The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1889-11-29

The Ladies Messenger.

! The grand Southern Pacific rall-
road has so many interesting places
and so much beautiful scenery along
its route that it is impossible TO give
the plan Of beauty 70 any other special
section. But the town Of Lake Charles,
from ITS lovely lake and soft skies,
orange groves and sweet-YOieed, gem
tle.mannered inhabitants, produces q
charm utterly indescribable, 1t is
Lake Charles. Those who have been
there only can understand.
] left Orange at about p. M, and
about two hours later the burning pile
of refuse lumber, from one Of the saw
mills, lighted up the pretty Calcasieu
river, in which it was reflected like a
great liquid eye with a ball of FIRE,
and soon the station at Lake Charles
was reached. r.-
My friends had recommended Mrs.
Gallaugher's Hotel, called the Howard
House, as stopping place, and
thither | went, and was conducted At
once to a comfortable room by a little
negro boy of ten years or SO being
rather tired, | was soon fast asleep, /
was aroused in the moIn,ng by that
luxury, only to be had in a Creole
household, tiay cup of delightful
coffee, brought to my door by the
same little boy, This Indicated the
hour for rising, An hour later, q
breakfast, such as only Creole cook
can serve was ready, Mrs. Gallaugher
Is sweet looking, soft.voiced Creole,
and her little children, as well as the
cOlored servants, speak the French of
Louisiana as we'll as English, 1t is
very sweet TO one reared 10 Ia belle
Louisiana, after years of absence, to
hear that soft pathos, so suited TO the
quiet, easy-going life OF the place.
The gentle lap of the waves Of the
lake, the Indian summer haze over the
sun, the breeze stirring the orange
trees, few wagons and carts, fruit,
vegetables, poultry and game IN
plenty; the stores doing allow,
steady business. This was the old
life, which fingers still amid an in
rush of capital and northern immi,
grafton, A handsome bank and school
buildings, elegant residences, large
sawmilIs, are driving away The busy
idleness of old.
The first day of my stay some
friends suggested a visit to LoCkport,
and, with this view, we boarded the
pretty and laTge,sized ferryboat
Hazel, and crossed to the opposite
side, which is called Westlake. Here
the accommodating proprietor of the
Westlako Hotel, Mr., II. Escoubas,
provided team, aud VIC had pretty
drive of two miles through the pine
woods. The hazy October sun filtered
lazily down through the branches,
and touched the brown and gold
foliage of autumn. The birds, rabbits
and squirrels were the chief inhabi-
tants of these woods, though there
was an occasional farmhouse or cabin
amid the pines. At the end of two
miles the noise of a'handsome saw
mill and planer disturbed the quiet.
These belong Messrs. George Lock Il
Co., from whom the little town takes
its name. Tho mill is situated d.
rectly on the Calcasieu river, on which
was a large schooner being loaded
with lumber.
Mr. Locks residence, near tho mill,
and the homes Of employees constitute
the town. Mrs. Lock is a charming
lady, aud is a sister-in.law of Mr., ],
Dimmins, the we'll known cotton
w6igheF Of the Of Fifth Ward, Houa
ton. Mr., and Mrs. Lock are very hos,
pitable hosts, and delight in making
all young people around them as
happy as their own handsome young
sons and daughter, The house wore
still a gala appearance, in honor of
the celebration of Mr., Locks birth
day, and with some verses written for
the occasion by his talented knsman,
young Engishman, Mr., Law,
After a pleasant visit, and partaklng
Of dainty dinner prepared under the
auspices of Mr., Locks sister, Mrs
Knight, who brought her accurate
knowledge Of cooking from Old Eng
land, enhanced by an interesting con.
yersation with Mr., Law about his re-
cent trip 10 the Paris exposition, we
returned in time for the 4 o'clock
ferryboat Again delightful ride on
the lake, whose shores, fFinged with
eVergreens, we're Just far enough away
to look misty. Only gentle ripples
on its surface, except where the
wheels Of the boat tore up white foam
and showed that passionate strength
which slept beneath its calm.
The next day was fortunate
enough 10 meet q sweet friend, who
formerly lived at 0Fange-Mrs. II. i.
Robinson, who kindly drove me over
The town iR heF pretty phaton. Ar.
y. i. Robinson is q contractor and
builder, and bas put up nearly all the
handsome new buildings al Lake
Charles, Our first visit was to the
convent, where there is 40 excellent
boarding and day school for young
ladies, conducted By the accomplished
Sisters MaFianites Of The Holy Cross,
All the English branches, as we'll
as mnsic ana French, are taught BY
these sisters, 81 whom there are SEVEN
The housekeeping Of The large and