans. There were ove1
4 10000 persons i'll line, besides a large
: number Of guests in carriages, among
= the latter the venerable Prof. Alexander
; Dimitry and Col. Eugene Tisdale, til,
poet. Eight brass bands enlivened thu
8 march with inspiring airs. The streets
: were thronged with multitude all day
! bent upon viewing the Columbus pro
+ cession, the Coup's circus parade aud til,
l funeral Of the late Rufus Hunt. It wa
red letter day for funerals, an unusual
: ly large number occurring, and at on'
:, time Columbus, circus and funeral pro
cessions mingled together upon tn,
streets in strange confusion, representa-,
e in glazing contrast the frivolities of lif
) and the solemnity Of death.
> As write the city is overlooked Will
il strangers from Texas, fit representative
u Of our great and enterprising sister State
The Leidertafel celebration of Spanisl
: Fort surpassed all expectations, and tn
8 only regret is that the railroad was no
:. completed earlier so that the people o
J. Texas might have seen the attractions o
Z the Crescent City at a more propitiou
y time. However, am satisfied the Texa
4 visitors will return home convinced tina
!. the people of New Orleans can not b.
! excelled in princely hospitality, and tina
the extensive newspaper laudation o
! the sisterly feeling entertained by Louis
:, lana for the mighty Lone Star State wa
not exaggeration.
q The only obstacle now existing to tn
9 acquisition of liberal share of Texa
: trade by New Orleans Is in the exorbitan
9 exactions of the avaricious cormorant
who control our new Texas railroad. Tn
!. sooner the strong arm Of the government
! | off ho6 tn
: these great corporations, the better i