The Opelousas courier., 1888-04-21
The Aeadians.

49, lin SAIkld
divisions-the Acadians, Southern
people of English descent or Eng
lish Creoles, and settlers from the
North, The Acadians constituted
the great majority of the original
settlers Of Calcasieu Parish.
Many Yeas ago their ancestors
from ST. Landry, St. Mary and
other parishes, moved westward
along the prairie belt with their
herds and flocks to the then I'M
occupied grazing lands of Calca-
sleu. Along the bayous they
constructed their simple cottages,
and planted their primitive civiliza-
ton. In that early day the lands
close to the bayous were better
drained than in the interior, and
the bayous furnished a certain
means Of transportation, where
there were no highways MOI
bridges. There could be found
at all times water for herds, and
upon their banks abundance of
timber for the uses of the farm.
A They were pastoral people,
modest, honest, generous and
hospitable. Few changes have
come to them in the outgoing
centuries. What their ancestors
had been, they were, and their
descendants still remain. Their
houses are Of the simplest design,
barely sufficient to meet the press
ing necessities for shelter. They
are square box houses, 9ne story,
with eight orten feet ofthe entire
front left open for a veranda.
Back Of the veranda are two
square rooms with a large fire.
d place in one or both. The chin
ney is invariably upon the outside
of the house, built of sticks and
plastered with mud. In the rear,
and separate from the main build
ing, is a plain kitchen with a mud
chimney and fireplace. From
the veranda an open flight ofstairs
goes to the loft where members
of the family sometimes sleep.
In the living rooms are comforta-
bic bedsand a few chairs, mostly
bottomed with calf-skin. There
is no attempt at ornament 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 a rice patch COM
prise 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 differ.
ence in the appearance, whichever
way it be. Wealth has no out.
ward sign, and poverty brings nc
reproach. Of schools there are SC
few, it may be almost said there
areenone.
A few can speak English; occa.
sionally one can sign his name
Such a lifet 10 the American seem:
dull and uneventful; not SO to the
; Acadains. They are a genial
laughter-loving people, making
rainbows with simple drops Q.
! water, tracing lines Of pleasure il
, the dulIest paths. Out OF the
range the quick wheel of the
stock horse to escape the MAI
, charge ola wild bull, the pull Of I
lasso as it swiftly and unerringl5
closes around the front or the
: hind foot Of a horse at full speed
the slip Of a rider, the fall of
: horse, are all matters of merrimen
: to a man with the intoxication o
; humor in his brain and the imp.
: of laughter ever pulling at ths
. corners Of his mouth.
The week may be one of toll
hut he will travel a score of mile
, upon a Saturday night with hi
lady ufon horseback beside hin
: to attend the weekly dance of tn
rural neighborhood, and deem tn
!. merrymaking Of the night ful
] compensation for the graver care
of the week.
He never forgets to be polite
t You meet him on horseback, (h
8 always rides, who ever knew on
t to walk y, his bare feet may dan
ole fifteen inches or more belo,
{ some antiquated garments, Gale
8 by courtesy. pants, but he salute
you with the grace of a perfec
cavalier.
IF he calls upon the slightes
o matter of business he shake
hands upon entering and depar'
q ing. If more be in the room h
q shakes hands with every one.