The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-25
RUNA.

and. gave sew clustering hamlets here and
there. presenting little evidence of the pro
t,ressive spirit which charactcri1cs her today.
Far aloft rose in majestic grandeur SEEM
ingly intcrninable forests Of oaks and cy-
press and beyond these lay t1extrlcdole
iunclcs and vast morasseS where sporied
strange animals os1 birds. whose fossiiized
remains puzzle the intelligent investigation
Of the naturalist Of today Dark, mys-
terious figures glidcd stealthiiy about, sibyl
looking women sang their dismal chants ana
exercised their spirit Of dyination over
sectbing pot and csldron along the banks
of the gloomy swnmus and bay0us, and the
bold adveniurcr in penetrating these last
nesses might not unfrc1uentiy have witnessed
scenes as Wild crd weird as did Macbeth on
the Scottish heath
Amid these picturesque Surroundings re-
posed. lkea frai Hover scarcely ventarns
70 rear It's head. 80 little village of Ne"
Orleans. A queer appearance 10 presented,
with n depth o. only twelve squares, and
completely surrounded 10y a large aitch,
fenced in with sharp spikes wcdced close to-
ceihor; the swampy soil was GU up INTO
numbers Of small ravines, rendering con
slant drainacea necessity. To effect this,
trench ran around the four corners Of every
SQUARE in the city, and each lot In the square
was surrounded bypalisades and also ditched
around. thus causing the city % present very
much Temperance Of "a microscopic carl
caturo Of Venice These trenches, ran over
as they almost continually were By tall reeds
md grasses. furnished congemial abode for
yenomous reptiles and frogs whose croakirs
made the midnight hidcous. redoubt cX-
tended along Rampar: street, and forts were
constructed AT the different ahgles Of the
town.
There were Int humble dwellings in Now
Orleans in thosc days the aggregate popu-
lation was scarce 1850, tho number Of houses
less than 400 Tlc greater namber Of these
were in tie thirl on fourth squares from the
river: they wcrc simple. urpain'cd struct-
urcs. far more resembling the lowly cabins
of the peasant than the abode Of the proud
spirited race they sheltered. Yet the most
eeracious French and Spanish historians 81
that period alike testify 10 the polished aris-
tocracy Of the men and women, to customs
md manners which made this obscure settle
mont in tie rev world a miniature reproduc-
ton Of the court of Versailles. Tho ladies'
wore the cosiicst brocadcd gowns high
heeled shoes and powdered head gear; the
men. gold and silk lowered coats, silver
buckles and Cildcd saJers; and all this
while dwelling IN hamets, and IN the
midst of poverty Of surroundings that
seemed irconaruous in the extreme,
for according 70 an inventory made of the
hOuseholl furnishings Of one Of the leading
L.. "a, an fhaf
pride of every dame. consisted OF plain
cypress bedstosd, with "A corn shuck mat
tress and one Of feathers on tor; six cypress
chairs with rush bottoms. and candles manu-
featured by servants, from the common
green wax Of thc country. Old archives.
still e@taat. record many another such IL
stance. How ardent must have been the
thirs. for glory aud conquest, which led the
march Of chisalry 10 these untried shores,
here IS material for poet and novelist; here
imagination may rcvel and fancy lightly
weave. Arsarcdlya night in New Orleans
In the year 1861 is cminenily suggestive.
Tie city presented something Of martial
appearance; though low wrapped ~ slumber
il was evident that matters OF serious i'm
pOr. were under consideration, and that pre-
Iilf4l l'sl ll lt+al l.l t'lf ANa al no
conflict. For siaco tire cession Of the colony
to Spain by France the indignant populaee
Questionolthc pow 7 Of tAe latter country 10
make them Spanish citizens whether they
willel or 10, and pending an embassy 70
LOUIS XIV t. De ugail taken under hlsauthor-
ity, had determined 10 resort % arms rather
than acknowledge Spanish supremacy. Don
Antonio dc Ulloa was q man Of rare accom-
plishments, % philosopher and scientist. who
had explored the ocrets az nature IN Spain,
Peru and her parts of the earth. Accus-
toned as Dee was 90 the consideration and adj
ul.tiOn OF the mcst powerful Io,cntates u
bis day, Lc grew Indignant 10 the cool dis
respect with which his every command wss
treated and Withdrew from New Orleans,
taking bis loo.a ar! scientific instruments
with him, and SHAT himself w. among the
moaning winds aad Che desolati0n Of the
Baliza Bat today news Of q romantic mar
Tiagc had reached tie city. Tie desire %
burn tie midnish, OH was not the solo cause
OF the chiefs absence from the seat Of gov
crrme2t Amid tl9so reeds and shaking
piles bo had awaited The coming of @ Spanish
frigato fro:a Peru bearing the beautiful and
accomplished 'nIrcAoacss of Ahrado and
three Peruvian me.ds as attendants, court
chaplain, etc Drawing the wind and The
ocean, she had como from that distant port
60 this to plight hoy troth forever. Romance
and Lowell they are no, coufued 10 time or
place, TO filGcl palace or Gcu.liLe bower,
where TIC music OF to lute gently lures ard
soft eyes d-oop beneath tho glance Of admir-
Ing affection. That lonely pass on the Ms
sissippi tells o tale that outriyals the most in
tense creation Of faacy.
Tho harves. moon hadrisen in ELL lis splen-
dor throwing its shimmering beams across
the Mississippi and lighing up the rude habi-
tations that reposed at TIC base Of its en-
bankments. y French officer, lured ~ the
beauty OF the night, promenaded along the
levec. lie deserted an approaching vessel,
and anxious 70 discover its identity drew
nearer to the waters edge. lie saw the men
fastening the ropes TO the moorings There
was flourish Of trumpo.s, and lei the Span
ish governor and his bride proceeded on
shore She wore q laautih over her head,
and bore herself VA tho dignity of the high
bred dame. Size YVES followed by ty,o Indian
girls, gaudly dcc-ed after the manner Of
their race; but wien these descended the
plank walk there was still another, and upon
her the ewes Of the young officer were riveted
in establishment Tho moon had risen high,
tho afr was soft and balmy, and OF q clear
mess that rendered each feature Of the maiden