The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1888-05-05
THE ACADlANS.


settlers from the north. The Acadians
constituted the great majority of the
original settlers of Calcasieu parish.
Many years ago their ancestors from
St. Landry, st. Mary and other parish
es, moved westward along the prairie
belt with their herds and flocks to the
then unoccupied grazing lands of Cal
casieu. Along the bayous they con-
structed their simple cottages, and
planted their primitive civilization.
In that early day the lands close to the
bayous were better drained than in the
interior, and the bayous furnished
certain means Of transportation, where
there were no highways nor bridges.
There could be found at all times
water for herds, and upon their banks
abundance Of timber for the uses of
the farm.
They were pastoral people, modest,
honest, generous and hospitable. Few
changes have come to them in the out
going centuries. What their ances-
tors had been, they were, and their
descendants still remain. Their hou-
ses are of the simplest design. barely
sufficient to meet the pressing necessi-
ties for shelter. They are square box
houses, one story, with eight or ten
feet Of the entire front left open for
veranda. Back of the veranda are
two square rooms with large fireplace
in one or both. The chimney is inva-
riably upon the outside of the house.
built Of sticks and plastered with mud.
In the rear, and separate from the
main building, is plain kitchen with
mud chimney and fire place. From
the veranda an open flight of stairs
goes to the loft where members of the
family sometimes sleep. In the liv-
ing rooms are comfortable beds and
few chairs, mostly bottomed with calf
skin. There ia no attempt at orna-
ment and no effort to produce flowers.
Even the yard around the house is de-
voted to the chicken and the pig.
The material for bedding and for
clothing is manufactured by the good
wife and the Industrious daughters as
in the olden times by the use of the
spinning wheel and the loom and the
garments are made by the thrifty
hands of the busy home. A garden,
a small field of corn and rice patch
comprise the farming.
The sale of beef cattle from the
range supplies all their wants. Some
are poor and some are wealthy, but
there is little difference in the ap-
pearanee, whichever way it be.
Wealth has 40 outward sign, and pow
erty brings no rclroach. OF schools
! there are SO few, it may be almost said
, there are none.
A few can speak English; OCCASION
ally one can sign his name. Such .
life to the American seems dull and
uneventful; not SO to the Acadians.
They are . genial. laughter-loving
people, making rainbOws with simple
drops of water, tracing lines Of pleas
ure il the dullest paths. Out OH the
range the quick wheel of the stock
horse to escape the wild charge Of a
mad bull, the pull Of lasso as it
swiftly and unerringly closes around
the front or the hind foot Of a horse at
full speed, the slip of Il rider. tho fall
| of Il horse, ale all matters Of merri-
ment to IL man with the intoxication
of humor in his brain an: the imps Of
laughter ever pulling at the corners Of
! his mouth.
The week may be one Of toll, but he
will travel score of miles on Il Satur-
day night, with his lady on horseback
beside him, to attend the weekly dance
of the rural nrighborhood, and deem
the mcrrynlaking of the night full com
pensation for the Sraver cares of the
week.
He never forgets to be polite. You
may meet him on horseback, (he al
ways rides, whoever knew one to
walk y his bare feet may dangle fifteen
inches or more below some antiquated