The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-06-28
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.


In this article don't let me forget
Major Watts. Were you ever at Ev-
ergreen z 1t was once the Baronial
estate of General Sprigg. From his
shady porch as far as the eye could
reach he surveyed his broad acres, his
fat herds aud his negro slaves. His
residence was the home of peace, plen-
ty and hospitality. From this Sprigg
sprang our Flowers. The General has
been gathered to his fathers; the with
ering breath of war has passed over
Evergreen and it does not retain in full
it's former grandeur. The buildings
look old, the herds have disappeared
and the negroes have mostly scattered;
but the old bayou is still there, sleep
ing SO calmly and 80 quietly; the oaks,
beneath whose widespread branches
the Druids may have performed their
mystic rites, covered with mistletoe
and bearded with long gray moss, still
stand the sentinels of former ages
The sunbeams struggling through the
interstices of the limbs look as if the
halo of holiness rested upon the place
aud the old house with it's half shut
doors and windows, Inhabited by q
semi hermit, no breath of air daring to
disturb the quietude that reigns
around, still stand doing in the sum-
mer sun, living dream of resting
place for the weary and the heavy
laden.
On last Thursday, one week ago,
those vandals of the Gun Club, instead
of approaching such an apparently
sacred place with a soft tread and un-
covered heads, came with shouts of
mirth and riot. The President and
your correspondent most appropriately
drove up in dog CART the rest of
them came generally in carriages and
buggies, and it was noticeable with
what ease and elegance these rough
sportsmen occupied their seats. On a
green sloping bank OF the bayou, be-
tween two rows of trees, Bringhurst
set the trap. Willie Flower held the
reins and Mr.. Prescott was the first to
shoot. Mr.. Flower said: "Mr. Pres.
colt, if you are ready, blaze away"
and twelve times right straight along
Willie Flower struck with a glass ball
Mr.. Prescott's shot. Score IL for Mr..
Prescott. 1t is the first time that
glass ball was ever known to have re-
ceived any damage from gun in the
Presidents hands. Mr.. Baynard, who
seems to have been born to the trade,
scored IL; Willie Flower, IL; Frank
Flower, IL; Charlie Flower, IL. For
Major Pendleton, whose old score used
to be so many blue coats, you may now
score IL balls. Schnack, in whose
veins runs the blood of the old vi
kings, who were born with weapons in
their hands, scored IL. Bringhurst
scored II. DR.. Compton, old and gray
with heart Overlooking with socia-
bility and kindly feeling a boy, in all
but years, held his own with the best
of the youngsters, and although to
strike one of his balls had to shoot
through four inch limb, scored 49,
Two of Major Watts shots were dis
puted and he was allowed to shoot
them over again, and actually made ID
out of a possible IL. l claim for him
laurel crown and the championship of
America. Mr.. Heyman and Mr.. Bios
sat contending for the leather medal
made themselves conspicuous by the
skill and dexterity with which at last
they managed to miss a ball apiece
Score them IL out of a possible IL.
Judge Baillio was then elected an hon
orary member of the Club. The Pres
ident brought out Webster's unabridg-
ed, and explained that this word "hon-
orary" meant that he was entitled to
all the privileges of the Club without
any of it's expenses OF penalties. Mr..
Horner, with characteristic modesty
proposed to come in on the same easy
terms, but was unanimously refused.
l never did like that Club any way
We then went to dinner, and such
dinner, ye Gods! For fear of throw
ing some epicure into fit of the CONT,
l will not undertake to describe it.
Soon the wine (Falerniag, such as old
Horace used to get drunk on) began to
flow, the blood soon began to run fas-
ter, the animal spirits dubbed and
sparkled, mirth, fun and revelry held
high carnival, and those old baronial
halls reverberated once more with the
sounds with which they had been ia
miliar in Eye olden times" If all the
good things said had been recorded
they would form a literary bouquet
that would be a thing of beauty and a |
joy forever. As some dark and hide
GUS thunder cloud which has discharg-
ed its lightning, hurled down its hail
and spent its fury, is seen the next
glistening in the bosoms of
the roses innocent little dewdrops, 20
one chap that we left at the table
asleep awoke the next morning and
saw smiling before him lot of bottles
of their contents, all their
devilment spent, some broken and
some unbroken, the harmless orna-
ments of DR.. Compton's dinner table.
He says he had a dream-that it ap-
peared to him that our dinner was 80
far ahead Of ambrosia and nectar and
such things as the gods feed upon, that