Richland beacon., 1881-07-23
FROM OUR NEW ORLEANS
CORRESPONDENT,
STEAMER Corona,
MONROE. La, July 18th.

heads this page, it occurred that brief
description of the trip up would not be
amiss as my regular contribution to
the BEACON.
Leaving the wharf at New Orleans
Wednesday, the 18th, we entertained
from there to Carrolton an excursion
party of the knig hts of Pythias, with
The usual proportion Of ladies' accom-
panying them, and the gay uniforms
and martial music and iiuttcring ban
ners added lively interest to TIE scene.
Capt. pelahoussaye being himself TN
well, deputized another oifcer to bid
them welcome, and the knights, their
fair ladies and al, the passengers re-
ceived refres hments, filed in with the
usual toasts and merriuent Of such
occasions. Arriving FL Carrolton, the
command fled into the cabin and per-
formed some military movements;
then marching on shore, three rouSlnS
cheers were followed by music from
the splendid band, which continued as
We moved on: into The river, and sent
its exhileratiny strains ia: over the
distant water
To fully appreciate the Joy oftravel,
one must leave the dusty city, as our
party did, on one Of those long, hot,
sultry days, steam up the grand old riv-
er, past lovely sugar and rice planta-
lions enjoying the splendid breeze, and
with the gorgeous sunset lighting up
the Southern SKY ami casting lines Of
glory on the water. To describe the
coast Just at,his season might well en-
ploy pen dipped in the poetic fires OF
inspiration therefore your correspOn-
dent viii not attempt il.
In the early dawn o. Thursday, az
we neared Baton Rouge, the classic
towers Of the old State House loomed
MP with doubly imposing grandeur,
and anew dignity attached to it as the
future receptacle of the archives of
Louisiana. | believe we are all glad
to see this beautiful town take back
its stolen honors, for Il always seemed
unjust for the seat Of government to be
transferred from this lovely spot and
placed in The diagy walls of that haun-
ted old rookary on St Louis street.
Surely if incidental surroundings ID
iiucnce human thought and human
actions, we can conceive Of nothing
more calculated to corrupt our repre-
sentatives than to sit from day to day
in that rckety old den; nor can one
blame them to be more vulnerable TO
the insiduOus influence of mOneycd
rings and cliqueS there than in the
beautiful capitol at Baton Rouge,
where heavens own messengers, the
flowers, and birds and trees are all
about, to prompt and to strengthen to
noble and patriotic purpose. 1t is
really pleasant to look forward to the
time when the paraphcrnalia Of state
government shall, as in former days,
include magnificent library, and the
literati of the state Snail gather there,
and schools of learning shall grow and
prosper, and Baton Rouge shall take
its stand as the Athens of Louisiana
1t is said that the Ouachiia trade is
at present overdone, four boats doing
what two should do; but if so the
Corona must be getting more than her
share, judging from the large ammout
of business she seemed to have from
the mouth of Red River to this place.
The splendid fare and elegant accom-
moda,;ons account we'll for The crowd
ed cau a even in this the dullest part
of the season, and the courtesy OF the
officers made the trip delightful one
to all on board. Among the passen'
. gers was the Rev. 7. A. Routon, who
was on his return from the Baptist
Convention, at Natchitoches. and we
would take pleasure in giving some
items of its labors and success, did
we not know the Editor Of the BEACON
, would do ample justice, having been
, one of the seventy-fve members who
, composed it. Mr.. Holmes and lady
3 from Black river, the accomplished
q Mrs. Jennie Caldwell, and Mr.. Cald
9 we'll and lady, from Houma. Were
g aboard, and many others whose names
, cannot recall, but who all contribu
tod 70 tho en;ovr,pnt of the trim TAX,