The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-12-19
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
1S46-No..37 1896.
By S. T. GRIsAMoRE.

man who is suddenly thrown into /:
community where the customs. man.
ners, habits. language and surround
those in which his boyhood days have
been passed, and to acquire an insight
into them, rs we'll as to accnstom hum
self to such social changes were the
first pursuits of my life after settling
upon the banks OF the Lafonrche.
The acquaintances that were formed
with the young men and women were
very pleasant and lasting, but alas
at the expiration of fifty years when |
answer received is found in the dole
ful echoes. "gOne, gone
The people both young and old
treated me very kindly friendship
aud social intercourse were bestowed
upon the young stranger that in press
ed his mind and memory with grateful
thoughts. Even those whose language
l could not under stand. were equally
solicitons t" render my presence
among them pleasant and agreeable.
1t is sad, but nevertheless u fact
that whilst the sociability and hospi-
tally nf the people of Louisiana 10
day ia proverbial and acknowledged
by all visiting citizens Of other states.
it lacks much of that simplicity and
warmth of feeling that were exhibited
by the inhabitants of Bayou Lafourche
half century ago.
Frlents never met nr separated
without cordial shaking of the hand
Men riding along the public highway
always raised their hats to friends
whom they saw on the galleries aud
in the yards of their homes. who were
sufficiently nesr to be recognized and
their salutalions were ever responded
to in the same manner or by /. wave
Of the hand.
A man or woman entering into a
house almost invariably shock the
hand Of every person within, accom-
panied by social aud pleasant greet
ing, and on retiring, the same fOrmali-
ty was gone TIN oagll with.
There WIS IL custom prevalent at
that date, that was nearly universal.
character,zing the social tiaits of the
~i'iANbS3 ~ iS'toi. etO
which was that of drinking to each
others health. When two or more
men met in IL town or village where
cafe houses, as they were then desig-
mated, were open, the first thing after
greeting was to take drink, and f
the meeting was in private house,
the proprietor always produced the
material t" cement friendship and rem
der cordial the visit.
But ie persons were so poor as not
to have their decanter of whiskey or
other stimulant in their dwellings. In
fact it was a prevalent opinion that
liquor was essential to the health of
every one, and it was purchased as one
Of the nrcessa,ies of life, the same as
flour. meat, potatoes, &c.
Yet the people seldom drank too
much. and drunkenness was not in.
dnlged IN to an extent that one would
naturally conclude the daily use of
stimulants would generate. Still the
too frequent visits to the cafes un-
doubtedly brought many young and
promising youths to ruin as it does
to-day, aud opened an early grave for
their bodies.
The gradual decrease of this custom
during fifty years has been steadily
perceptible to any observing citizen,
aud when one, conversant with it,
then aud now. can readily perceive
the wonderful change, for the better,
lie may eai nestly desire to witness its
continuance.
Previous to my arrival on the La
fonrche it was considered an affront 10
refuse to drink with any man who gave
one an invitation to imbibe with him.
but this feature has partially died out,
and it was only with what is now
called the "hoodlum class" that any
trouble was likely to occur from such
Il refusal. Cafe houses weie always
open in all the little towns or villages
and many were also found in the coun
try. Billiard tables were universal
OF those places. and
there were many excellent players to
be found practising upon them.
Every man visited these cafes, they
were the general meeting places of
persons who had business to transact
with each other. When one man
wished to see another ou any business
Meet ME in such IA cafe on Sunday
was generally the message sent. A
great change has taken place, but
when the memories of those days rise
up before me they bring up many
as we'll as f>ces of dear
friends who have gone to their silent
homes, and long to live again Some
Of those happy and precious years of
my young life.
Let it not be inferred that the bibu.
|ous habits OF the people in the La
lourche country were peculiar to them
alone because such custom was