The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-07-27

flor the SENTINEL.

II small party consisting Of three la
dies and one gentleman came down
the Mississippi from Natchez, bound
exposure to the epidemic by passing
through the Crescent City to reach
their destination. they. ilcbarked at
Donaldsonville to take Il bayou packet
to Thibodaux. Here they were COM
PEELED to remain over twenty -four
hours waiting for = boat, 4uartered ut
a small logding house very near the
river. The host Of the establishment
was courteous enough, Int the accom-
mOdatiOns were not comfortable; the
mosquitoes were ravenOus, aud rain
showers, will. reported cases of yellow
fever, In the town, kept lis rather
closely indoors. This We strangers
in u strange land" found very irksome.
Nothing to read except q paper or so
and a cheap volume found on the pre-
misses, %purpOrting to be a sequel to the
''COunt Of Monte Christie" by Dumas.
1t was execrable, and ifgenuine should
never have been written by that ia
nous author. A short promenade to
the bayou vas the only 'ssight seeing"
in which we could indulge, SO our i'm
pressiOns of the town, if not very
agreeable, might have been unjust,
owing to the circumstances in which
we were placed. Glad were we when
notified of the approach Of our ex-
pected steamer, and with good Capt.
Joe Dalferes we had II pleasant though
tedious trip down the LafOurche, the
water being very low ut that season.
The following year l was ut Donald
sonville again, but SO situated as to
be unable to view the town tavOrably.
Since that day, as from time to time
reports Of the place would reach me, l
have wished to return 10 it and correct
former impressions. With the facili-
ties afforded by river, rail and bayou,
steady growth and progress should be
assured to the city of Donaldsonville.
| had heard of her schools and other
improvements, the new courthouse
being erected to take the place Of the
one destroyed by fire, aud. greatest at
traction of all, | now knew it was the
home of our associates Of the press,
| Mr.. and Mrs. Bentley. Of the Donald
sOnville Chief.
SO, when the ladies Of the Presby-
terrain Aid Society decided to give IN
excursion to DOnaldsonyille on the
steamer Belgrade, for the purpose OF
increasing the funds Of this useful rs
ISOLATION, 1 determined to go not only
as Il member of the society, but to
crafty u personal curiosity, enjoy a
'.day's outing aud, happy. meet again
our talented vice president of the
Louisiana Press Association, to whom
a postal card was dropped to apprise
her Of our coming. About Z o'clock a,
~. the Belgrade left Thibodaux Thurs
day, July IL. The crowd on board,
though not large, seemed : congenial
one, and determined to enjoy the
day. The lower deck Of the boat be.
ing given up to the ladies in charge o.
refreshments, all necessary arrange.
ments were here made, to supply the
hungry aud thirsty with a substantial
breakfast, dinner and supper, and witt
ice cream, sherbet, cake, coffee, fruit
aud lemonade at ell hours. To do thi,
required the energetic efforts Of severa
workers, who spared not themselve,
in a worthy cause.
l shall not write Of the country ana
scenes along the shores Of the bayou
J since they have been recently 80 abb
handled by Oui. veteran Journalist
"Uncle Silas,"in his interesting srticl
ON the "LafOurche Basin" And, in
deed, l could not do justice to til,
task, since. being appointed cashier il
the refreshment hall ~ 1 could no
spend much time in the agreeable Oc
cupation of noting scenes and Incl
dents along the way. But I did sc
many Old-tiMe hOmesteads, the mos
, important towns, the sugar refinery il
course OF construction, and the quaint
, picturesque, ivy-grown church Of Ma
: pOleOnville, which looks asi it it NIGH
! have been picked up from some Euro
pean village aud dropped down il
I Southern Louisiana.
. Arrived at our destination, we wer
; preparing for a walk through tn
town, when Mrs. Bentley, with he
two interesting children, came o
board and invited il party of us to nc
> company her home. Her earring
: waited near the landing, and bein
. one Of the fortunate ones to obtain
: seat in it, | was 0 . put down ut tn
gate of her charming home. l am sur
many distant friends Of Mr.. and Mrs
Bentley would be Interested in Il dt
scription OF their domestic abode. Tn
house, comfortably and t~astefully fun
!. nished, showing everywhere evidence
Of feminine taste and skill, fronts til
, bayou, the yard being large enoug
| f.,,. sho1o frees in frnnt y lovely Hnw4