The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-07-08
LOUISIANA At THE
WORLDS FAIR.

In the midst OF an arcbitectual
kaleidoscope, with Colonial build
ings this way-"Italiau renaissance
that, with the splendid old Spanish
fortress that houses FIoridian hospi-
tality just in the rear, with statuary
along the walks. and long flags crisp
ly curling and unfurling in the blue
above, there stands, quaintest and
most charming of them all, a sweet,
shady, rambling, gray and brown old
plantation house, just as to day thou
sands of them stand behind the or-sI
ange trees and beneath the magno-
lias--in Gods country--Louisiana.
The low, French windows, daints
lily draped, are set wide open and on
the cool cemented floor of the arcade
surrounding the first floor Of the
house half a hundred rocking chairs
and long settees, filled all day long
with exhausted sight-seers, attest
equally with the open, doors to the
beautiful hospitality that welcomes
all sorts and conditions Of men to
the old plantations house, that is,
the Louisiana state building at the
worlds fair.
It is the universal opinion that
thoroughly characteristic and unique
| state building on the Louisiana
nlantatinn house.
1t is a complete representation on
the outside Of a fine. old, Creole
mansion complete even to the spidery
wooden columns on the upper gale
nv and the blinking dormer windows
set in the easy slope Of the roof and
bound together by a broad balus-
trade.
Interiorly the arrangement Of the
rooms was made to conform to the
purposes for which the house was
built--a clubhouse and resting place
for all home people and an exhibit
of many of the states resources, and
an always accessible reception hall
for the world at large.
Inside the house is lined floors,
ceilings, literally all The wood work
with native woods. The furnishings
all came from Louisiana and we're
either made there or have been long
preserved there, as heirloons IN old
and historic families,
The double front doors open into
a large, square loom called the as
sembly hail. This room has a fine
paneled wood ceiling; the walls are
of polished pine and the doors and
mantcls are OF rich colored cypress.
Handsome cypress columns support
this roof at intervals. In the far
corner of the large roo a broad
stairway, with a most artistic ball
ustrade and newell posts, leads to
the upper floor. Scattered about
this room are many rich pieces of
antique furniture, loaned by Messrs.
Armand Hawkins and Gepke, in
cluding old mahogany clawfoot ta-
bles, a line buffet, sofas, etc. Here
also is the famous Galvez furniture,
once owned by Governor Galvez.
and now loaned to the State Deaf
and Dumb Asylum, but belonging,
| think, to Prof. Boyd.
II On one of the assembly walls
hang the framed portraits Of Louisi.
ana's governors, twenty>eight IN all
hideously framed, but none the less
an attractive EXHIBIT. These are
grouped about a very large portal;
Of Governor Foster. Hanging from
, the ceiling is a long, beautiful plank
Of curly pine, almost as red as cher
ry wood. 1t comes from Calcasieu
parish. To the right Of the recep-
ton hall is a dainty little reception
room. Here the home papers are
J on file aud on the wall are the pic.
lures made in rice, sugar and other
southern produce by dear old lady
Coates, Of New Orleans. and which
every day win the admiring interest
! Of hundred of visitors. Here in a
+. handsome bookcase, are kept such
pamphlets, etc., as were sent from
J the literary committee and were not
: eligible for the woman's library,
Over the concert grand piano is q
fine marine painting by G. Fl. Cox.
| TO the rear Of the assembly room
are two large apartments, n used
. party as q lumbes-room and orna-