The Donaldsonville chief., 1882-02-04

l travelled with her once and found her q
cultivated and winning lady.
lean not join in the hue and cry against
theatre going, etc, for what is more ele-
waiting and refining than to listen to a
grand rendition of Shakspeare's TRACE
dies! 1t offends the taste of those really
cultivated and appreciative to witness a
sensational play-one with low tone
and morale, just as it does to read a
trashy novel; but because low comedy
and exaggerated tragedy are put upon
the boards, is no reason why the Chris
tian world should abjure the theatre
altogether, and fail to extract the wheat
from the tares. 1t is certainly cause
for rejoicing that the three eminent
actors Of America, whose names are
world-renowned-Booth, Barrett and
Jeferson-are loyal churchmen and
christian gentlemen.
Our excursion to Galveston proved so
enjoyable that we congratulated our
selves upon having made q virtue of
necessity. thus satisfactorily, and con-
formed with good grace to the inevitable,
instead of repining about the "might
have BEEN" We were thus enabled to
see the Island City," which the natives
thereof assure all strangers is the town
of Texas.
1t is very difficult, from the accounts
of these Texans, to arrive at any definite
conclusion concerning the relative merits
and demerits of the three chief cities
Houston, Galveston and Austin. The
contrariety of statements is really be-
wildering! "Seeing is believing" and
the only feasible plan is to visit in pro-
pria persona, each place, and deduce ones
own conclusions as an eye witness!
am just now in 4 bad humor with
Houston, from which shall not recover
till this interminable mud dries and the
streets are passable. l suppose no city
Of it's size in the United States is in quite
so deplorable and primitive condition,
az regards unpaved roads and streets,
and lights. It savors Of exceeding rus
ticity and is certainly primitive enough,
to see these worthy people sauntering
out at night with lanterns in hand! In
attending public places, the lanterns SO
numerous are apt to be "cosfoundedly
mixed" and it often happens that they
share the proyerbial fate of hats and
umbrellas! To guard against mischance,
therefore, 1 was amused last Sunday
night to see several gentlemen bearing
their lanterns loftiH into the church,
and depositing then1fwith satisfied aif
within their pews, +instead of leaving
them in the yestibule.
Galveston is certainly ahesd Of this
charming town in some respects, but
should not dare to insinuate this to the
Houstonians, lest they should pronounce
me heretical. The rivalry existing be-
tween these several towns is certainly
intense, and it will never do to make in
vidious comparisons.
Instead Of mud, we find in Galveston
only sand, which is clean and not espe-
cially Objectionable unless it rains very
heavily and continuously. fremont Ho-
tel is very handsome building, and
and comfortably appointed
throughout. While there are some very
beautiful residences there, none equal
several elegant residences here. The
chief attraction in Galveston for me, is
the beautiful beach, said to be the finest
in the world. 1t is very firm, smooth
and hard, and I absolutely longed for
moonlight ride with congenial compan-
ion! The slant from the waters edge is
so gradual that the bathing is very de-
lightful, am told, and one can go out
three hundred feet without experiencing
the slightest sense of danger.
One feature of the city / did not at all
admire, and that was the dearth of trees.
One misses the regular avenues of large
trees that makes Austin so
beautiful, and the smaller growth one
finds i'll Houston. In Galveston there is
no natural growth at all. A few have
been set ont, but they present a stunted
appearance and do not suggest the luxu-
rance of nature.
Tell E. and b. they would have enjoyed
meeting there several of the old !" Loquct"
girls, who are now married and pleas
autly settled in homes of their own!
What a pity it seems for girls to assume
The duties and responsibilities of maturer
life before they have really experienced
The sweets and privileges of "young-
lady -hood"! But l won't moralize upon
the follies which you and I have 10 in-
tention of committing.
Atfectionately, MYRA.
On a recent occasion the bread distrib-
ated to a cavalry detachment at Oran,
Algeria, was found to be mouldy, al
though made only forty-eight hours
before. Refusing to eat it, the men
threw it to their horses. Two of the
latter ate each about pound of the