The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-06-02

Snatcher-An Educational Af-fair-A
Streak of neutrality-suspicious. ot
Aqua Pura-small Pox supplanted by
Another Contagious Malady, etc.
NApoLEoNyILLE, May "a, 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
4 Musing, dreaming, cogitating philosoph-
izing, meditating or ratiocinating here in
my rural retreat, regardless of outside crit
cism and impervious alike to local benet1ic-
tions or enmities, continue quietly oscil-
lating from Lafourche to Lake Verret from
BERTHE to Paincourtville, from earth to
heaven-gathering in all stray items that
may chance to float within my sphere of
observation. have not been very success
full of late in cleaning these several fields
though some interludes of pleasing char
acter have transpired, while others of more
serious nature are among the on dats. But
it is always SO; the pleasures and miseries
Of life travel paa'i passu, hand in hand
On the bright side of the chrome looms
up the occurrence of last Saturday night,
and am puzzled about suitable cognomen
by which to distinguish it. 1t would be
unfair to call it a fair; it wouldn't pass for
a sociable; it hadn't the character of re-
union, nor the attributes of an exhibition.
AS it partook of small portion of each of
| the above ingredients and occurred IN an
academy and for the benefit of young
| ideas," perhaps might designate the enter
tainment as an educational affair Yes, I
think I've struck it. The "fair " part of
the performance was in the guise of cakes,
lemonade, ice cream and things of that
description, donated by our citizens gen.
orally and displayed in very attractive
style by the ladies, whose bright eyes and
graceful-oh, pshaw! never could spread
on the taffy. There was preponderance of
girls and boys; maidens who doubtless had
gilt-edged wings hidden under their scarfs,
young masculines with down On their upper
| lips, DANES and sires habited in smiles and
| summer wardrobe, and few wiser heads,
on which the "silver threads among the
goN" were visible. There was plenty in
the way of refreshments; there was music
and dancing, and it is natural to conjecture
that the usual amount of gossip was trans
acted by the feminine portion of the as
sembly, while it is more certain there was
an interchange of topics of Guliiver hue
among the gentlemen. But the result of
the undertaking was highly satisfactory,
and our public school, invigorated by the
naa1a1 ctjr7u],c with tod
will, under the able management of the
accomplished tutoress, Mrs. Sims, soon
shine out as one of the brightest lu1ninaries
in the educational f11nament,.
We have experienced quite streak of
weather since my last dispatch, which the
same happened Sunday morn. The day
woke up about the usual time and put On its
best clothes as if determined to attend mass
at all hazards But after old Sol showed
his disc above the tree-tops at the rear of
Ratliff's plantation, things began to put on
a lachrymose look, and diminutiye cloud
IN the southwest, apparently no longer than
your second baseman's hand and of about
the same complexion, commenced travelling
upward and onward :" for all it was worth,
bulging out as it advanced, and as it struck
Napoleonyille in the rear, turned loose some
of the heaviest and wettest rain that has
come down since Noah's overflow. And
then, suddenly the wind, changing to the
northwest, with seni-wave from Pixies
Peak, took hand in the elementary tour
nament and for a while I fancied Kansas
cyclone was en- route, via Lafourche valley,
to the Gulf. But it didn't last long, though
for day or two since felt as if some
friend ought to have forwarded my over
coat from the pawn shop.
Now, water is staple article in one sense;
the world couldn't get along without it, and
its q good thing in its way. In cases of
protracted illness, particularly where deli
cate women and children are concerned,
rain water is supposed to be a panacea,
desiderotlna, etc, but I am fearful as to its
effects on my constitution, and for that un-
answerable reason I never imbibe it except
under protest, and even then it must be
toned with some medicinal preparation.
or antipathy against water, the sight of the
liquid is apt to make him foam at the
mouth, and hence this fearful DEPRESSION.
Up to date no other cases Of a various
though I understand the small pox proper
is On an adjoining plantation, having been
imported by some labofers from a northern
locality. Another maiady, however, not
considered dangerous, though contagious
under certain influences, has gained foot
ing in the vicinity, and in one instance
proved fatal. The victim resided short
distance above and on the opposite bank of
the bayou. Orphtutecksus " is the tech
nical title of this disease, and if I mistake
not, this same contagion appeared in your
town about four or five weeks ago. Your
physicians were doubtless familiar with the
symptoms of the ailment, and consequently
adopted course of treatment which has
prevented the infection from becoming
epidemic. Since the "taking Off ~ of the
party above alluded to, no cause for further
apprehension has been manifested, and our
local M. D. s wear elongated visages conse-
quent on the dearth of professional activity
in their line.
a light southerly breeze in the dawn of
the week waited the report Of a shooting
affair among the colored fraternity near
Thibodaux, bat as no particulars were re-
ceived and as it was beyond my beat"
and within the jurisdiction CT Uncle Silas, l
relinquish further disclosures to the proper
scribe. Some trivial, and other serious
misunderstanding and Guarrels, principal
ly among our sable-hued citizens, furnish
the magistrates with almost constant occu-
patton, and the disciples of Blackstone are
also in requisition, filing up their time, if
not adding to their wealth, III endeavoring
to promote harmony and adjust differences.
And, right here. Ell PEASANT, l presume to