The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-05-02
LETTER FROM MONROE.


This pretty little city resting (but
no, in peaceful slumbers) upon the
banks of the limpid and gently flowing
I Ouactita, emhowcred in wide spreading
oaks OF "living green" is always Il
pleasant sight to one having an eye for
the beautiful in a happy combination
of art and nature. Though it may not
be like Jerusalem, 'thc JOY of The whole
EARTH" yet l positively aver it is pleas
ant to look upon.
| Monroe is one of the historic cities of
the South-belongins more to an
ancient than modern period. She dates
back to colonial days, as her records,
and the surviving Spanish and French
names common in her midst, show.
Some OF her people are tho descendants
OF Counts and Barons, who once held
grants to large possessions in North
Louisiana. My old, genial and intelli-
gent friend (now deceased) Major Bry
| (French), whose memory was Il capa-
cious store olsSe Of the past. used TO tell
me all about it, but much that he told
me has slipped my (ately) ,reacherous
memory. BY searching, | might find
out, perhaps, another to take his place,
and get the old story repeated, but l
| haven't the wherewith Uime) needed
for the search.
The Major told me an interesting
story about how the name of Monroe
| (for the PresidenO was given to the
place, but SO far as / am concerned, the
! story has gone with the old Mnjor.
(Why don't these old fellows who know
80 much of the history of the country
that is valuable commit the same to
paper?) But there is one interesting
fact concerning Monroe gathered from
my reading, I can't give author aud
page) and that is that Monroe was the
point of designation and rendezvous,
and was to be made the home of opera
tons, of the expedition organized by
! that restless aud revolutionary spirit,
Aaron Burr, and his coadjutor Blan-
nerhasset, on the Ohio river in early
days, (Which was broken up by the
Government having as its inspiration
the dream of great Western Empire
stretching from the Mississippi river to
the shores Of the Pacific. Gen. Wiki
inson, of the South was suspected of
completely in this revolutionary and
traitOrous plot but it was never proved
upon him. The proved up honor rested
upon the Northern conspirators.
The Courthouse here, erected in
1884, is very pretty, con venientand
comfortable building OF brick. 1t differs
in external appearance from most pub
lie buildings, looking more like 4
! female college Or seminary than q
Court house. Hanging upon the wallis
in the recess in the rear of the Judges
seat il 4 very interesting relic of the
period of which l have just spokon-
that is, when it is in its place, it being
now at the Exposition-to-wit: the
sword of Don Juan Fiihioi, Captain
and first Commandant Of the post of the
Ouachita ut Fort Miro I7S3), now
Monroe, presented to the parish by his
grandson, Mr.. Hypolite Filhioi, a
highly-respected and intelligent citizen
of Monroe, now we'll advanced in years.
Vegetation here is in advance OF
the region about Vicksburg though
the latitude is the same. The humidity
of the atmosphere in these low lands
must account for it. And that reminds
me to say that the excessive humidity
that prevails about Lancashire, Eng
land, is the chief factor in making that
region the great centre Of cotton spin
ming in Europe. This humidity is IA
very important desideratum in the
business; and knoweth any one why
it might not be turned to account in
the same line in the low lands of N ort h
Louisiana:
The fructifyiug showers of April have
gently descended upon the bread and
fertile fields hereabouls, and they are
beginning to s:blussom." The start for
an abundant harvest is splendid. There
is the promise also of Il big crop of
peaches and apples. Cheerful faces in
sympathy with smiling nature, are to
be seen in the fields on the roadside and
in the busy marts of the towns. The
gloom Of the past years will be forgotten
in the promised and smiling plenty OF
the present.
The buffalo gna,s, The great pest al
the swamp in overflow years ibeins in
the opinion of many the cause of the
stock disease known as charhOn) has
not been seen any more this Spring ihan
if it were an extinct race Of poison i'll
! sect. Better that it should be gone for
good than come to stay.
The disastrous fire at Nirkshurg.
occurring the night of the day of my
departure, is much commented on here
and elsewhere along the road. l ask
myself "why should the fire iiend thus
, strike at the most vital part of the
city?" but I only get the echo "why''
for answer. Nicksburg is always get
ting hard blows are they in love 70.
iiscipliuing purposes, or in wrath-in