The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-04-21
THE LOST EDEN.
Arcadian Homes on Bayou Teche' anu 'h'
Attskapss Country--from ne" or'e"""
IN Galveston by Rail.

to Galveston by Rail.
"St. Pa,r,cs's Day in the Morning "ss'
cloudy and warm IN the Crescent t'ty''
All the great days OF Mardi GFas ahu Int
Carnival ycrc sunshine and pleasant, ana
now" everyb9 dy SAID, "h God ."ves IRE
land aud the Irish, this will he a glorious
day." Blu, soon the clouds began to 10"
or and rain came down a5 ihu1gn the
food gates had been thrown "'de open,
and then it was remarked that Co! haa
M use for ireland or lie IRISH ur he
would have given them . bright sunny
day to celebrate HE anniversary Oh 'helf
pstron saint | was packing ~, max
ing all haste to leave on the noon iFAIa OF
the Star and Crescent line, bound Tor al
extended tour through Texas, MeAic" a"o
the Rocky Mountain region From an
adjoining hall came the shrll! notes ol 4
dutch band, numbering ErIus national
hymn, in manner that would cause Inc
saint himself 10 turn in his grave win 10
dignaiion is II he had 4" eai io'
music. And opposite chorus OF amaieu''
were bawling the anthem O! Erin Go
bragh," while from every Catholic church
beliry came memory peelt IN honor OF
"the day we celebrate"
As rode past the old French Cathedral
its ancient bells rang out memory pee, as
they had Tor gen ralions long since passed
away. Day after day, for how long "ht
can tell, these same old chimes have been
rung for marriages and funerals, victories
and defeats while tho old Cathedral seem
to have been the house OF prayer, which
all denominations, irrespective OF religious
prejudice chose rs place in which tt
offer public petitions or hymns OF praise
in all cases when common calamity OF
success urged devotion to the great direct
or of human affairs Before its affairs fan
brides have knelt on the very spot where
their mothers, grandmothers and great,
grandmothers had pledged their VOWS, and
were ia time carried to receive the last
rites OF the church. Distinguished
heroes and great men have bowed the head
and bent the knee beneath It's root ~ they
listened to the TIE Deum ascend for the
victory of on. country. Indeed, this ven
cradle edifce is an interesting place to
think of. Fronting the old Cathedral is
THE JACKSON SQUARE,
a spot never to be forgotten, not so much
Tor lis present appearance as Us past his
tory. Diverglng in all directions are shell
walks, bordered with choice flowers ana
vines magnificent orange trees, on which
are seen hundreds OF the golden fruit
clustering among the green branches,
stately msgnolas and broad leafed bana
nas, as well Us other !uxuriant fruits
The historic "reminiscences of this old
square would make An interesting volume,
sA!.e he .ender TomEnces begun, matured
Ard coasgm mated under the cool shade OF
ia tree. would form more thrilling tales OF
-cEHrce than vas ever conceived in the
5-zln Of our most vivid writer Df fiction
LsngplsaIBg Spanish beauties, piquaDi
Preach bellies, sweet faced daughters from
Stored Greece or classic Italy, the
women of all cimes, have IN this spoI
listened 10 the wi,ching tale they love SC
much TO hear; while brave soldiers have
been drilled, arms stacked or distributed tt
the defenders OF the stars aud stripes, anC
those who battled for the "lost cause" IN
fact all the phases OF human JOY or woe
honor or disgrace, hope or fear, have beer
enacted and experienced IN this old Jack
son Square. But perhaps the most CALLING
incident that ever happened within 1t.
walks--to the Louislanlans--wa when
Ben Butler was IN command of the city
and had carved ia the granite base Of III,
statue the words Of old Hickory Jackson
"The Union mus. and shall be preserved
1t was after this act that the people 81
New Orleans discovered lack Of spoons
IN the city (?).
Just diagonally across the street from
the square stands
THE OLD FRENCH MARKET,
where every visitor to New Orleans may
be found on a Sunday morning, if not Civ
en- to too much picty. But even so, they
somehow manage TO dodge the carly devo
tons, and take in this modern Babel
There is not on earth another such place
and few if any where there Is such con
fusion of tongues, such odd see mes, amuse
ments, and so general mixture of nation
alities, all buying, selling, and shouting in
their native dialect, proclaiming the merits
of their wares IN O manner that is Devil
dering to any but thorough linguish.
But space Is valuable, and il is not my
intention to devote this letter to sights and
scenes in New Orleans. Many OF the read
ers of the FREE TRADER have been there
and seen them, and the rest arc gong next
year. And right here let me say to those
that intend gong, branch off from the
beaten paths, the grand tour ( y and avoid
the hackneyed sights and sites. Shun the
old route, and leave Florida and that sec
i-t al.