San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-22
RUNA.


love and song, of passionate skies and revel-
ing fancies But it was primitive Louisiana,
and. save few clustering hamlets here and
there presenting little evidence of the pro-
gressive spirit which eharacterizes her today.
Far alott rose in majestic grandeur SEEM
ingly interminable forests of oaks and cy-
press, and beyond these lay inextricable
iungles and vast morasses where sported
strange animals and birds, whose fossilized
remains puzzle the intelligent investigation
OF the naturalists of today. Dark, mys-
ferrous figures glided stealthily about, sibyl
looking women sang their dismal chants and
exercised their spirit Of divination over
seething pot and caldron along the banks
of the gloomy swamps and bayous, and the
bold adventurer in penetrating these fast
nesses might not unfrequentay have witnessed
scenes as wild and weird as did Macbeth on
the Scottish heath.
Amid these picturesque surroundings re-
posed, like frail flower scarcely venturing
to rear its head, the little village of New
Orleans. A queer appearance it presented,
with a depth of only twelve squares, and
completely surrounded by a large ditch,
fenced in with sharp s:'keS wedSed close to
gether; the swampy soil vas cat up into
numbers of small ravlnes, rendering con
slant drainage necessity TO effect this,
trench ran around the four corners Of every
square in the city, and each lot IL the square
was surrounded by Iali-adeS end also dttcEed
arU,ad, thus causing the city t. present very
much the appearance OF "a microscopic carl
cature Of Venice" These trenches, run over
as they almost continually were Try tall reeds
and ~rasses, furnished congenial abode Tor
vencmous reptiles and frogs whose croakirg
made the midnight LIe0us. A red0ubt ex-
tended along Rampant rCleeS, and forts were
constructed at the different angles of the
town.
There were but humble dwellings in New
Orleans in those days. the aggregate pOpu
lation was scarce :. 900. the number Of houses
less than 100 The greater number Of these
were in tie third or fourth squares from the
river: they were simple, Imprinted struct-
ures, far more resembling the lowly cabi:!s
of the peasant than tie abode Of the prOud
spirited race they sheltered Yet the most
yeracious French and Spanish historians Of
that period alike testify to TIE polished aris-
tocracy Of the men and women, TO customs
and manners which made Il IS obscure settle
ment in tie new world miniature rcproduc-
ton of the court of Versa lies Tie lGGiCs
wore the coStliest brOcaGcd gowns, high
heeled shoes and powdered head gear; the
men, gold and silk lowered coats, silver
buckles and gilded sabers; and all this
while dwelling in hGInlctS, and in the
midst of a poverty Of surroundings tat
seemed inconGluOus in the extreme;
for according to an inventory made of the
Household furnishings of one of the leading
f.r1 +Na 1y-k- bod
pride OF every dame, consisted of plain
cypress bedstead, with a corn shuc4l mat
tress and one of feathers on top; six cypress
chairs with rush bottoms, and candles manu-
featured by servants, from the common
green wax of the country. Old archives,
still extant, record many another such in
stance How ardent must have been the
thirst for glory and conquest, which led the
march of chivalr7 to these untried Shores;
here is material for poet and novelist; here
Imagination may revel and fancy lightly
weave. Assuredly night in New Orleans
in the year 1867 is eminently suggestive.
The city presented something OF a martial
appearance; though now wrapped in slumber
it was evident that matters Of a serious i'm
port were under consideration, and that pre-
s2ar8tion had been made for an approaching
conflict. For since the ceSsion of the colony
to Spain by France the indignant populace
questioned the pow Of the latter country to
make them Spanish citizens whether they
willed or no, and pending an embassy to
Louis XIV to be again taken under his author
ity, had determined to resort to arms rather
than acknowledge Spanish supremacy. Don
Antonio de Uloa was a man Of rare accom-
pIshments, a philosopher and scientist, who
Eal explored the seer etS OF nature in Spain,
Peru and her Parts Of the earth AcCuS-
toned as he was to the consideration and ad-
ulation of the most powerful potcntatcS Of
lis -uy, he grew indignant at the cool dis
respect with which his every command vas
treated and Withdrew from New Or!c2'.",
taking his books and So, ,lc instruments
with him, ard shut h'2,sv@l III Gulo"g ~
moaning winds and tAC d~A!ation Of luv
Balize. But tod2y nows C . ro'Aan.i" mar
riage had reached the c.t.. TIC ,.'aire -
burn the midnight oil yy&5 not tie sole cau.s
of the chiefs absence from the sc,t Of ;-p..
ernment. Amid thOsp reels GIl >L.Eil =
piles he had awaited tie co"r2g TT c 3 .....-..
friGate from Peru. bearing IL !CCIt..... a..
accomplished marct!oucs5 0. .l!IaG -....,
three Peruvian maids as ate" .lr.r,. ,.'.,.
chaplain. crc. Bravtn5 the wiz ~.
ocean, sic Lad como from thu Cl.1;.Jt i'!.
to this to plight her troth lo.>v2:' l:o... a.
and love! they are not CoIf.Ci % IL o.
place, to gilded palace Or 'a'.....2 bower,
where the music of tie liz, { ..-y lUTv5 and
soft eyes droop beneath tie Il re of admir-
Ing affection That lonely pass on the Ms
sissippi tells tale that outrivals the mos il,
tense creation Of fancy.
70 harvest roo" hadriseu in ell its s?,e.,
dor, throwing its shimmeriIg beams across
the Mississippi and Lighting UP the rude habi
f-..lrs fnat rn-1s.l HEt..o base % It's en-