The Opelousas courier., 1894-01-27
christian MOrnhinvess

1t is pleasing to be able to speak we'll of a
good and useful friend after Ee has eadured
Iife's ills and foughr its BATTLES down to a
very ripe age and feen gathered to his ia
theirs in a world of towards. Christian Morn
hinveg was born Cd the lst of December A. D.
1918, Ia the town of G%artingen in the kingdom
Of Wurtenlberg. His fatheS intended to
educaSe him for the Pulpit as a Lutheran
Missionary, but unfortunately died too soon.
To this end the son was sent to school.
WhilF there he made commendable progress
in his preparatory elemental studies. He ex-
hibited a quickness Of perception, which, as
he advanced in his studies inspired hopes OF
ultimate distinction. Unfortunately for him
his father did not leave sufficient means to
| have him carried through the finishing course
of instruction and the son was compelled to
| abandon his original purpose and to betake
| himself to a trade. He chose that of a tailor
aud having faithfully served an apprentice
ship in the French speaking portion OF Swift
| erland, he went to the city OF Paris where he
set UP in business. How long he remained
there is not accurately known. 1t is known
| however, that he sailed from there and landed
in New Orleans late in the thirties, Here he
set up in business and formed the acquain.
tance Of Miss Julie Bernard who occasionally
aide1 him in some 2arts of his needed work.
In those days sewing machines had not been
invented. A fond congeniality grew up be
tween them. She preceded him to Opelou-
| SdS, 10 WulCu pldCc NC CuluC toouG AooO oho
| established himself as a merchant tailor. In
the course of a short time they were united
in tses holy bonds of natrimonyy and together
lived through many years of connubial bliss.
He worked industriously at bis trade assisted
by Ier until about two years ago, when the
ordinary inirmities of old age gradually crept
upon him and having acquired a sutficiency
of means to insure them the substantial com
forts of life, he ceased to work. Six children
were born Of his marriag, five of whom, three
males and two females, still live and are well
settled in life. He lived to see them useful,
resEected and self-sustaining. He became a
Free Mason and having lived up to the re-
quifements of the order, died in good stand
| ing with it. His brethren officiated at the
inteGment and laid bis body down to its ever
lasting rest with Masonic honors. The Rev.
t. S. Randle, assisted by the Rev. MI. benson
of tue NJ. F. Church, conducted the religious
| ceremonies while the hearts of a very large
assemblage of people throbbed with grief
and sorrow as the grave in the. Opelousas
PROTESTANT Cemetery received his body. He
had reached the age of 80 years, month and
l6 days when he closed his eyes in death.
He had been a usefnl man, an honest man,
a quiet, law-abiding man, who always stood
with unimpeachable rectitude at the post OF
duty as. a husband, father, friend, neighbor
and citizen. For one Of his calling, he had
read much, and his memory was we'll stored
witk brilliant aphorisms, philosophical max
inns and pregnant proverbs gathered from the
WORKS of the best writers, German French
and English. He conversed 1uently in all
these languages. He was never charged with
the commission of a crime and it can safely
be said Of him that he never pocketed a dol
lar NE did not honestly earn. No vices faint
ed bis life and he has left to his family the
priceless legacy of a spotless name and repu-
tation. E. n. c.