Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-21
Ihursdap's edition.
AT TIE ELD0RAD0.
The Festival of the Episcopal Ladies
Of Bayou Maringouin.
BRILLIANT SUCCESS FINANCIALLY
AND OTHERWISE.

| With the luck that sometimes Dclakcs
the editorial fraternity, we had re-
ccived most cordial invitation to pro-
cced to that favored region, bayou
Maringoiin, one day in advance of the
proposed festival, which was given on
Tuesday night by the ladies, for the
purpose Of erecting an Episcopal Church
in that ncishborhood,
Accordingly, armed with Il dcad-hcad
transportation ticket sent us through
tllr muniliccnt generosity Of President
Montan, Of The Baton Rouge, Crosse
Tctc and Opclousas Railroad, now styled
cred River Valley Railroad" in COM
pany with our elegant and lastidlous
friend, Col. b., we crossed the Missis-
sippi between showers at 3 O'Clock i. Nj.
On Monday and in due time, the cry
| of all aboard found us snngly seated IN
the car especially reserved on 0,hr line
for the "oldcst and best" The co-part-
ncrship yalisc was also stored, when we
| felt that we didn't care much whether
school kept in or not. Several ladies,
two of whom the Misses H., among the
most accomplished in West Baton
Rouge, with their escort, Mr.. f., a very
socabc and clever gentleman, were
bound for the exact place Of our dcsi'-
nation.
While enjoying a cigar with the lat
ter in the smoking car aud while h" and
our humble self, having discussed the
matter. in unison were declaring
that our experience as ''puifrrs' had
ncycr carried ns hcyoud tue cigar, the
irrcprcssiblc Colonel looked in on lis in
| time to hear our remarks when adj
dressing himself to a tip,y son Of the
Emerald Isle, he suggested to hiT' that
all ;i,at kind Of talk was stuff, tor any
man who smoked a eignr could do it
through a pipe. "lndade," saidgthe som
Of Erin, ''yo,t'rc right sir, 'hcs'FifowS
are putin on airs; they'll shtand n
poipc as well aS | can" Soon after
throwing this bonbshcil, the whistle
blew and the amateur of the 'nosc
warmer bid It's aiicu, rs also to the
ladies' in the adjoining compartment,
and left the train.7 On tn" way to Ros,-
dale and MuSson, we were pleased 20
note the promising condition OF tine
crops orcotton and cane, products Of the
most fertile loWIandS in Louisiana,
which need but II protection against
overflow to attract stream Of enter
priSing men who will soon agree with
us that West Baton Rouge and Pointr
Coupcc lands, from the Mississippi river
back to the Crosse Tctc and MarinyOui,i
country, are beyond all question the
richest in l.O,liSaua The resources and
fertility Of those lowlandS cannot b"
ovcrcstimatrd. The cane on the Hill
and Collins places and on the celebrated
Wcstoyrr plantation, owned by McSsi'S.
Burke and Caldwell, are sn,ply prodi
.ious in size and most promising in ap
prarancr From the Crosse Tctc, and
lastly the Marlngonin, the same story
can be related.
Through the indomitahlc energy of
President Montan, the railroad has bcrl
put in good condition as far as its ter
minus, MuSSon Station, and every aC
conmodation for freight and passengers
has been fully provided for the incom
ing busy season.
Arriving at Musson, we were met b!
President MOntun, who extended al
sorts Of friendly Invitations to make on
stay long one, on the banks Of the fer
tile bayou Maringouin. He would oprl
watcrmclonS and champagne, besides
giving dinners every day or so. His
: gushing enthusiasm excited our6tuspI
cions, however; aud just rs soon As We
could tear ourselves away, we tollowr,
orr host, that scholar and proycrbiall!
lospitablc gentleman, COL Y. G. Sparks
, who, with suitable convcyanccS had beer
awaiting our arrival.
Driving along II good road bordcrcd ol
) one side by the Marngouin and oay tho
ether by rich fields, the evidences were
before us that we were i'll the very hear
: of the typical alluvial country OF Louisl
! ana with it's gigantic oaks frstooncd b!
their long trcsscs of green moss.
At sundown, We reached Col. Sparks
! mansion with its broad galleries an,
spacious central hall and apartments
a model of the architecture of comfort
, that characterized the residences Of on
, Southern planters before the war. II
: bcsure, one cannot see the same displa,
: of expensive care that existed in thos'
halcyon days but the gulf breczes are a
) cool and balmy, when night spreads hcl
, 1900. T., ,,.,r tI,n old ,,Iont,t;,,u a, !,