The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-07-21
A TRIP TO WEST END
BY UNCLE SILAS.

On Saturday morning July IA 1888, I
took the cars at T%hibodaux Depot. in com
pany with four or 1--WE hundred Excursion
ists, to New Orleans.
The ride to New Orleans was pleasant
and agreeable. tho road passing through
the prolific cane and rice fields Of Lafour.
che, which give unmistakeable evidence
of bonnteOns harvests in . few months.
The prospect beyond Des Allemands, 30
far Us sugar is concerned, was just the re-
verse. much of the zane seeming to be
abandoned to the grass and weeds.
In the city the heat was intense, but to
wards the evening. l boarded the cars for
West End. to visit and see the festivities
given by the French citizens in honor of a
great event in tho history Of their native
country. The cars were filled to their Mt
most capacity, probably 25OOO people hav
ing made their way to their famous even
ing resort.
West End is o beautiful place. The
buildings are elegant. the walks nice, the
gardens beautiful, and Lake P~0ntchartrain
spread ont to the Westward a far as the
eye can reach, with numerous boats sail
ing upon it's placid bosom renders tho
view enchanting.
After promenading over the grounds
and after witnessing some men attempt to
walk y slender horizontal pole and tumble
in the water below. l turned my attention
to o bicycle tournament in which three
professionals were striving for u prize. As
one of the riders was passing at full speed,
with lance in rest. q little child ran across
the road. The rider being unable to
change his direction in time, ran against
the child and gave a practical exemplica
ton of the scriptural adage. by the care
~lessness of little children. the rider and his
horse shall 20 tumbling down."
The child received no injury, but tho
man was somewhat stunned but not bad
~ hurt.
In the centre of the grounds was "a fine
Pavilion in which were placed the Band
Of music. As l was passing by 1 saw a
man, with stick in hand. striking it about
in every direction over and around his
head, as if 500 horsef1ies were trying to
alight III his nose.
asked Johnny Baptiste if the man was
crazy. He said mo-" The was beating
time.'
Well what has time done that he should
beat it. Time has been good. it has given
thing propitious for the celebration and
Y: s:t they have put a man up there to beat
"Oh. he is beating time for the musi-
cians.' Well, it may be so, but that &C
counts for II mystery that has ever been
impenetrable to mo-"
Whats that"
"Why. the musician who plays the big
fiddle is always bald headed. The leader
who beats time with such ferocity makes
the fuzz fly off the top Of his head, 80 high
and fast that it never gets back.
The great feature of the evening was the
fire works. To say the least of them. they
were grand. magnificent, equal to any Of
the famed exhibitions of Aladdin with his
wonderful lamp.
Thought that would write a minute
description of them. but after l had seen
them | thought l would not do anything
Of the kind.
In company with . distinguished citizen
of Lockport. I had managed to obtain .
seat, q few minutes before the exhibition
began.
Suddenly . canno was fired that 80 as
touished . lit 10 lady Of IL near by that she
sprang up abeut two feet and then sat
down upon tAs first seat that wa conve-
nlent, which happened to be my knees. I
told her TO ''sit still. the cannon wouldn't
hurt her." bat shs tsnped up - quick as
Il anothee sAet ~ bssa fred. This shows