Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-31
4 St. ClairSYiIlG Han in the South.
Special correspondence.
DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLAs
January 25th, 1889.

DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLAS
January 20th, 1889.
When we left New Orleans the people
we're beginning to look forward with
bright expectations to, and were busy in,
for the great Carnival season
which was rapidly approaching. They
are proverbial for their fondness for show
and parade, for gaitey and entertainments,
and therefore the annual Mardi-Gras and
Firemen's parade. both of which are very
brilliant affairs. together with the accom-
panying Rex balls and receptions, make
the occasion one of great attraction
bringing to the city thousands of people
from various parts of the country to par
ticipate in the festivities. Hotels, board
ing houses, merchants, shOpmen, hack
men, pOrters and rOuStabOutS are on the
lookout to get as much custom and gather
in as many shekelS from the multItudeS
that throng the streets as possible. 1t IS
a harvest for the city.
A great deal of money is expended in
getting up these pageantS, but vast
deal more is sown through the city by the
visitors during their stay. so that rich re-
turns. they say, is obtained for the in
vestment. In financial point of view,
then, it pays: besides, they also say, look
at the fun there is in it.
Speaking of strangers in the city, jolly
Southern gentleman, who sat opposite US
at the table, when asked how the people
lived and what they did during the dull
summer, he replied very quantity with a
good-natured twinkle of his eye, that
they lived on alligators in the summer,
and off of Northern people in the winter.
There is some truth in this as well as
humor. The fact is, New Orleans depends
to considerable extent upon the North
ern element that comes to it as visitors
and immigrants for her prosperity.
A new feature to be added this year in
connection with the Mardi-GraS feStlyl-
ties is the
COTTON PALACE
which has been in process of erection for
some time, undertaken by and under the
auspices of the Ladies Unsectarian Aid
Society" The building is placed in La
fayette Square, one of the most central
and conspicuous locations in town. Our
quarters being just opposite and facing
the square we had the opportunity OF
noting and commenting on the rapid rise
of its castellated walls and stately towers,
Every day the light frame structure as
sUmed greater dignity and promised,
when completed, to wear very imposing
aspect.
The building measures 150X1O0 feet,
and has immense capacity for exhibiting
displays of manufactured and other
goods. The floor is divided into spaces to
be sold at reasonable Iates to those deSi~-
ing to benefit by this fine opportunity OF
advertising their wares. In addition to
these professional displays booths will be
provided, to be presided over by num-
Der of leading society women who will
have an unlimited variety of fancy ar
ticles and charming artistic trliies, with
an endless supply of choice refreshments
for sale. The walls are to be elabOrately
decorated covered with bagging and
ties to simulate cotton baleS-the sham
bales padded with black moss, having
lint cotton enough on the surface to
make the delusion complete. Palmetto,
wild cane, corn stalks, pine cones, sugar
canes, gray moss and quantities OF cotton
soaked in solution of alum to make it
nOn-combustible will be laviShly used
after the most artistic designs, both with
all nations and gay standards and
streamers will fly from all the towers.
They promise that no expense, care or
pains will be spared to make the Cotton
and Cane Palace of New Orleans one OF
the grandest and most successful enter
prises of this or any other city. 1t is
purely benevolent enterprise as far as
the application of the proceeds is con-
cerned, which is for the benefit of the
poor-a very laudible object, and will, no
doubt. as it deserves, be successful. In
this connection it can be said with truth
in praise of the people of New Orleans
that Notwithstanding their volatile ten
denotes, yet there is no other city, per
haps. where they contribute more largely
according to their means and with greater
Iiberality to bereTolentpmpojeG-for the
aleViatiOn of suffering humanlty-than
they. Institutions for the above p lrpose
are dotted all over the city; notable
among them is the Charity Hospital, a
nobly conducted institution, with its am
balances which, whe an accident or in
jury on the street in any part of the city
befalls any one, rendering aid necessary,
they are summoned by telephone and In
an incredible short space of time one OF
them is on the spot attended by hospital
students who render such aid to the af-
flicted one as the case may require.
THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL.
The new hotel spoken of in my last is
to be called the above name; don't like
the name, but then what s in name
Still. | fancy some other name would have
answered just as well, and would sound
lust as euphonious. The movement is
rc1O #
interest enough to show that it is not by
any means losing ground. This with the
many other public enterprises on foot in
New Orleans at present that are absorb
ing attention is receiving its proportion
ate share. A charter has been obtained;
and the various committees that have
been at work securing stock subscription
report that already S1C0C00 have been
obtained. Z. lie this amount is but a small
proportion of the amount of the contem-
plated total cost of the hotel (S2,C30,O0O),
but still it is enough to make it look like
business and that the final success OF
the enterprise is among the future pos
sibilitieS.
THE CLIMATE
of the North, the mildneSs of which this
season THE CHRONICLE felicitateS Itself
and speaks of the singing of birds and
blooming of roses, ETC., makes it altogether
useless to say anything here and now
about the salubrity of the climate in this
Southern latitude; no proper chance to
brag nor draw contrasts between the sec
tions in these particulars, as it would not
be appreciated But wait till the howl
ing forty degrees -belOw-zero winds come
sweeping down from the far n North over
the plains and hills and valleys of Ohio
whirling round the house, whistling in at
every keyhole, driving sharp, fine snow
before it, and every living thing to shelter;
then, and not till then. might it be proper
to read a chapter on the evergreen land
scape and flowery fields, the gentle zephyrs
and balmy air of the Sunny South.
Owing no doubt to the unusually fine
weather of the North the number of
TOURISTS TO THE SOUTH
has not been as large as it usually is by
thic time of wear pprhaDS the yellow