The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-08-06
vILLETTE's vIvAC1TIEs.

by the Facile PEN Of Fair Fellcianian.
WEST FELICIANA, July 40, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
If in the composition of this letter !
we're governed by tho same principle
which dictated a certain French lady
epistle to her absent husband, this cor
respondence would probably begin and
end in the following style: "I COM
mence this lotter because I've nothing
else to do, and end it because I've moth
ing else to say" Such a composition, to
say the least, would present two merits
which many others lack, viz brevity and
honesty Of purpose.
The oil absorbing topics which rule
the camp as we'll as the city are, of
course, the comet and Garfeld's assas-
sination. l take it there are but few
people who can sec any connection be-
tween the first man of the land and our
erratic visitor, and yet certain wise
acres contend there is, and thereby
hangs tail which mono but they can
come ado you punish suoh atrocities I
Mother shipton, tits said, long ago
predicted in execrable rhyme, that
Tho world to an end shall come
In eighteen hundred and cighty-o
the destroying agent on Scriptural au-
thority being fire but as to effect con-
flagration there must be some exciting
cause, the comet opportunely appeared
as if sent to enact the part of a vast
lucifer match all things being in reaii-
ness, the combustible globe, tho torch
and the interested spectators, the Moth
er Shiptonites waited and watched in
vain for the presto Change! of the Great
Magician. The great ball, am happy
to inform you, still swings on in space
intact and unscorched even by the 4, ,OO0,-
900, miles-long tail. But yet, as it would
not do to admit the heretical doubt that
Mother Shipton is an impostor, her ad-
lniring adherents say: "Well, if the
world did not come to an end, Garfield
was shot," So you see, like the famous
oracle of Delos, tho sibyls words admit
of any Interpretation. While on this
subject, l am reminded Of something
amusing that occurred some time since
have a correspondent in Boston, a
learned and wise Portia, but who is, I'm
afraid, deeply tinctured with the egotism
which the atmosphere of the modern
Athens seems to engender within the
minds Of all its denizons. In one of my
letters to this lady, spoke of the exccs-
sive heat which prevailed hore during
the month of juno and said had al
most become convert to Mother Ship
toms prediction abont the end of the
world approaching. Said the fair Bos-
tonian in reply, "Were to believe such
a thing probable, l should only have
cause to congratulate mysey that
should he just here on the spot to witness
the conaagration!" Can Boston conceit
go further does any one believe that the
+" Hub" will be more highly favored than
any other place on the globe, or will en-
joy greater privileges as Grand Stand
from which to view the "last, the final
act of carth's dread tragedy :"
We are deeply interested at present in
the three C's, "Corn, Cotton and Cater
pillars" The drought has seriously dam
aged tho first of the trio, the second
looks we'll and promises a fine crop, and
as for the third and last, like Wellington
at Waterloo, they are holding their
forces in reserve; time will show what
they intend doing. Three gentlemen of
this parish, Messrs. A. B. and c., last
spring heard of a new variety of cotton,
which an enterprising Mississippian had
grown aud improved. They scverally
bought of the seed to plant three acres
on their different plantations as an cx-
pertinent, to see if the cotton would |
yield the quantity of staple which the
original producer claimed for it. Mcssrs.
A. and B. being interested in other crops,
which literally turned ont as small pota- |
toes" gave scant attention to their cot
ton, therefore, they will obtain from
their ground only an ordinary crop. Mr.
c., on the contrary, bestowed undivided |
attention upon his, fertilizing and work
ing we'll he therefore will nsake--Provi- |
dcnce and caterpillars willing probably
seven bales upon he three acres. Pretty
good yield for old, worn out hill land,
isn't its There is, besides, premium
offered for the greatest number of bales
gathered from the given three acres,
which Mr.. C. will undoubtedly receive.
This shows what industry and enter
prise can achieve. Mr.. C. at the end of
The late unpleasantness" found himself
like many another young man, cast by
Tho waves Of war upon the desolate
shores of poverty, but hs knew NO such
word as fail, so hanging up the sword |
and the gun, he took down "the shovel |
and the hoe" and went to hard work. !
To-day, his thrift has bestowed upon
him, if not wealth, abundance and hap
piness, his place is we'll kept up, fine
crops, gardens and orchards attest his |
farming ability, while large and in-
ereasing stock of cattle, horses and sheep |
shows there is life in the old land of |
West Feliciana yet.
lately paid q visit to Fort Adams. |
How many Of our people, antiquary-