Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-11-25
A Night in New Orleans.

81 OF queer phases OIL lie ana mySLtrlt 5
4 without number; a miniature Paris,
with its bJou theatres in the French
/ quarters, where the play is in French,
and the English language is q for
1 eign tongue; and where the men
wear their hats aud the ladies sipab
/ siuthe and puff dainty rings Of cigar
cite smoke from pretty mouths.
j "Well, where shall we go to-
night 2" Morlan asked me.
/ Grand Opera House," | suggest
ed.
1 "What-arn't you tired of Janau
scheck's diamonds yet ?"
1 "Well, say the varieties"
"There is nothing there but the
frescoing in the lobby"
1 Academy"
"Bah y
We smoked away in silence, and
finally decided to see Mile. Mathilde
at lie Petit Franchise Theater, on
Charities street.
eff Golson is in the crowd, Wen
appropriate him. Aha there he is
now. Golson, come hither p cried
Morlan.
a number of young nen had cross
ed Canal street, and were passing up
st. Charles toward Common, others
continuing their way along Canal to
Baronne. A handsome, small, deli
cate student emerged from the
crowd. He had hands as small and
white as a woman S, long black hair.
pale, thoughtful face, and large,
calm, expressive eyes. / was intro
duced to him, and he grasped my
hand warmly and firmly.
"Haye you anything to do to-
night, Golson ?" asked Morlan.
Anything to do? Oh, yes, some
internal thesis, l believe but hang
the thesis-and, by George the dis
section, too. Where are you go
ing 2"
ITO the French theater."
"What, the absinthe and the head
ache? Come with me to the COL
lege. My little girl will do the tight
rope from the roof, and III intro
duce you" urged Golson.
We turned up st. Charles street to
Common, down Common to Baronne
and the college Crowds were be-
ginning to gather at this point. We
threaded our way through the throng
that pressed against the railing
around the college yard, and entered
small door at the side. We climb
n ed four flights of dark, dismal stairs,
4 and tumbled at the turnings. We
felt our way along hall pervaded
n by a sitting blackness and a musty
smell from the dissecting rooms.
The light from the street below
streamed meagerly through a window
and showed us the extremity of the
hall. We climbed and crawled thro'
& hole in the ceiling. Here The dark
Z ness was intense We found another
ladder close at hand, and by feeling
for the rounds gained the top and
emerged upon steep roof.
We looked around. New Orleans !
lay at our feet in all the glory Of a
4 starry night. On thesouth we could |
& trace he river winding in a crescent !
form around the city, and rejecting |
& the colored lights from the shipping.
Away to the northeast could be seen !
( the dark, fat surface of the lake To !
& the southeast lay the French Quar- |
ar,with its tall, old fashioned houses
and its narrow streets. To the west
ward Upper Town stretched all its
wealth and grandeur over a large !
area. Under our feet was the glare |
from Canal. st. Charles, Camp, Com
mon, Caroadelet, Baronne and Tchon-
pitouslas streets,
A parapet about twelve inches
high was all that could have preser-
/. we'd us from the morgue, if the foot |
had slipped an inch, or the treacher-
GUS slate had broken. Three persons |
we're standing in the gutter against !
the parapst. OF these, two were
rough-looking men the third was
woman in tights and short skirts,
covered with spangles and stars and |
gold lace. The men were engaged |
with certain pulleys and cords in
a.arr,ir,cr "a y crrnntn tansin,n tlnn rr-ira !