The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-07-07
THE V0UD0U QUEEN.
History That Throws Romance Far In tho
Shade,


History That Throws Romance Far In the
Shade.
Marie Laveau, the "Queen IF the YOU
dous," died in New Orleans the other tlay
at the advanced age of 80 years. To the
superstitious creoles Marie appeared as a
dealer in the black arts, and person to be
dreaded and avoided. Strange stories
were told of the rites performed by
the sect Of which Marie was the acknowl-
eyed sovereign. Many old residents asserted
that on st. Johns night. the Oath Of June,
the Voudou clan had been seen in deserted
places joining in wild, weird dances, all the
participants is which vera perfectly nude.
The Vondons We're thought to he invested
with supernatural powers, and m Il Fought
them to find means to be rid of their enc
mics, while others asked for 1--we powders
to instill affestioh in the bosoms Of their
| unwilling or unsdspecting sweethearts.
Whether there ever was any such sect, and
whether Maria was ever it's queen, her life
was one to render such belief impossi-
hle. Besides knowing the secret healing
qualities of the various herbs which grew
in abundance in the woods aud fields, she
was endowed with more than usual share
of common sense, and her advice wns Oft
times really valuable aud her penetration
remarkable. Adding to these qualities the
gift of great beanty, no wonder that she
possessed large influence in her youth
and attracted the attention of Louisiana q
greatest men and most distinguished visit
ors. She was the creature of that peculiar
state of society in which there was no mar
rying or giving in marriage; yet they were
not like the angels in heaven.
Marie was the descendant Of an old slave
woman on her mothers side. and on the
other hand the best French blood of Louis
iona coursed her veins. She was born in
the golden days of Spanish Louisiana, Just
at the time when the gallant boy governor,
Gaivez, cooperating with the struggling
colonies in the East, had driven the British
out of the Gulf Of Mexico. She was l9
years old when the flag of freedom was un-
fnrled from the flagstaff of the Place
dArmes, the flag that brought with it new
the Black Code, which made marriage be-
tween black and white a penal offense,
while the interblending Of the race was a
matter which the law left uninterfered with
by any statutory prohibition. This beauti-
fu1, bright-eyed, intelligent little creole,
while the men who made New Orleans
famous in those days were almostin daily Ut
tendance upon her, admiring her charms
ana enjoying her conversation, was led to
the alter by jacques Paris, carpenter of
her own color. The ceremony took place
at the St. Lonis Cathedral, Pere Antoine
officiating, and Mazereau, the brilliant lead
er OF the bar, being one of the witnesses.
The union was a short and happy one.
When Marie had been welded only one
year jacques suddenly disappeared and as
no one knew where he had gone or what
had become of him, she was left neither
wife nor widow. After waiting year and
no tidings of the missing jacques, she
consented to be the bride Of Capt. Christie
phe Dominique Glapion. The latter seems
to have been man of much character, and
served with distinction throughout the war
OF 1915 as officer in d'Aquin's gallant San
Domingo battalion. When peace was es-
tablished, Marie became mole sought after
than ever. She lived all her life in a little
adobe house covered with red tiles, situated
in st. Ann between Rampant and Burgundy
streets. 1t was built by the early French
settlers $50 years ago. Not brick was en-
ployed in its construction. The walls were
formed of peculiar combination of clay
and moss. The entrances were made very
low, and the panes of glass in the door were
OF small size and peculiar make. When
this interesting residence was erected, it
stood on the very outskirts of the town.
Rampant street was then wilderness, and
later it became a line of intrencnment. At
that time che cottage was considered the
hantlsomest dwelling house in the place.
All the other houses then existing have been
torn down and more modern buildings
sprung up, SO that the quaint Laveau man
sion, with the high, half broken down fence
IN front, and the branches of several an-
clent trees peeping over, seemed relic of
the New Orleans Of long ago.
Iii this place Marie received the celebri-
ties Of the day. Lawyers, legislators, plant
ters, merchants, all came to puy their re-
spects to her and seek her offices,
and the narrow room heard as much wit
and scancal as any Of the historical saloons
of Paris. There were business men who
would not send ship to sea before con-
sulting her upon the probabilities OF the
voyage. Marie entertained her guests in
royal style. Her cuisine was excellent.
and all who possessed characteristics en-
tltIiDg them to more than ordinary consid-
Grafton were welcome to her table. Those
who came from the parishes of other states
were compelled to take mp their quarters
| under her roof, for she would allow no
| other house to be called more hospitable
than her own. Coming in daily contact
| with the best informed men Of that period,
| and possessing remarkably retentive
memory, it is no wonder that she ACQUIRED
| large store of valuable information. She
was by no means backward in delivering
her opinions, and as her predictions nearly
| always came true, and the course she
! suggested generally proved the wisest,
Matte soon possed larger clientele than
the most astute and far.seeing legal coun-
| selor. And it was not alone for advice that
men and women of all conditions called on
her. Her skill in medicine, already re-
ferred to, and her ability as nurse mad.
hel desirable at the sick bed. Marie had
large, warm heart and tender nature. and
never refused 4 summons from the suffer-
ing, no matter how dangerous the disease.
Wherever she went she labored faithfully
and earned fe-long friends. During yei-
low fever and cholera epidemics she
DrOVed heren1f a nnh1o d;o;nko.o,toa -.