Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-20
From our Special Correspondent


ed on some of the boats that were
making preparation TO leave, as an
inducement TO passengers and other
boats blew shrili whistles TO make
discOrdant the music of rival boats /;
mighty ships laden with wares from
foreign countries swayed lazlly and
sluggishly at the wharf aud tug and
ferry boats ran hithcr and thither all
around and among the ships like
things of life. The MAN of War;"
Tennessee" is anchored just ont and
small boats run TO and from it every
fifteen minutes, men halloing and
yelling, calling their own boats
palaces and others "boXes," fruit
vendors, sailors and loaiers all make
very exciting sight and to a Hop
kinsvillc man things were simply APP
palllng. After coming back from the
wharf we went out to see the EXPOSE
ton; we did not examine it closely
this time but merely took hurried
glance. If it was not for the Mexican
and Belgian Art exhibit, l think the
Art Gallery would not be very much.
None of our masterpieces are on eX-
mbition, and the principal ones that
are exhibited we have seen before at
Louisville or elsewhere. For instance
"The Song ola Shirt" by lesley
''DeSoto discovering the Mississippi"
"a Joint Investment by Bricher,
and many others. The collection is
about the same size ii was at Louis
vile, though think not as fine, but
in the Mexican and Belgian displays
we find some grand pieces of Art,
but we think that they brought only
the work of THEN, first Artists while
Americas display is made up of any
thing that could be obtained. We
did not admire the Staluary very
much as only few pieces appeared
and they were both small aud unin-
teresting; tfter examining The pictures
we returned 10 The city and began
our inspection of it. Our steps lead
MS into Royal street, we find flight
of broad stairs with "No. Is written
on the door and see a crowd within.
We follow and find ourselves in one
of the gilded palaces of the Southern
gambler. Every game conceived of
by the mind of men was being played
here. Five Hundred men in one
game Of "Kcno : two Hazard tables,
two Roulette tables; four Poker Ia
bles and every thing else out OF which
you could make money. Here the
rough old sailor and the "Dandy
Dude" were Oh friendly terms sitting
side by side. The Texas cowboy
and the unsophisticatcd rustic spent
money alike, and the click of silver
dollars could be heard over the entire
room, as the results of diffIrent,g games
were announced. These rooms are
about the size Of Hollands Opera
House and are fitted up grandly.
The second stories of two entire
blocks Oh Royal street ale fixed up
for this purpose with communication
with other, and thousands of dollars
change hands nightly in them; our
finances being limited and the walk
ing from here to Hopkinsville not
being very good now, we decided
not to tackle the Tiger" and hence
our description of him must here
cease. Thursday morning up bright
and early and down to the French
market we go; well of all wonders Oh
earth l think this the greatest until
| can go further. Think of four solid
blocks Of buildings in one Market
House and every thing on earth for
sale. We saw silk dresses on one
stand and fishing worms on another
close by; you could buy the dress
and then go fishing for pleasure if
you desired TO ;nothing that you could
cat or wear was absent and it was
the strangest sight we ever saw. You
can see here represented every nation,
kindred and tongue on the habitable
globe. A great many negroes live in
n. o. and nearly all the old women
stick to the ancient custom of wear
ing large bandana hankerchiefs tied
onHhc back OF their heads like the
chignons that were fashionable for
white people to wear several years
ago. Well, returning from the French
Market Ito which we will again pay
our respects Sunday morning. we
take line of small cars running out
TO the Old spanish Fort" though
why it is now called a Fort we are at
loss to determine, as nothing Of
the Fort but its historic recollections
are now seen. The grounds are
beautifully laid off into walks and
gardens and beautiful buildings and
towers are TO be seen where the Fort
once was thrown up. One pit is dug
and five large alligators live in it +;
they are about seven feet in length
and are as ugly as possible for any
thing to be; one wild cat, skunk,
porcupine and one large eagle com.
plete the list of animals here to be
seen. Open air concerts are given
every evening by Mexican band
and the time here was spent very
pleasantly. But now comes our
most enjoyable feat; we take a small
sail boat or canoe as. we call them
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