The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-07-14
PROVIDENCE
As Summer Resort.-Is it Unhealthy
to Battle in the Lake ?

As q Summer heSOrt.---lS IL Z nneaitny
to Battle in the Lake I?
80 for seat in some poetic nook,
Just hid with trees, and sparkling brook"
Leigh Hunt.
Had Leigh Hunt known anything
about our pretty little nook, his desire
would have been fulfilled. The lake,
an own white cottage by the lake, with
green blinds and pretty lawn, would
have inspired his pen. and Lake Provi-
dence would he have sung IN strains
not to be forgotten. Be it as it may,
something romantic and weird exists
about this place. and in ranging the
silent and dismal forests, one would
fain call on It's tlme-honored oaks. and
from them learn something of the
tribe, peaceful or hostile. who rested
under their broad umbrage. But
long ago to rest they were laid; no
epitaphs were written on their graves,
and their names are forgotten; the
young generation wonders at the huge
pile called the Indian mound and
passes bye Who were they? Whence
did they Gomez Whittier were they
goingP So many problems youth
cares not to solve.
| IEGENDS
Older countries have religiously kept
their legends. Some are puerlle.
some incredible, some most interest
ing; but whether love stories or daring
feats of intrepid and valorous knights,
all have freshness and charm, alb
sorbing alike the child and the youth,
when told by the grand-parent in the
long winter evenings. What wealth
of untold charming stories the leather
stocking chiefs would have to tell US,
and how interesting it would be to
know something OF those who trod our
own hunting grounds, rowed over our
lake, swan our river, waded our bay
Gus, but have left US nothing, nothing
but their graves
"Unknown and little esteemed"
Only one legend connected with this
town, but it has peculiar charm.
Tradition has it that band of hunters
had been out several days, tracking to
their lairs the deer, bear and cata-
mount, plodding through untrodden
ways, devoured by the swarming mos
quitoes, sleeping under the great oaks
by the camp-fres, and that in one OF
their rambles suddenly magnificent
vista spread itself before their eyes, a
lake. imposing and charming, with
clear and pellucid waters swarming
with finny tribes. On its banks grew
luxuriantly the gum and the oak. the
linn and the cypress. all moss-laden,
gray as old men frosted by many
winters. The wild grape vine and the
trumpet flower intertwined each other
at their feet, crept along to the ex-
tremity of their branches, and formed
with them living chaplets and festoons.
So charmed were they that forthwith
they pitched their tent and tarried
several days, feasting on the game
| IF
leaving, in gratitude to the Giver of all
good, they called it
1.-THE LAKE PROVIDENCE.
Away they went, not without many
times, however, looking back, like
Lots wife, and the vista remained in
their minds; by day they thought of it,
by night they dreamed about it, and in
their homes, so dear before the hunt,
peace and content were no more to be
found. They longed for the sweet
waters of Lake Providence, for its pic
turesque scenery, for the moss laden
expresses along. its banks, and ere thrice
the moon had filed her horn, they and
their families were settled in the new
promised land. on the bank of the
Lake of the Hunt, and hence the be-
ginning of the present town of
PROVIDENCE.
But the most picturesque scenes on
earth soon become common place to
one who sees them every day; the sea
loses its attraction, and the lake of
Como becomes mere pond to the
Italian peasant. Our Lake Providence
was not to be an exception, and
though the splendid vistsis here yet
in its pristine and perennial beauty,
though the moss-ladeu expresses stand
on its banks like so many hoary senti-
nels at their post of duty, though the
finny tribes do not seem to be dying
out, yet the Lake Providence is not
| for the old inhabitants what 1t
used 10 be, and the youths, who saw
it when they first saw the light, never
did adequately appreciate its beauty.