The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-26
Vivian's Vagarics.
Home Again, Surfeited with the Sights
and Amuselnents Of tho Crescent City
The Beauties of Nature and Crayfishing
Baton Rouge and Donaldsonville Brass
Bands In the Firemen's Parade--spring

Baton Rouge and D0nalds0nville Brass
Bands In the Firemen's Parade.-spring
| Gardening.
BATON RoUGE, March 10, 1881.
DEAR HOPE:
Here l am again, snbsiding into the
routine of this dull little place, and my
first thought is Of you. Iguess you think
Pve been neglectful for the past few
weeks, but what ordinary mortal could
be otherwise in New Orleans during tho
| carnival season. You will have to take
"the word for the deed," and shall
write so often now, to make up for lost
time, that you will cry ont Hold! why
dost thou I,ersecute met" In spite of
the delightful time l had during my visit
to the Crescent City, was pleased when
Baton Rouge was reached. 1t is such a
quiet resting place eyes, painfully so,
occasionally, and after three weeks dis
sipation, l knew could appreciate it,
especially since / felt like " the last rose
of summer and decidedly preferred to
he left blooming alone,' for few days,
at least. What a place New Orleans is!
How many pictures of life it presents,
the sunniest and the shadest; velvet
and gold, sweeping side by side with
tattered rags affiuence on one hand and
direst poverty OF the other. Truly the
goods Of this world are unequally di-
vided. Up here We have not the wealth
and splendor of tho Crescent City, but
we have not 80 much real poverty and
misery.
had almost determined not to men
ti"n the last named city once, for have
nearly distracted every one in the house
with the slightly varying subjects of balls,
marriages, parties, Bostonians and mill
tary companies. It was amusing to see
the Boston boys realizing the fact that
they were in Louisiana and with Louisi-
anians. One gave me a laughable sketch
Of how he had mentally pictured us-and
to think, we were almost like other peo-
pie, and the far famed "rebels" did not
ride around with six shooters buckled
on, spreading destruction right and left
among the Negroes, and snakes and alli-
gators were not SO plentiful after all.
wonder if they received the impression
that our lovely State was paradise on
EARTH" 1t is indeed the garden spot of
the Union, and at this season, tho Spring
Of the year, none can fail to admire or
appreciate her beauties. Even now, as
write, feel that the day il too lovely to
remain indoors. 4 little feathercd song
ster in ~ tree just outside my window,
seems lost in its own melody, and war
bles forth its heart-song to mother nature.
Indeed, it has 80 inspired me that l will
Immediately go crayfshing, for if
listen longer, my aspirations will soar so
high that I'll not be able to finish this
cminently practical letter.
Speaking of that highly enjoyable and
interesting pastime, crayfisl,ing, it seems
that as spring advances, every body has
mania for it; you meet couples, trios
and crowds sallyiny forth, each with a
stick, and string will, the essential
piece of meat tied to it. Strange, how a
young man who raises a miniature storm
if he has to wait two minutes for but
ton to be sewed on his shirt-collar, will
sit patiently two hours on the side of a
ditch waiting for u bite" 1t is only
another example Of the Inconsistency of
tho !" lords Of creation" Hope, are yo,
ever guilty of spending your time 80
frivolonsly: Or do yon do it to "while
away tho teiious hours which drag 80
slowly by" as one Of our fops remarked
after playing croquct three consecutive
days, almost without intermission.
l don't believe told yon that noticed
Tho familiar faces of the D"naldsonville
Brass Band in the firemen's parade on
the 4th Of March. They presented nie.
appearance and Of course their music
was, us usual, fine. There was another
band in that parade that looked both
novel and amusing. As 1t advanced,
heard exclamations Of surprise all around
me, What is it," "Who are they ="
Where did they come from Z" ais it
Dan Rices band -" l looked in their di-
rection and saw what first appeared to
be men with drums on their heads, but
alas, no, was obliged to acknowledge
it was our Baton Rouge band with i'm
nnense black beaver hats on, and all ar
rayed in new black suits. Some one
asked if they were in mourning. Yet, in
spite of their fnnereal appearance, they
received many compliments for their
splendid mnsic.
l can't think Of any thing else that
would interest you just now, but Pm go
ing down to look a: the garden belonging
to the agricultural department Of the
University, and / shall tell you of it in
my next and if you are making gar.
den, you can follow the plan oi, which
this one is worked. Every body feels
like gardening ut this scason. l could
write whole volumes, or columns, about
the beauties of the spronting sweet-pens,
radisl'es, cab,ages, etc, and address ode.
to the canteIOpes and watermelon (sced ],
but for want Of time Pll refrain and go
fishing. Yours, as usual,
VIVIAN.
He Wise and Happy.