The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-08-06
loualosmnbille Cb1ct.
rwo Dollars Il Year.
Notes from Myra's Portfolio

Our Cav Observation-Disclosures CONNER
cial PROSPECTS of New Orlepns-City and
Country Interests Observation-Disclosures
nj Progress Of the Colored People.
NEW ORLEANS, July, 1881.
DEAR AUNT CHAT:
In tie hush Of this eyentide it is an
agreeable occupation to commune with
you, even through the voidless, passions
less medium of pen and paper. It IS one
of the fine arts, think, to make "ylr-
the Of necessity" and to do it chccrfnlly
and with genuine grace, so shall not
uselcssly lepine, because l may not talk
to you with eye and lip, but content my
self with the means ut hand, which some
poetical mind terms sonl-print." 1t
seems to me almost q paradox to speak
pf tho "hnsh Of cyentile in the heart
Of il great city, where the ceaseless hum
of voices is ever heard, and its activities
cn,lless. Truly, its busy life is never for
u moment still, perpetual motion" be-
ing its very watcllword. Even this mid
summer heat does not materially check
its regular flow Of business and pleasure.
1t seems to DO the motto Of thcse mirth-
loving, volatile Orlcanialis, to "blend
improvement with delight" according a
considerably larger proportion to the
sweets of life. tell you this with batcd
breath, but tho regret is ever present
with nc. If only the people Of our city
would devote themselves to intellectual
pursuits with half the earnestness with
which they engage i'll mere frivolous di-
versions, what a people VIC would then
he, for our enthusiasm would lend such
i light and hearty zest to the pursuit Of
higher occupations. Well, fear New
Orleans will never DO the Boston of the
Southwest, unless tho rising generation
read and study to a greater advantage.
But am DEPRESSING little. meant
70 speak, primarily, Of the commercial
rise Of the city, and the prospect Of this
being one of the finest shipping ports in
the United States. New Orleans certain
~ has wonderful natural facilities and
advantagcs-if the sanitary authorities
succeed in cxtcrminatins the yellow
fever germ-but still VIC think that the
ctlitor Of one Of tho Cincinnati papers is
vcAiny his soul rather prematurcly and
unnecessarily, in view of her growing
prosperity, and as Il natural sequence,
tho prosperity of Louisiana at large.
The cause Of his anxiety is, that the city
will not be able, in a few years, to offer
wharfage sufficient to accommodate all
the vessels that apply, and he insists
that there should be another outlet to
the Cult, because of tho extra amount of
tonnage, etc. With our twelve miles Of
river front and wharfage sufficient to
accommodate nearly a thousand ships,
there seems to DO little danger that our
city will outgrow her resources. A prom
lncnt business gentleman was speaking
TO us yesterday about her commercial
condition, and he expressed himself very
enconragingly Of tile near future, when
those engaged iii commerce would find it
impossible to leave the city Ut aH in the
Summer, even for u brief season Of recre-
ntion. When we re,uanber the almost
universal custom of closing the CONNER
rlal houses in years past during the
whole or greater portion Of the Summer,
we may we'll rejoice in the gathering
pressure of business, tending, as it will
inevitably, to the concentration of ener-
gies and activities. Tho life of city and
country are SO entirely onc-their ml-
tnal Interests are 80 perfectly welded TO-
scthcr, that the rise and advancement Of
the one must be followed by progressive
ness in the other.
Aud 50 tho inhabitants of this busy
metropolis are ever interested in tho
agricultural success Of tho country. I
used to think that it would prove u re-
lief to be in the city, in order to escape
tho ccasclcss discussions about the
"crops," dircful prophecies and gloomy
representations concerning them. To
my surprise | found that city people,
also stalk crops at least the gentle
men do-though OF course their remarks
are considerably modified, and their in
1ercst III them being Indirect, is not quite
so fcvcrlsh and unabatcd as that of our
country brethren. | rather apprclend
the most tlisconrasing predictions on the
part OF the planters, because Of this long
dry season, and l expect they will con
t'nne to Yibrate between hope and de-
SPAR until the first of January. But did
yon ever observe such a remarkable
hopeful class Of men? No matter What
their rcvcrses may be, however sorcIy
they arc slaekled and trammcllcl. and
whatever contingencies may arise, their
despair continues but for brief interval.
"iiope springs eternal in the Planters
breasts, and their everlasting, if not
cheerful refrain, Next Year. is protluc-
tive Of considerable comfort to them.
ina conversation with the late Super
sntcn'lcnt Of Public Education, recently,
nc gave us very interesting information
regarding the present condition of schools
throughout the State and several rather
amusing incidents Of the African yo,a-
rics OF Learning. When the colorel
Academy up town was closed and thu.
pupils sent down to the Normal Semi
nary tie mnlattoes and quadroons of
That srlpol complained TO the priucipa)