The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-17
LoursIaNA PIcruREs

/ M ". n in New orleans Pieayunel
The Southern Pacific trains slowed UP
\ where the great oaks spread wida,shel-
y tellng arms above the quaint and crook
Y ed old town Of Lafayette, and rush Of
] sweet cdors waited UP from the hotel
] gardens near by and told of the flower
+ sweet land, where French history and
! American enterprise We're so long ago
/ ineXtricably mixed that now the legends
I of both are gray as the Spanish moss
drifting down the branches Of the oaks
/ that have seen the sun rise and set for
more than q century
Uncle Washington took up the reins-
Gee up. TIM
Tim swung into a swift, easy trot
down the oak Swallowed streets and
presently the grand old avenues lay be
low US al shimmering in a golden glory
as I looked down from the slope that led
to the chain Of hills beyond. From a
road way that lay under a stately arch
OF green. resting upon brown, corrus-
Gated pillars of oak. Tim took his way
until the avenue OF the historic home OF
eN-GOY. MoutOn threw a darker shadow
across our own. Here he was checked
to enable the dog and myself to look out
I upon the white cOionnades of this an
! Client dwelling cleaning like ghosts
amid the dense blue green Of foliage
which surrounded it on ali sides Tim
trOrted on up the ever rising incline OF
the road and down a hillside which ov-
erlooked the beautiful, curving depths
OF the Nermilion river.
On the left waved green lances of
cane, ON the right hilly pastures dotted
with shade trees. gl0Wed with yellow
daisies, and in all this rich mass Of col
or, sheep and cattle browsed. They
were sleek and fat as the yellow pump
1ins in the corn field beyond, whose
plump sides seemed dyed with autumn
sunlight
Dem dar's the Tunis hills" said
Washington. extending his hand to-
wards a range of beautiful hills beyond
the river, whose feet We're deep in
drift Of cotton snow that lay upon a
plateau of great extent.
Part of the way a hedge of Usage
orange trees had spilled their large
spiked discs of fruit along the roadside
and their yellow leaves held trans
parent shield of gold between us and the
sun beams which filtered through it.
Part of the way the soft green Cher
okee rose hedges rested like an ever
green cloud along the way. cloud star
red with white blossoms that braved
frost as white.
1t is these white blossoms that have
waved a banner of peace for centuries
from the dawning till the fading Of the
road lay under the shadow Of giant
trees for q bout a mile
Denis one hundred and fifty pecan
trees dere," observed Uncle Washington
pointing to the side of the road where
the stately trees grew clasping hands
far overhead with the green fingers OF
oak or pecan on the other side
Dey's heap o. pleasure to one dat
comes dis a way Every body git down
and pick up peCans."
Up on the crest Of the hills we turned
and looked over the way we had come
A vast plateau lay upon the chain of
hills that extend from Kentucky down
to the wonderful bluffs at VermiIion
bay. on the plateau as far as the eye
could see. shone a white eNpanse of
cotton. The largest and finest crop that
the parish has grown for several years.
Down the slopes like a fair Kaleidoscope
lay drifts of cotton and strips of dull,
brown corn, turned down for gathering;
acres of potatoes and rows of tobacco
plants in ribbons Of the blue green
shade so fashionable this autumn. and
miles of cane tops whose leaves turn a
silver knife blade to the sunshine till
the fields look silver green in the light
Green pastures and Swallowed hill
sides melted one into the other in the
fading light There was a colder glow
in the stretches of yellow daisies-sym-
Dol of the land in which they grew-and
slope below slope fell the shoulders Of
the hills, till in the distance the town of
Lafayette lay in the purpling shadows
against back ground of crimson gold
fire that was the good night torch of
the setting sun.