The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-02-07
ST. MARTINVlLLE,
It's LOCAT1ON-IMPROvEMENTs-
Prog GRESSIvENESS OF ITS CI-
TIZENs-ITs FUTURE
PROSPERITY ETC.
For the MessenRer.l


1t is with the greatest OF qualification
that the writer undertakes the pleasure
BILE task Of penning, as lacOnically as
possible, his impressions ON the beauti-
ful town which heads this article. We
will not indulge in prolonged paraphra-
ses which as usual, by their tedium
would certainly throw the reader into
disgust and perplexity. and destroy the
main features of this article. This said,
we come to the subject.
st. Martinville is the cOtnty seat of
the parish of st. Martin, is situated on
the famed Bayou Teche Gmmortalized
by tongfellOw) in the heart of the Alta
kHpas region, l45 miles from New Or
leans. the metropolis OF the south. It
has population of 1000 inhabitants and
shows a good percentage Of increase be-
tween 1880 and 1880. 1t is. and has the
reputation of being, the foyer de lMmiere
Of the parish. and possesses an cdchef
that gives her an enviable nOtOriety
which has inspired to cluster Of re-
nOwned writers Of the country, title
that many of its em,llous would be proud
to possess. On many occasions the pen
of the daily as well as the weekly scribe,
gave flOwery illustrations on its beauties
and quaints appearance. on the picture
squeness Of the valley, the attractiveness
of the bayou regendaire. on the elegance
and bewitchingness Of its fair daughters
whose beauties are of world fame. These
rays have left trace that remains viva.
ciOus in the mind of the perambulatOr
aud that transmit themselves from CEN
turies to centuries. Not long ago wri'
ter with an OstentatiOus and most as
founding presumption attempted to
illustrate the events which agitated st.
Martinville at certain period. by ad-
vancing some cOmical II not fastidiOus
relations on the "CreOle Ponies" Of the
present time, and on the partly uDcivi-
lized condition of a certain element, in
the interior of the attractive valley Of
the Teche. The author dotted with fan
tastic inauguration had but one object
in view, that of acquiring sort OF re-
nominee. The result was the reverse:
his cranky notions died with the publi-
cation of the last chapter. His mas
ter-piece (?) full Of incorrect incidents
was classed as being the fruit of a first
class and most penible elucnbratiOn. II
was said that the said author had made
name as writer, but his effort stamp
ed him au pilard de Fopionion publiqae
But we are forgetting ourselves, we have
branched off too far and were going
head foremost into q digressiOn. YOtl
will excuse us. We intended only to
give that sqnib en- passant.
To the stranger. the first impression
that strikes him, and to his eyes that
distinguishes st. Martinville from other
towns. in general, is the equanimity Of
its citizens. whose engaging and affable
manners captivate one, makes the visi
tor feel at home and offers him all Op
portunities to assimilate with the sOcia
BILE and good people Of yonr town. Thi'
| is assuredly quality that speaks vol
umes in favor of a centre. And we ar
glad indeed to give justice to the prett!
town in announcing the fact. The st
Martinvilllans are in majority true de
scendents Of the nobility Of France. ant
they have preserved the noble tradition
Of their ancestors. The same cOrdialit.
greets the stranger on the street as wei
as in the parlor, which fact accounts TO
the enc0ttllums the town Is receivin'
. from impartial and intelligent travel
ers. st. MartinvilIe has indeed an en-
D yiable renOmmee, which is not adm:tte
: by many centres for reasons too vel
known to the people in general.
4 In our perigrinatiOns through tn
: town. we had the opportunity to cor
: verse with the prominent citizens OF tf
i different classes, and We must say tn,
n our social intercourse was Of the mo
e amicable feature. Being close obse
10 YER and having had the chances OF visi
ing different parts Of the state, hence b
It ing to great extent familiar with Il
70 moeurs and agissements of the pOpul
Is tion of these localities, we are natural
III placed in situation to express wi
knowledge certain facts that may as