The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-02
IN THE SUNNY souTH.
interesting New Orleans Letter
from Gen. ). n. Baker.
NEW oRLEANs. Feb. %. 1853.

NEW URLRARs. FEB. 70, 1888.
Editor Efes Pres.
This is my fourth visit to New Orleans.
To me there is something always attrac-
tive about the Crescent city. We are at
the Hotel Royal. in the edge of the
French qaarter. The blending Of the
races and the quaint old houses and GU
rious stores make one feel as II in q for
eign city. War, pestilence, romantic
history, misrule and curious mixture
Of population, all combine TO give inter-
est TO the place. The Mississippi, too,
is higher than the city, and / have seen
the overlooking waters run from the
river, through the cutters, TO Lake
Pontchartrain. There are no cellars
here, water being found at depth OF
two feet. Even the dead are all buried
above ground in solid masonry, in cur
ious old cemeteries. The whole sur
rounding country is low ana wet, and
how 30 much general health is combined
with such low, wet ground, ISL mystery.
Yet, New Orleans, save in seasons OF
exceptional epidenics, is u healthful
city. So wet il the ground, that all the
substantial, heavy buildings always set
tie down for some time after completion,
the United States Custom House having
settled as much as two feet since its con-
struction, and other heavy buildings in
proportion. Drinking water is provided
in cisterns, all above ground, in great
tanks, like those we have along our rail-
roads. Indeed, the entire characters
tics of the place are unlike those Of our
other American cities. In this part OF
the town French is the prevailing Ian
guage. The negroes speak it as well as
the French and Creoles.
Historically, New Orleans is full OF
interest. Its stirring events are far be-
yond those of any of our other great
cities. Its romantic settlement, on the
right bank of the Mississippi, ninety
two miles from Its mouth; it's strange
history as possession of Spain; the re.
turn to the possession of France; its
transfer TO the United States by Napo.
leon IN 1903; the great decisive battle o.
"New Orleans" In 1916; these, and 9
long detail ofromantic chronicles, stamp
| it with rich historic attractions. Here
too, was the American location of John
Laws monumental swindle, which
daZed the whole French nation. Here
also, was the home of the Lafttes, the
pirates, whose house, still standing neal
our hotel, we have just visited. The
events of the late war, of which the city
was the scene, are still fresh in the
minds of all. The occupation of the
city under Butler was notably history
OF itself and one that will not perish
from the memory of its citizens. HI
made it clean city, which it had neve
been before and is not now. The very
building in which we are now so pleas
antly domiciled, is itself replete will
events of rare interest. First it was the
st. Louis Hotel, large, solid, heav,
structure of stone. Then came the civi
war, and it was siezed by Gen. Butte
and converted into a hospital, wher'
thousands of Union soldiers were caret
for and where many hundreds died
Beneath the higher arches of the frs
, story horses were stabbed. After peac
came and the capitol at Baton Roug
was burned this building was purchased
. by the state and converted into legisla
tive halls. Here the negro legislature
held hot sessions when Kellogg was gov
eTnor, and all these now beautiful par
lors were the scenes of caucuses, strife
and personal encounters, which charaC
terized that tumultuous era. Afterward
! it was aba ndoned, and when / visite,
here four years ago it was dismantle,
: and desolate; the parlors were give
: over TO silk-worm culture, and beneat
the great dome of the dining room, tn
artist was moulding the statue of Ger
Robt. E. Lee, which now stands in lie
Circle" In the streets around 1t too
place some of the great riots in July
1856, which induced Congress immedi
ately to put the state under militar
rule, when Gen. Hancock came as mill
tary governor. The old building wa
leased from the state by the presen
proprietor of the st. Charles Hotel
Much money was spent upon it and
was furnished in gorgeous style. If
was in a more attractive part of the cit
it would do better; but the st. Charlie
still maintains the supremacy for tn
crowd. We have good room, furnish
ed about like the "Ryan" in st. Pau
and pay So per day, and live on the Eu
ropean plan, taking our meals in tn
hotel restaurant or wherever inclination
leads US. J. II. BAKER.