The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-06-03
VILLETTE'S VIVACITIES.
Fabrics Of Fact and Fancy Fashioned by
the Facile Faber of a Fair Felicianfan.
WEST FELICIANA, Nav %. 1882.

WEST FEL1c1ANA. MAY q. 1882.
EDITOR CHIEF:
pen this letter in high pressure
state of misery. To-day there is weeping
and wailing and gnashing of teeth in our
usually peaceful domicile, and we-the
feminine portion of the household, for
the world over, the masculine element is
never troubled by such mishaps-look
into each others eyes in blank dismay,
and with direfnl sighs that betoken per-
turbed souls, lament our fate; for oh,
most woful case, our cook has left us!
L suppose those who know no better
might say, "that is only one of-the minor
trials of life" Softly, friends; did you
ever stew, bake or broil with the ther-
mometer high up in the shade; did you
ever wrestle" with waff1es that refused
to brown just to that turn which is 50
appetizing, or know you the agony of
mind that refractory griddle-cakes can
intlict upon the amateur cooki The
knowledge that such unhappy expert
encies can convey is most narrowing to
the soul and temper as can amply test
ify. My sympathy flows out in fullest
measure to that Unfortunate young lady
in one of Miss Alcott's works, who could
not make her fruit-syrup "jell" Yes, /
understand her feelings, for pve suffered
in the same degree; two days trial with
pots and pans has convinced me that
Nature never intended me to emulate
Messienrs. Blot or Soyer. Whatever my
forte may be, it certainly is not cooking.
l resign all pretensions graciously to
Bridget and Chloe. And not only is
cooking per Sc anything but enjoyable,
but it involves in itself so many disagree
able necessities. Constitutionally indo-l
lent, it requires an amount of moral
courage and cheerful philosophy to enable
me to "rise with the lark" which only
those similarly situated can appreciate.
There is not one particle of use for poo
pie to quote Solomon or to cite the ant
as an example of industry; l am just
confident that the "wise King" was SOL
emn old fraud who never practiced what
lie preached, and as for the ant, Pm sure
pve read somewhere that that pattern of
incorrnptible diligence is only too fond
of shifting its burdens and responsible
ties upon its less fortunate companions.
Why can not some ingenious Yankee in
vent an automatic cook and housemaid
combined? One warranted to work ex-
peditiously and silently; not given to
impcrtinence and taking +" French leave !"
upon the slightest provocation. Bulwer,
in his Coming Race, cites such marvel
Gus and desirable " help" as an outgrowth
of the age of electricity !; it now only re-
mains for some enterprising Jonathan to-
put his idea into tangible form, and so
anticipate the dawn of the Millennium.
1t is not often that Death, Unsuitable
as he is, strikes at one fell swoop" three
illustrious personages. First, Longfellow
went to that bourne whose joys he had
SO sweetly sung; following after, was
Darwin, and now Emerson has joined
his gifted compeers. A glorious trio,
whose talents have already lighted the
age which they adorned, and whose
works shall live after them, gathering
newer lustre i'll the years to come. Alike
famous, but different in their kind and
degree, shall the world over see again
the like of the pure. hearted, genial poet;
the painstaking and indefatigable natu-
ralist and scientist, and the whole -souled,
liberal philosopher Upon what Elishas
have their mantlcs falleni English and
American by birth, they belong equally
to the whole world, since their heritage
was nature and the universe. Prophets
and interpreters of the Infinite and His
laws, they stood upon the Mount Pisgah
of Revelation, looking afar off beyond
the narrow present, its circumscribing
walls of conventional opinion, into the
glorious future which outlies our
thoughts-the Canaan of promise, the
Beulah of brighter era.
We say they are dead, but do such as
they ever def Nay, rather they shall
live OH through all time to teach by their
example and to elevate by their precepts.
Glorious immortality of genius! to few
is the God-like spark given, and few have
! better deserved the gift than those whom
common country and united brother
hood now lament.
! Believing in the midst of our affections
That death is beg inning, not an end,
:; We cry to them. and send
| FarewelIs, that better might be called
| predictions,
| Being foreshadowings of the future thrown
! Into the vast Unknown.
Thank Heaven! The river is falling
| rapidly. Those who had taken refuge II
this parish, are now returning to their
yh0mes. Poor creatures. I suspect that
!! to many it is sorrowful return so mucl
has been lost that can never be replaced
! even by years of toll.
\ To one who finds an interest in study
ing human nature, the different aspects
of character are shown to fullest advan
tage during such exciting periods as
crevasse and inundation. In "a wit
messed such a scene as shall never for
get; the levee at Bayou Sara had jus
broken, when prompted as much b,