The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-29
A Night in New Orleans.

lneTe were tWO Oh uS CnattlnR ana SmOK-
ing cigarettes at the corner of Canal and St.
Charles streets In that quaint and strange
old city, New Orlcans--a city Of. never
ending charms and queer phases of life and
mysteries without number; miniature
Paris, with its 6fjou theatres in the French
quarter and the English language is foreign
tongue, and where the men wear their hats
aud the ladies sip pbsinthe and puff dainty
rings Of cigarette smoke from pretty
mouths
'Where shall we go tonight ?" NIorlan
asked me.
"Grand Opera House." 1 suggested.
''Aren't you tired of JanauschclI's dia-
monds yet2'
"Well. say the Varieties"
"Nothing there but frescoing in the
lobby"
Academy"
"Bah !"
We smoked awhile in silence, and finally
decided to see Mile. Mathilde at LIE Petit
Theatre Franchise, away down on Chartrcs
street. ''If Golson is in the crowd" said
Morlan, "well appropriate him. Aha !!
there lie is now. Golson, come hither!"
A number of the young men had crossed
Canal street, and were passing up St. Charles
toward Common, others continuing their
way a-ong Canal to Baronnc. A handsome.
small, delicate student emerged from tic
crowd. He had hands as white and small
as woman's, long black hair pale,
thoughtful face, and large, calm, expressive
eyes. was introduced to HIM. and he
graspcd my hand warmly and firmly.
"Havc you anything to do tonight, Col
son?"
"Anything to do9 Oh, yes some internal
thesis, l believe; but hang the tncsis-and
by George! the dissection too. Where are
you going2"
ITO La Petit Franchise, we were think
ing"
"What the absipthc and the hcatachc2
Como with me TO the college. My little
girl will do the tight-ropc from the roof,
and I'll introduce YOU"
We turn up st. Charles street to Com
mon, down Common to Baronnc and the
college. Crowds were beginning to gather
ut this point. We threaded our way through
the throng that pressed against the railing
around the college yard, and entered a
small door at the side. We climbed four
flights Of dark, dismal stars, and stumbled
at the turnings. We felt our way along a
hall, prevailed by a sitting blackness and Il
musty smell, from the dessccting rooms.
The light from the street below streamed
mcagerly through window, and showed
us the dim outline Of perpendicular ladder
near the extremity Of the hall. We climbed
the ladder and crawled through hole in
the ceiling. Here the darkness was intense.
We found another close at hand, aud by
feeling for the rungs, gained the top and
emerged upon q steep roof covered with
slate. We looked around. New Orleans
lay at our feet in all the glory Of starry
night. On the south we could trace the
river winding III a crescent form around the
city, and rejecting the col bred lights from
the shipping. Away to the northeast could
be seen the dark, flat surface Of the lake.
TO the southeast lay the French Quarter,
with its tall, old-fashioned houses and its
narrow streets. TO the westward Upper
Town stretched its wealth and grandeur
over a large area. Under our feet was the
glare from Canal, st. Charles, Camp, Com
mon, Carondclct, Tchoupitoulas and Baron
ne strcets'
A parapct about twelve inches high was
all that could have preserved us from the
morgue, If the treacherous slate had broken,
or the foot slipped an inch. Thee persons
were standing in the gutter against the par
apet. OF these two were rough looking
men; the third was q woman in tights and
short skirts. and covered with spanges and
stars and gold lace The men were Gu
gagged with certain pullcys and cords in
drawing to a greater tension the wi,c cable
that stretched from the parapet of the col
lege to the building opposite. The woman
was standing In the shade of the parapct,
and looking down sabstractcdly upon the
thousands of human beings who packed the
street, and whose upturned faces, express
sive Of anticipation, she seemed to be
studying attcntively.
"Alrcady here, Zoc2" asked Golson, in
his soft, smooth voice.
The woman started and turned quickly,
an expression of intense happiness lighting
up her face.
81 was looking for You below" she said.
II was afraid, but am strong now. You
don't think III fall do your"
Certainly not. You arc very foolish to
ask such question"
lie introduced us as his friends, and she