National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-14

VINO is In New Orleans for tho nrst Jine
feels for the first few days that he has
no time to spare to go to the Exposition,
though that was his nominal reason for
coming here. There is so much Of inter-
est in the old town itself, and the EXPOSE
tion grounds seem so remote and take so
long to reach. 1t 10 really not so very
far, but tho arrangements for getting
there seem to be made entirely to suit tho
convenience Of the street railroad COM
panies without any consideration for
that Of tho passengers. 1t is true, you
can go by steamer IL you are willing to
take the trouble to 30 in car to the
foot Of Canal street. wait half an hour
for you generally just miss boat, and they
start only once in thirty minutes-snd
pay three time as much as by car. In spite
of all these impediments many choose
TO go that way. We tried 1t once, but
have not repeated the experiment. The
morning was cold and the palace steamer
that bore us not only went very slowly,
but was unprovided with any arrangement
by which you could stay indoors at all.
1t was the lodging place of the Louisians
Military School Cadets, a lot of hand
some, good.natured boys, who said they
were frightfully uncomfortable. The en-.
tire boat was q state Of bideous con fusion,
and caked and crusted with dirt. In spite
of these little draw backs she carried eight
hundred passengers. although not at all
large boat. When we expressed some
surprise we were assured with much
ferocity by Jean Poquelin himself. or his
twin brother, who seemed to be in COM
mand, that she was allowed twelve hum
dred. If so, it must have been intended
as cheap and easy way Of exterminat-
ing the surplus population Of Louisiana.
AFTER THIS ONE EXPERIENCE
we have stuck by tho street cars, though
that necessitates getting started carly
enough to ride down to Canal street and
then take car and ride back again, as
the cars that, pass your door are always
gorgod aud crammed with people. This
arrangement, as 1t involves paying two
fares, is naturally encouraged by the
street car people. Even after taking this
precaution you frequently have to depend
for your seat on the charity of some
benevolent man, which seat if you have
any conscience at all, you hate to take
when you have to sit and see him hanging
to strap and hurled and banged from
one side of the car to the other for n
whole hour. Some of the men have tho
iron determination to retain the seats
which they have paid and striven for, but
they can hardly succeed in this unless
they have newspaper to bury them
selves in in order to appear unconscious
of the stony glare of the women who are
standing. 1t appears rather ironical to
see in these crowded cars notice that
you are requested not to put your feet on
the seats. Why should you want to do
10? And II you did want to how could
you?
/ am every day more lost in wonder
and admiration of the powers of en-
ourance of the mule. The cars are full
sized, packed, and damned with people,
and are drawn by
ONE LITTLE MULE,
who usually trots briskly along as IL his
load were not worth mentioning, though
it would make Mr.. Bergh's hair stand
: upright on his head with horror to SEQ
him trying to start when the road is
muddy and slippery. But Mr.. Bergh is
not here to intorpose, and the bystanders
gaze with mild and apathetic interest
ut the mule as he strains and tugs and
plants his feet only to have them slip
from under him, until finally encour-
aged by little gentle profanity from
to do over again good many times, too
for as the rest of tho street is generally
impossible from mud all the vehicles fit
tho car tracks, and 1t is very apt to be-
come blocked. Tho other day a cart
in front of our car got stuck
in the mud in attempting TO turn out.
A long limo of cars accumulated behind
us, while number of the passengers en-
deavored by every device to get the cart
out, the owner meanwhile standing up
to his knees in mud and placidly smok-
ing as he looked on. Finally number
pushed from the rear, while one man
took the mules head and made n des-
perate effort to drag him out by main
strength. The effort was successful, but
in the struggle the harness broke and the
long procession of cars had to wait while
it was mended with rope. which the
owner did with deliberate and unrutIled
composuro.
You wonder while going through these
struggles If the game is going to be worth
tho candle, but when you get there YOU
do not question the fact that 1t is. The
grounds do look crude and incomplete
at the first glance, but the grass is as
green as spring, there are some magnifi-
cent avenues of live-oaks, and here and
there beds of crocuses and hyacinths
brighten the ground. 1t must have been
dreary, indeed, during all these months
of rain, but now it is bright and pleasant,
and the place has been for the last few
days for the first time we'll filled with
people. In spite of all that has been said
and written during the first two months
when things were in such chaotic con-
dition 1t is now unquestionably good
show, and if 1t were located in an Access
sible city would attract great crowds of
visitors. 1t can only be regarded, how
ever. as national exhibition, for inter-
nationally speaking, it is not very brill
liant success, IN spite of their fondness
for calling it in print THE Worlds In
dustrial and Cotton Centennial Expo
sition." Mex leo has, II is true, very
fine exhibit hut then Mexico seems Just
across the street when you get down
here.
THE SILVER BRICK
as it is called. though really it is big
pyramidal mass Of dull, lead -colored silver,
ia sent from Mexico, aud Is said to be the
largest mass OF silver in the world. 1t is
never without an eager file of admirers
leaning on the railing around il their
little note books while they jot down the
feet that it is worth S2li.O0O. Mexico
has an immense space carefully and
systematically arranged, and filed with
interesting things. There arc some
wonderful saddles Of the beautifully fin
ished Mexican leather, many Of them
elaborately mounted with silver, and
some OF them valued at 5000. There is
an extraordinary display of their leather
in many pretty grays and pinks, some of
1t so fine that professional dry goods
man would take ii for cloth. There is
commanding monument forty feet high
made of Mexican woods, and showing a
different wood every two inches. ANY
one of mathematical turn is welcome to
figure out how many kinds OF wood there
are.)
There are some oddly-beautiful speci-
mems of the Mexican long, narrow shawl
or rebOsO, one OF which is made of 200