St. Paul daily globe., 1885-02-02
THE CRESCENT CITY.
The Novelties for Northerners to be Found
in the Metropolis of the
South.
A Romance of jackson Square-Sights
and Scenes at the Old French
Market.
Special Correspondence.


NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 25.-I had promised
70 tell you something more about this quaint
old city. l find the old French part OF the
place by far the most interesting. filed as 1t
Is with the ancient edifces of the Oldest set
slers. visitor never tires Of walking about
there, but he must pass along slowly and
keep his eyes open or he will miss many
buildings which are attractive on account OF
their ancient ugliness. For instance on
Bourbon street is
AN OLD LANDMARK
builded as are the adobe houses in Mexico or
the peasant huts in southern France. The
plastering has all fallen of, the bricks are
1isintegrating the planks are shrunken
from their angular shape forming an inverted
triangle; decay is apparent everywhere, and
still this was once 4 governors residence.
The old garden back Of the house still bears
traces Of costly plants and flowers, and a
palm tree still! towers in its majesty over the
ruins of former splendor. Now We pass the
old cathedral, where Spaniards and French
men, and people of all nations have kneeled,
aud where for nearly a century mass has
been said, and we enter. he wonderful Jack
son square, where IN midwinter the air is
fragrant with the bloom Of thousands Of
roses Of 4 hundred different varieties, and
where the golden orange peeps out al us from
behind the dark green leaves. On both
sides Of Us we have row Of large, stately
buildings: The Pont Alba buildings,
and our memory reverts TO the beautiful and
accom- plished Creole girl with whom the
gaunt, ugly old phianthropist, McDODo Dough,
the founder and donator OF almost all the
school buildings, fell in love, and who, when
his love was scorned, swore solemn oath,
that his life should after this be devoted to ac-
cumulating as much money as this young
Creole girl, rich among the richest, possessed
McDouough kept bis word. Secluded from the
world, living on his plantation on the left
side Of the river, where now McDonOughville
stands, be worked from early till late, he
lived alone and poorly and was called miser
by the people-but when he died he immor-
talized his name BY leaving his princely for
tame 10 be devoted to the education of tine
poor children Of New Orleans and Baltimore.
The girl, whom be loved aud lost, became
TIE CoCNTEss DE PoNT ALBA.
She builded the buildings on each side of
jackson square. which are now called the
Pont Alba buildings, and sleeps in marble
tomb in the southern part of France.
In front Of US is the river with its ever
changing scenes and the French market with
its cosmopolitan population, its tempting
vands and its fruits from every tropical
country in the world Got Jackson square
IN early morning, turn your face ia any
direction, and on each side you will see
new scene, the whole forming panorama,
which you will never forget.
SUNDAY MORNING At FRENCH MARKET.
] visited the French market recently on
Sunday morning at O'Clock and witnessed
scene which cannot probably, be qualcd
in the world. The market consists Of four
long, low old buildings each but q single
story in height and extending along inside
the levee about three blocks above Jackson
square Here f. found for sale every i'm
agiuabe commodity, dry goods, clothing,
meats, game. fish, vegetables etc. Here
! saw new tomatoes, potatoes, peas, string
beans, and all vegetables. straw berries and
other small fruits; apples, pears and grapes.
There must have been at least fifty varieties
Of fish, while The game, ducks, quail, snipe,
wild turkeys, etc, were piled about in pro-
fusion. II seemed as If every bird that got
away from our northern guns was offered Us
a surprise 10 southern appelites. Moving
through these crowded bazaars was
mass Of humanity, pushing, husting
ana haggling Whole families were there,
the father with an immense basket and the
mother with baby in her arms, while tie
rest of the children hung on to coaJ tails and
dresses fearful OF being lost and crushed in
the crowd. The marketing for a week is
done on SUNDAY morning and an immense
amount OF mcrchundis of all kinds IA sold.
! took breakfast there at about O'Clock,
brigAt-cycd Spanish maiden cooking for ne
tender bceistrak over a br1zcu Of charcoal,
on bench in front OF me turning 10 on the
broilcr as directed. With a most admirable
cup OF coffee, a fresh roll and sweet new
butter, IL furmtd delicious repast As
sat there / was entertained by watching the
movements Of the buyers and sellers Ii
seemed as II the nationality Of the word was
represented, and every language spoken.
All were in holiday attire, for after disposing
ofthcir religious duties by attending mass, they
devote the remainder OF the sunday l, pleas
urc uurc>traiuedIy.
followed the iryotees, after disposiug Of
my breakfast which cost 1.-TWO bits" aud
crowded % excess Families were kuerling
on the great steps with their huge baskets by
their sides and the struggling aud crowding
was scarcely suggestive Of religious deyo-
ton.
= HERE'S YOUR ALLtGAroRS.
Many stores were found open during Sun
day, aud all the saloons aud cafes were in
full business order. On Charities street
visited the store of a man Who deals exclu-
siyeiy IN allicators. shipping them to almost
all uaris oi tlc world. Ia lis stock are alii-
gators Of all sizes, from the tiny iufsut three
Inches long, 10 the monster biueous and
shiny. These he packs la boxes with wire
sentiators and YOU can purchase one in "a
rrccptlr.c that YOU eau put iu your pocket,
~ one whose caskvt will lslt tll 4 box cnr.
West irnm hcrc "a few blocks w. iud the old
cemeteries in one Of which l read dates of
l1lO o course the t1mbs arr all above
rruuultaud the white cities ot dimuutve
marble palaces Of the dead are ful Of in
torcst.
Vending our way back through the mar
TOW streets to The American side of the city
W. feel as it we were awakening from a
dream of the past and sc decide 10 repeat
our sit to French town" and again for
Get that il Is the wear 1855 aud that We are
Ia The Quilted states
The en-, is becoming crowded ant it Is
sometimes quite distressing 20 witness the
G.~mHY aud d.saqpoiutmeuts of parties who
arrive 3v ;-aiu uupruyidei with sccom moda-
tous. IJsy wander about 10 the most dis
couso'a'c msuutr ana often spend 4 day be
fore thcv hud place of rrst. Il will d. SIM
ply ter-ibe during ssrii G-aS, and all
should cutcavor Go secure some place iu ad-
vance. The most comfortable people have
me-. or, cNNursLonIsts trnm points alnnr lhs