San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-04-16
OUR EXPOSITION LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

This city liz not dependent upon
the Exposition alono with which to
entertain visitors, and by way Of re-
creation your correspondent leaving
the Exposition while 'to run itself
will take tho reader on short tour
among somo historic places. Canal,
the Broad street OF the Crescent city,
divides il into two parts, the upper
and lower sections, and from the
same radiate all the car lines carrying
you to whatever point you wish TO go.
On this great central thoroughfare
are located the principal retail estab-
lishments, theatres, etc, and near tho
entrance to st. Charles street stands
q largo and very ugly statue of Henry
Clay, the soulptor's name being omit
ted, for, doubtless prudentialreasons.
People, when tired, sit about its base
cracking peanuts and stale jokes.
+ En- pdSSdnt we will remark, that the
last two sentences, as contrasted
with our editorial last week, afford n
good illustration OF the different ways
in which different people view the
same thing. That tho Clay statue is
not nm Apollo in beauty is true, yet n
very good defense of the artist is,
that it is true to nature, for Clay him
self was certainly not handsome,
though the winning grace of his
manner scarcely allowed those who
met him to think about it. Then the
statue is not over dozen feet from
the ground, so does not show to as
good advantage as it would on n high
er pedestal. That of Gen. Lee, refer
red to in our last, is elevated consid-
erably over one hundred feet.-ED.
FREE Press. AT or near the foot OF
Canal is the principal boat landing,
where swarms of "darkies" are usual
ly busy during the winter seasons
loading and unloading cotton. The
great Custom House is also near the
levee built of Quincy Granite, occu-
pying an entire block, having a from
tage of 1884 feet, and is said to be
second in size to no other building
in the country, the Capitol at Wash
ington being its only rival in point Of
dimensions, though it is to be hoped
it does not excel the Custom House
in ugliness, for it is certainly without
n rival in the lack of any architectural
beauty or attractiveness, though its
great marble business room upstairs,
is said to be the grandest commercial
room in the United States. The hall,
or more of the ground floor is occupi-
ed by the Post office, all other parts
by Federal Courts, and various port
officers. The site of this building
was that of Port Royal. built in 1892
by Baron dc Carondelet, it's guns
commanding every approach to the
city, as then built. Three quarters
of a century prior to '92, Bionville
had o fine mansion adjoining the
Custom House site, built in what was
then q forest, where he entertained
and tourists in royal style;
for some years afterwards the UrSu-
line Nuns used it as a convent.
Below Canal street is the older and
what is usually called the "Fronch
quarter" of the city. where there are
oddly built houses, much
like those common in France, Italy
and Spain, many of which are orna-
mcnted and covered with tiles. This
section is crowded with little stores,
shops and wine rooms and other ''re.
adapted to all tastes
and the streets are very narrow and
not at all attractive, especially at
night when the gas is turned of, as
has been the case for some time ow-
ing to a disagreement between the
city and the gas company. Several
blocks below the Custom House is
the famous Jackson Square, noted as
the spot where the territory of Louis |
lana was formally transferred from
Napoleon 10 Uncle Samuel; here also
Gen. Jackson on Dec. Is, 1914, re
viewed his troops, shortly prior to
TO the decisive battles Of Chalmette. |
the Square stands the St
Louis Cathedral, built originally in
1862. but now nearly renewed BY
additions. On either side of
.he cathedral stands the ancient
headquarters Of the French aAd
Governors, and an old prison,
neither much changed, and looking
unique and ancient
The Square itself very pretty
little park, is omamented with
-pleudid equestrian statue Of Gen