St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-07-15
BATON ROUGE, LA, July 1, 1882.

If there is place in this State which
ought to be pretty we'll known to the
people, it is the Capital of Louisiana.
The delegates to the constitutional con-
vention who voted for the removal of
the Capital to Baton Rouge must have
been blutfing, for the city on the bluff
is no place for a capital, and certainly
the last place to choose for the meeting
OF the Legislature. If I would begin
to enumerate the disadvantages under
which Baton Rouge labors, this paper
would be too small for my letter. The
heat in the capital city is sutfocating,-
Il fact which the legislators will not for
get for a long time to come. A repre-
was "iaid up" for day on account of
the warm weather, and others suffered
more or less from the hot wave which
seems to envelop Baton Rouge from
springto winter time. In winter time
the inside of the State House will be as
frigid as the north pole, for the build
ing is devoid of heating apparatus, be-
sides being exposed to the winter blasts
OF the Mississippi river. All things
considered, the members of the legis-
]ature are inadequately recompensed
for their labor in behalf OF the State,
and the incidental risk to their lives
which they undergo by sojourning in
Baton Rouge. Still Office seekers and
aspirants for legislative honors are as
numerous now as before the removal
of the capital to that god forsaken city,
and notwithstanding the fact that "the
assembled wisdom Of the people, meet
but once every two years. Previous
to our visit to Baton Rouge we fondly
imagiaed-gulled by the Dragging end
blowing of Baton Rougeans, that the
Capital City was the coolest spot in the
State, but not four hours after our ar
rival ga change came over the spirit of
our dreams" and we are now firrnly
impressed with the idea that Baton
we may be mistaken, but as we do not
indulge in any liquid stronger than
vichy water, we are confident of being
pretty near the truth. 1t would be su-
pertluoHs. Or our part to speak OF the
manifold attractions Of the city on "the
bluff for very few people have not
heard of them, indirectly or otherwise.
In the first place the unfinished State
House stands boldly on the river front
the penitentiary in the rear Of the town
and University, u. S. barracks, Charles
Weeks saloon, the Grand Capital Sa-
loon, Gen. Jastremski's Capitolian Adj |
vOcate, Wivian's Truth, the poker club |
rooms, and the MdisoR DE Joie, stand 4
scattered .pr0mscuously about the Sc
ductive highland city. 1t is no won
der therefore, that cheerfully under |
took a pilgrimage to the Capital of
Louisiana tO-see tor myself the wonders
OF that city. Boarding the s o'clock
train OF the NeWOrleans Pacific Rail
road was soon speeding towards the |
town where the Legislature meets and
at the same time enjoying a pleasant |
the sweet embOdimento of Zepllyras him
self. Several members of the legisla-
ture were also on the train, as we'll as
of lobbyists, a few gamblers and
. couple of lawyers. The notable char
acters varied the nj oaotony of the oc-
,asion by indulging Ola the treacherous
game of poker and anon slipping from
he lips Of the God Baccus. Ia fact
Baccus seems to be the rex of some
legislators, and on this occasion in par
ocular those present were all Bassarides
Ut about p. M. the merry whistle of
he locomotive warned adj on board that
We were within a few yands of Baton
iouge. Arriving at the ferry landing
he poker games were adjourned, and
H on board started for the ferry, which
y the way. is composed of the swift
Morning STAR" and the padding
lRene," the latter miniature boat
ID I. ought to placed on the retired
stof che played out sfeamboa is. Of
curse we all boarded the Morning |
tar and in less than ten minutes the {
ton Rouge wharf was reached. A bout |
sfeen minutes afterward the uncouth
Irene" was made fast to another end of ,
20 wharf. The blow hard and pulled
city had now been reached and tie 1
,glslature was but three blocks off.
ne accommodations at the Grand | y
al Hotel, the boss hash house of
own, are tirst-class in every par Il