Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-03
Gales arro Sketfbes.
A NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS.

st. Charles Streets in that quaint and
strange old city, New Orleans city of
never-ending charms. and of queer phases
Of life and mysteries without number; a
miniature Paris, with its bijou theatres in
the French quarter. where the play is in
French, and the English language is a
foreign tongue and where the men wear
their hats and the ladies sip absinthe and
puff dainty rings OF cigarette smoke from
pretty mouths.
well, where shall we go tonight ?"
Morlau asked me.
"Grand Opera House," suggested.
"What-arn't you tired of Janauschek's
diamonds yete''
well. say the Varieties"
There is nothing there but the fresco-
ing in the lobby"
Academy"
ssBahi''
We smoked away in silence. and finally
decided to see Nil. Mathilde at lie Petit
Franchise Theatre, on Chartres street.
III Golson is in the crowd, we'll APP
preciate him. Aha there he ia now. Col
son, come hither ~ cried Morlan.
A number Of young men had crossed
Canal street, and were passing up st.
Charles toward Common, others continu
ing their way along Canal to Baronne. A
handsome small delicate student emerged
from the crowd He had hands as small
and white as a woman's, long, black hair,
a pale, thoughtful face. and large. calm,
expressive eyes. was introduced to him.
and he grasped my hand warmly and firm
ly.
Have you any thing to do tonight
Golson ?'' asked Morlan.
Anything to do? Oh, yes some intern
al thesis, believe; but hang the thesis
and, by George! the dissection. too.
Where are yon going?"
ITO the French theatre"
What the absinthe and the headache !?
Come with me to the college. My little
girl will do the tight-rope from the root.
and I'll introduce you." urged Golson.
We turned up St. Charles street to Com
mon, down Common to Baronne and the
college Crowds were beginning to gather
at this point. We threaded our way
through the throng that pressed against
the railing around the college yard, and
entered a small door at the side. We
climbed four flights of dark dismal stairs,
and stumbled at the turnings. We felt
our way along hall pervaded by a ST.
fling blackness and a musty smell, from
TIE dissecting rooms. The light from the
street below streamed meagrely through
window, and showed us tine dim outline
Of perpendicular ladder close at hand.
and by feeling for the rounds gained the
top and emerged upon steep roof.
We looked around. New Orleans lay
at our feet in all the glory of a starry
night On the south. we could trace the
river winding in crescent form around
the city. and rejecting the colored lights
from the shipping. Away to the north
east could be seen the dark fiat surface OF
the lake. To the southeast lay the French
Quarter, with its tall, old-fashioned houses,
and its narrow streets. To the westward
Upper Town stretched its wealth and
grandeur over a large area. Under our
feet was the glare from Canal, st. Charles
Camp, Common, Baronne. Carondelet and
Tchonpitoulas streets.
A parapet about twelve inches high was
all that could have preserved us from the
morgue, if the foot had slipped an inch
or the treacherous slate had broken. Three
persons were standing in the gutter
against the parapet. OF these, two were
rough looking men the third was wo-
man in tights and short skirts. covered
with spangles and stars and gold lace The
men were engaged with certain pulleys
and cords in drawing to a greater tension
the wire cable that stretched from the par
apet Of the college to the building oppo-
site. The woman was standing in the
shade of the parapet. and looking down
abstractedly upon the thousands of human
beings who packed the street, and whose
upturned faces so expressive of anticipa-
ton she seemed to be studying atten-
lively.
ALREADY here, Zoe p'' asked Golson. in
his soft. smooth voice.
The woman started and turned quickly
toward him, an expression of intense hap
piness lighting up her face.
II was looking for you below" she
said. II was afraid. but am strong now
You don't think | will fall, do you ?"
Certainly not. You are very foolish
to ask such a question"
He introduced us as his friends. and she
greeted us pleasantly. She had rather
an agreeable face. though we could moi
see distinctly. the only lighting being that
of the stars and the faint glow of the
lamps and torches below. In any even,
she had pleasant voice and that was
sufficient. A shawl was thrown over hei
bare shoulders and arms, but she shivered
in the night air.
IL was thinking. Colby" she said, and
a more decided shivering shook her deli
cate frame; Il wonder what they would
think and feel down there"
Nonsense. little Zoe -
She laughed softly and put her arm
through Golson's. and looked up into his
face with touching tenderness and reli
ance. She again scanned the crowd.
''Well but suppose should. Do you
think they'd care? Or would they say
was little fool and it served me right p
"What is the matter petp''
''Oh. nothing-nothing whatever and
she laughed again musically. ~ was
simply thinking. remember that 8
long time ago. when was child. and
my father was letting me stand on his
head while he rode two horses backward
around the ring-and was terrible frigh-
tened once when the horses became wild
with fear or something-I don't remember
what-and he caught me strong and close
in his arms as was falling. and kissed
my lips, my cheeks, and eyes, and fore.
head, and held me in his arms for quite a
while. and called me his dear. precious
baby. What was l going to tell you
III xos shnt,t th., man urhs fall fn>r, III.