The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-18
DIXIEW ARD.

Total-.......... .................. AZ s42.sO2 SO
DIXIEWAkD.
New Orleans Letter-Southern Scenery-In-
diana Exhibits, Etc.
NEw ORLEANS, May 4-"Out of the hur-
ley-burley and on the fy-awsy' was the
childish formula to which my tired thoughts
set themselves as the train left the din and
hustle of the city far behind and steamed
across the fields and through the budding
woodlands. Westward on the Vandalia,
then southwark on the Illinois Central. The
fields show richer, darker green, the lilac
lifts its spikes of yet prisoned bloom, q cher.
~ tree here and there opens snowy blos-
som. On through the darkness, dawn finds
rs Ct Cairo, and at sunrise
we Cross the OHIO to Dixie.
On either hand stretch the serene rippling
wsters smiling and laughing in the sun.
light, silver and pink. and purple and
amethyst. oissolving ana meeting the soft
mists in the distance or breaking against the
bach ground of trees with their half grown
leaves, showing ell the tender tints Of spring
the ''yallery grsenery," dear to the soul
of the aesthetic. On land again the train goes
bravely and safely onward, though for miles
the overflow eff the Mississippi is on both
tides Here the red bad and the dog wood
are in bloom, but Sc the river is left far be-
dwiDdles, and in Central Kentucky spring is
but little farther advanced than in Central
Indiana.
What labor the building OF railroad in.
NOTES.-THE building of this railroad, for in.
stance. though it by no means ranks as
4 - \
Miles upon miles of elevated roedbed Quilt
with shovels ugh.swamp, Jungle and mo.
rass; deep cuts through bluffs and rock
strata; bridges which span streams. and DE-
side the track, guarding it throughout its
length is the telegraph line All this repre-
SCENTS an almost Uncomfortable amount of toll
fatigue. exposure to the elements and mala-
ria, en- durance and stern resolve. The Illinois
Central is q profitable road one of its officials
told me, more profitable south of the Ohio
River than north, not in passenger travel
but in shipping freights. It has opened
vast era OF country to settlement and to
market. Thousands of acres are near the
railroad untitled, many of them needing
only little cultivation to make them pro-
ductive, end yet hopeless, desperate men
swarm in the cities vibrating between starva-
ton and crime.
What of the CROPS this season? l saw men
breaking ground in Indiana, colored boys
scratching the fields with wooden harrows
and Jokes of oxen in Tennessee, the ''darkey
and mule" blowing cane in Louisiana.
That is all know of crops but this know
that trees and vines, swamp and field were
a-bloom with flowers for which / vainly
longed, and if q wilderness will blossom like
the rose, while yet wilderness, will it not
do more when civilized?
A day and night crossing three States,
and the second sunrise from home finds Us
in new land-the land of the palmetto and
live oak. On one side stretches Lake Pont-
cbartrain, on the other an impenetrab
swamp. The trees are hung heavily with
Spanish moss, somber and solemn. while
from the tufts of swamp grass and flags
springs an uncanny white blossom, which /
name the "ghost flower" Near the track
are small gardens occasionally and dilapi-
dated log cabins raised high on wooden piles
and swarmiDg with pickaninnies.
Two hours later and we are in New Or
leans into the "hurley.burley" again with q
vengeance, for it was Louisiana day-two
weeks ago, almost ancient history. Southern
people have not attended the Exposition
largely; they are too poor. it is said, but
New Orleans ad Louisiana were out IN force
that day-ail races, all conditions, all shades
OF color. The streets were crowded. the Elk
position steamboats, looked like branches on
which swarm of bees have settled the
street cars were packed, and everybody was
Jolly and polite. There were parades, five
hear, music, fireworks and the happiest
crowd alive. Early in the evening when it
began to struggle homeward, the cars were
filled SO rapidly that many were Obliged to
walk half mile TO meet car and pay double
fare in order to get chance to 90 hons.
What was the state of affairs later when
the body of the crowd started have no idea,
at all events no deaths or accidents were
cbJonicied.
The next day when went to the EXPOSE.
ton l had car TO myself; the restaurant
were resting and counting their gains
Of Indiana day, May 4, you have heard
long ago. General Carnahan, sparred to the
best effort by the absence of Governor Gray
and Others whom he had expected, covered
himself and Indiana with glory, snatched
from Kentucky her old-time honor SIS the
crieir al home of the blue grass, aud claimed
credit for his State from Dakota, Ne.
bJsska and Iowa. because they are
dians's Commissioner did his State credit
and made the day pleasant to his guests.
There is disposition among Indianians to
grumble over the State exhibit at the Expo
sitlon, because it does not cover as much
space and make a. gorgeous appearance as
do tome of the other State exhibits; out if it
is taken in detail it will be found 20 repre-.
sent about az many and as valuable indus
tries as the others. General Carnahan re-
ceived his appointment at late hour had
no State appropriation to use for a leng
cultiss. He might have spread his
space; he might have shipped the State
Museum to New Orleans and two or three
carloads Of corn, wheat. oats and barley
straw and built q pyramid and colossal