The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-08-19


solidated into one plantation, as they
soon will be, Ascension can boast of a
sugar estate which will vie with Evan
Hall of Mccall Brothers, and that is not
saying a little. Under the adminjstra-
tion of Mr.. Reuss, the unsightly willow
and cottonwood growth on the batture
will disappear; the unhealthy marshes
which disfgure the pastures will be
drained and filled up; substantial dirt
wharves will he constructed on its front,
with extensive warehouses for the land
ing of freight; neat cottages and other
outhouses will be added to those already
erected for the convenience and comfort
of man and beast; in one word, the "con-
federation" will lie the plantation of
Ascension.
just below Cuba is the Home planta-
ton, which in the days of old lang syne,
was owned by Col. Louis Landry. His
son Camille succeeded him, then it fell to
w. c. S. Ventress, then to j. Bite. Hector.
They are all dead. Mr. Bisbec next pos
sessed it, or part Of it. He is unknown
to fame, or at least, to Ascension, which
is about the same thing. Home belongs
now to Seymour and Yale, who have im-
proved it so much that it can scarcely be
recognized by those who knew it in for
mer days. The present owners are max
ing magnificent crops of sugar on the
place., and the sugar itself, after it has
left the cunning hands of Dominique
Gentil, the .fabricant, is hard to beat as
to quality. Home can boast of steam
plows, steam ditching machines. wind
mills, corn-cob crushers aud other smash
ing consarns. Messrs. Seymour e. Yale
hail from the north side of Mason and
Dixon, and have the go-ahead-a-tiveness
of the place.
Woodstock is the next place and was
bnilt mp by Judge Edward Duffel. After
his death it passed to Judge H. L. Duffel.
Woodstock is misnomer. It has not a
stick of wood on it. Lucus a non lucendo
"A non seq.
The first rice field from Donaldsonville
is here met with, and it breaks the monot-
ony Of sugar places to the great delight of
everybody around. The neighbors view
with pleasure the basin of 400 acres of
water held by levees as in a bowl. They
admire the dartings of shri,nps and fishes
as they disport themselves in the lin.pid
lake. The gyrations of cranes, grosbecs
and other aquatic birds over this pellucid
sheet of water in search of mud-cats and
tadpoles is All ever-ceasing source OF
Amusement to the good people. They
love to see the water as it spouts through
crayfish holes and flows over the roots of
the adjacent cane and corn, which grow
apace in the delicious bath. Talk of
saxophones and xylophones and cornets-
a-pistons indeed! and of West End and
Spanish Fort! What music can excel
the concert of few hundred thousand
frogs, wherein the shrill demi-semi- qua
verings Of the green jumpers unite with
the sonorous and resounding deep bases
Of the aca-,ca-,ca-rons ~ in delicious
melody! And how could one compare
the waves of the restless lake at the Fort
with the soft rustling Of the tender rice
plants, as they bend and sway in the
gentle breeze, beneath the weight of
their golden heads
We have travelled from Chatham to
Woodstock. Will the journey he con-
tinued further down the parish or, tired
Of my garrnlity, will you dismiss me to
the shades below, there to join other To-
quacious Coolest inhabitants" who in
mournfnl procession move along the
Stygian lake of sacred fame?
WHICH!