The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-05-13
1onaloso'ooille Cbief.
Two Dollars Year.
VIVIAN's yAGARiES.

LongfeliOW, hence the ABOVE. nave
been pining to write to yon all day, but
deferred it until this late hour SO as to
truthfully quote that verse; then, yon
know, letter begun is half finished.
With me, as with most people, the qncs-
ton arises, chow shall l start!" This
habit [ have retained since 1; child at
school, where the perplexing KS start"
deferred many an epistle which might
have emanated from my mind. When
ever one sees quotations., one naturally
supposes the writer is well yersed in ali
the works of the poet referred to; but Il
sad mistake it is. Perhaps they heard
some one else use it, and picked it up,
not even knowing the name OF the author.
Then there's the newspapers it might
have been gathered from. l know ever
so many young ladies who adore Ten
nyson," and have never read Il single
poem by him, excepting " Locksley Hail."
and often have been credulous enough,
on hearing 8: line OF two of it brought
into conversation, to believe the speaker
knew Tennyson by heart; but my own
experience has taught Inc better, for
Longfellow's poems are before ME and a
quotation that would like to appear
spontaneous had to be hunted out and
copied. Hope, should you ever see
classical quotation or any thing of that
sort in my letters, don't draw the infer
ence that am a classical scholar, for l
don't want to mislead you---you will find
I picked it up somewhere.
It seems to me almost like profanity to
use words that must have sprung from
the deepest recesses Of poets heart
words that reveal the soul Of the man,
his longings, aspirations and most sub
lime thoughts-on every convenient
occasion. With apparent Inconsistency
I plead guilty Of the latter, but in case
of this kind I'll try to think it pardona-
bic, as am heartily tired Of the stereo-
typed phrases, Yours received" Il
take my pen in hand" ETC., and as Long
fellow has always been the most loved
by ME Of all American poets, scarcely
think his exquisite poems can he repeated
too often.
Have you been to any picnics this sea
son? l attended one given by the Capt.
tolian Guards on April IA. Perhaps you
did not know the cadets had formed a
company bearing that name. We have
long felt the need Of IL military company
up here, and at last have our desire graf
flied on Il small scale. The picnic was
their first entertainment, and it proved
to be u delightful affair to most Of those
present. I won't include myself, for /
have i morbid horror Of picnics and
snakes. l don't like them, and when |
do forget myself so far as to be induced
TO participate i'll one, no sooner reach
the grounds than I'm possessed with
wild desire to get home to the shade and
rest-for tl1e.idea would he preposterous
to imagine one could keep comfortably
cool at a picnic; and then when one hears
such remarks as "Ugly girls are ugly at
all times, but pretty girls look ng'y at
picnics no, Hope, feel that even a
picnic given by the Cotield Guards OF
Dona1dsonville or any Of your base ball
weakness.
/ verify believe that half the people in
this town are demented (nothing exclu-
sively personal is meant) on one subject:
"Wlrn the Legislature meets" This
event is the great centre Of thought in
this communicable pivot OH which our
minds turn. Now it strikes me that
when it does come to pass, that things
will go on as calmly as usual. l guess
Baton Bouge will he able to withstand
this honor with her usual dignity.
Every thing, from the wearing of a new
hat to the selling of property, has been
deferred until "the Legislature meets"
Oh, sesame! oh, magical phrase! But
if l may ask Il civil question, what is
the use of excitement? If the meeting
of the Legislature is to make us million
aires or any thing Of that sort, propose
taking it calmly SO us to be able to men
tally appreciate my good fortune when
it does arrive.
Here are Il few of the remarks we hear
every day preceding "When the Legis-
lature meets" "I'm going to wear my
new Dress" Pm pass that sale =" "I'll
buy carriage;' "Wc'll have lots of
fun; ?" "There viii be Sc many handsome
strangers in town." SWELL have three
entertainments; Ever SO many par
ties" I'll make over my black silk
when the Legislature meets" You see,
Hope, it is getting monotonous. / long
for change in that set phrase. Some
mouths ago all remarks were followed
by "When we get the Capital here" l
don't mind people telling me of some
business deferred, but my patience comes
10 an end abruptly when young ladies'
wonder what hats and dresses they must
Wear "when the Legislature meets 1
don't profess to know much about such
things and don't like to make too positive
an assertion, hut did think the repre-
sentatiyes assemble to make our laws
and not to contemplate and regulate
fashions; but then, don't know every
thing.
Decoration Day has come again. and