National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-22

George W. Cable. in April Century1
The worship Of Voodoo is paid to a snake
kept In box. The worshipers are not
merely a sect, but, in some rude, savage
way, also an orler. A man and woman,
chosen from their own number TO be the
oracles Of the serpent diety, are called the
king and queen. The queen is the more
important Of the two, and even In the
present dllapldated state of the worship in
Louisiana, where the kings office has al
most or quite disappeared, the queen is still
a person OF great note.
She reigns as long as she continues to
live. She comes to power, not by inherit
ance, but by election or its barbarous
equivalent Chosen for such qualities as
would give her natural supremacy, per-
sonal attractions among the rest, and ruling
over superstitious fears and desires Of every
fierce and ignoble sort, she Yields no trivial
influence. / once saw, In her extreme old
age, the famed Marie Laveau. Her dwell
ing was In the quadroon quarter of New
Orleans, but a step or two from Congo
square, o small adobe cabin just of the
sidewalk, scarcely higher than its close board
fence, whose batten gate yielded to the
touch and revealed the crazy doors aud
windows spread wide to the warm air, and
one or two tawny faces within, whose eX-
u
contemptuous inattention and a frowning
resentment Of the intrusion. In the center
Of a small room whose ancient cypress floor
was worn with scrubbing and sprinkled
with crumbs Of soft brick-a Creole afTecta-
ton OF superior cleanliness-sat, quaking
with feeblencss, In an Unlocking old rock
iDg-chair, her body bowed, and her wild,
gray witch's tresses hanging about her
shriveed yellow neck, the queen OF
the NoOdOOs. Three generations OF her
children were within the faint beckon of
her helpless, waggllng wrists and fingers.
They said she was over a 100 years old, and
there was nothing to cast doubt upon the
statement. She had shrunKen away from
her skin; It was like a turtles. Yet withal
one could hardly help but see that the face,
now so withered, lad Cnce been handsome
and commanding. There was still faint
shadow Of departed beauty on the forehead,
the spark Of IN old fire in the sunken, gls-
tening eyes, and vestige of imperious-
ness In the fine, slightly aquIllno
nose, and even about her silent, woe
hegone mouth. Her grandson stood
by, on uninteresting quadroon, between 40
and 80 years old, looking strong, empty
minded, and trivial enough; but his mother,
her daughter, was also present, woman
Of 20 years, md most striking and majes-
tic figure. In features, stature, and bear
ing, she was regal. One had but to look on
her, impute her brilliancies-too untamable
and severe to be called charms or graces-
to her mother, and remember what New
Orleans was long years ago, to understand
how the name Of Marie Laveau
should have driven itself ineXtricably
into the traditions of the town and
the times. Had this visit been
postponed few months 1t would have been
too late. Marie Iaveau is dead Malvina
Latour is queen. As she appeared presid-
ing over Noodoo ceremony on the night
OF the 23d Of June, 1884, she is described as
bright mulatto Of about forty-eight, of
"extremely handsome figure, dignlfed
paratively high order Of intelligence. She
wore neat blue, white-dotted calico gown,
and brilliant ugnon (turban), gracefully
ticdu