Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-29
4. Trip to jackson.

exceeding feet IRON tne Sroulla, solI
board seats without backs, no steps, and
only accessible by climbing the spokcs
of the wheels; and if you happened to
carry much avoirdupois, your attempted
ascent set the wheels to revolving, and
ouIy by dint of double-duick, could you
succeed in mounting. Once in, you felt
yourself taking silentleavo of the grovd-
ing things of earth and indulsing in
higher aspirations for the ethereal. The
team consisted Of q spirited little mare,
"Peggy," and a fiery animal of the long
ear species, most appropriately called
'Lugubrious."
After three hours drive, Peggy planted
herself in tho middle of the road and
positively refused to bulge till she was
lunched. Ths sho generously shared
with Lugubrious, but when he was Of
fcrcd q cool o~ausht Of well water to
wash it down, he dropped his cars, gave
a snort of contempt and spit it ont, as
if he meant to say, "all Baton Rougeans
drink cistcrn water; SO do l." Peggy
had evidently made this trip before with
some Rev. circuit rider, for she had an
intuitivo knowledge of all the best
snacking places on the road, and would
march as straight up to - wcll-fillcd
corn crib as if it had no doors. Alto
gcthcr she was splendid manager, and
succeeded in making Lugnbrions haul
us, tho jersey and herself, from Baton
Rouge to jackson by s,tn set. Lugu-
brious did well enough till VIC got into
the town of jackson; then, for tho first
time, he caught sight of tho college
walls, half hidden by the beautiful
pines; and bringing one ear down to a
right angle with the other, he stretched
bis neck and vented forth all his long,
ing desires for literary attainmcnts in
one sad, rcproachful wall, such as only
q mule can utter. His very Collntcnance
assumed u look of upbraiding sorrow,
and we almost fancicd we saw regretin
tears flowing down his hairy checks,
However, we turned his back to the
building, his face to some corn aud oats,
and his intellectual taste never dcvcl'
opcd itself again.
Evidently, he had no prediction fol
tho other by house on the hill, as he
passed it several times without any sign
of recognition. We were charmed with
Jackson, its romantic cnvirons, its far,
famed hospitality and its interesting
commencement exercises We hope sool
to see it's burnt district covered with
now houses. SO much has been said O1
the "speeches" that paneyyric from us
would be supcrtluous; but like many
Others, we wanted tho poet to get the
medal We must congratulate the CArI
ToLIAN on it's talented rcporter-anyono
who could listen 10 and Uiticise q speech
and carry on tho animated Irritation h
did, with pair of pretty black eyes, is a
|prodigy' o.
The picniccrs all remarked the n"mdc'
of handsome gentlemen in tue crowd
from.tho president of tho college down
to tho studonts-our Baton Rouge dele
CATION not excepted. This institution
opens again on the first week in Sep
tember. We should likstO sec its NUN
Der of pupils doubled. This session.
there was but ono representative from
Baton Rouge, Master Gray Avery. After
pnrtaking of tho LIBERAL hospital
ity of Mrs. Campbell, DR.. Joues, Prcsi
dent Andrews, Mr.. Loud and others, we
blindfolJed Lugubrious until wo were
out of sight of the college building ant
started home, each repeating q Latll
sentence learned in Jackson. Ours wax
'non compos mcntis;" We don't care
what it means, we mean to say it when
ever we got p chance.
When they camc round taking up th'
collection, pcniccrs all sang out ''impe
cunious" in chorus Shouldn't wondc
If we got tho medal offered by Profcsso
Magruder next year, for proficiency il
tho Greek language. We stopped TO
lunch at Olive Branch, and natural,
enough, while resting beneath thos
grand old beech trees, our thoughts re
| vertcd to war-times, when q Tennessee
battalion enCampcd hero ana ior Ion!
time tested the patriotism and gcncro
sity of this neighborhood. Twas har'
to realize that this lonely road was $
repleto with the daring deeds and stil
ring events of the war. Hero it wa
that our gallant Capt y. Stuart s
bravcly defended his native parish an
lost his life in 1862. We were glad t
get home, but sorry to separate orr de
! l;u1,t G,l .,rI,- n.x ,r <,,,. ,,u,, l,,,. ~,