The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-21
THE LEGEND OF THE DATE PALM.

A curious story is related in connection
with the tree at the corner Of Orleans and
and Dauphine streets, known TO the old
denizens as 'Pere Antone's Date Palm.n 1t
is tree that is viewed with curiosity by
the stranger, and wonder is expressed how
it came there From an old Creole living in
the vicinity the following singular facts
were obtained.
II first heard the story from my father"
he said, as he rolled a cigarette deity be-
tween 8 long, thin fingers, and that,
Messieurs, was many q year ago. For a long
| time it was the only one OF its kind known
to the state, and from its isolated position
| it has always been barren of fruit 1t re-
minds one of the warm climes of Africa OF
India, does it nots 1t mas the aspect of a
stranger of distinction driven from his
native country. Its huge trunk, as you
have doubtless observed, is SCARED by long
exposure to the elements. IL is said that in
the beginning of 1927 French sloop of war
landed at New Orleans a man of distin-
guished mein. who wore the Turkish dress,
and VIII ose sole companion was a servant.
He was received by the governor with every
mark of respect, and took up his abode in a
small cottage. surrounded by pretty gar
den, at the corner of Orleans and Dauphine
streets. There the stranger, enveioped in
an impenetrable air of mystery and in the
deepest secluslon, lived quietly, seldom APP
pearing on the street.
How the impression prevailed am I'M
able to state, but it was generally accepted
as fact that the mysterious parsonage was
brother Of the sultan, or some other great
man of the Ottoman empire, who, for state
reasons, had fled from bis native land and
taken refuge i'll France. The sultan had
peremptorilY demanded the fugitive, and
the French government, TO escape comply
ing, had recourse TO the expedient OF
answering that he had fled TO Louisiana. 1t
was such distant, isolated place that 1T
was supposed the sultan would rest satisfied
with the axplauation.
ut was toward the close of the year 1927,
on dark and tempestuous night, when
few people were abroad, that singular
thing happened. The only light afforded
IN crooked tboroughfaIe came from vivid
flashes of lightning which revealed to be-
lated citizens number Of mon IN strange
attire hurrying up the street leading to the
strangers cottage. The next morning the
house, with doors and windows wide open.
was found deserted. There was no trace OF
struggle or combat, but in the pretty gar
den the earth had been thrown up and there
was the unmistakable indication of recent
grave. If any doubts existed they were
speedily dispelled by an inscription in
Arabic attached to the front porch OF the
cottage. 1t ran thus: The justice Of
heaven is satisfied and the date tree shall
grow on the traitors tomb. The emperor
of the faithful, the supporter of the faith.
has redeemed mis- vow. God is great and
Mohammed is bis prophet. Allah!
Some time after this event foreign
looking tree was seen to spring from the
spot where a corpse must have been de-
posted on that stormy night. Who the
parsonage was, or what he had done TO pro-
woke such relentless pursuit and revenge
are mysteries that have never been solved.
But there stands the tree Of the dead"
STREETs'wHosE NAMES BREATHE ROMANCE
New Orleans alone of American cities has
has preserved all the romance Of Its earlier
days in the titles of its streets. Having
changed ownership no less han five times,
1t has history full of incident and romance
that no other part of the country eau boast
of. Bienville did much for the future great
ness of New Orleans, and the city has ie-
Quilted his labors and great deeds by per-
petuatlng bis memory in naming one street
OF the city after him. In the custom house
Is baSsO-relievo in marble OF the founder
Of the CITY. which is the only monument
ever erected to him in New Orleans. One
OF the most picturesque features of the old
French quarter are the oddly shaped roofs
and tiles OF the houses. They came into ex-
istence after the great CONGREGATIONS of 1880
and 1894, the governor Offering premium
to those who used earthen tiles in lieu of
shingles. In the Spanish quarter adobe
walls, arcadee, inner courts, ponderous
doors and windows, balconies OF queer pro-
portions, meet the eye on all sides. French
and Spanish names, soft and musical.
abound everywhere, ard the French Creoles
have added Suzette, Celeste, Estelie and
Annette to the names Of streets after their
dark eyed lady loves. The great emperor
has not been forgotten by his admirers, and
Nepolean avenue. Jean and Austeriitz re-
mind one Of the great Corsican to this day.
A CUSTOM HOUSE FOR GULLIvERs.
One word about the magnificent custom
hose Thir5y-six years ago the city offered
the United STATES the choice OF several
squares on which to erect a custom house
worthy Of the growing commerce. of the