The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-25
THE POOR GIRLS DOT.
A MODEL BACHELOR WHO IEAyEs
4 CURIOUS LEGACY.
Happy by the Gen~reus Dfxpo~f-
ton OF rhouxhtful Peddler-An
Example Which Might Well BE
Followed by Wealthy Phiian-
thropists.

Marie Bordeaux and Celeste Landry ara
two recently welded young women 60
Nachitoches parish. LOUISIANA. IN whose
prisons certain old bachelor. julien poy-
dras by name, IS certain 10 be warmly re-
rsemnered. Bat for aim TIER marriage 10
the men they loved might nave been de-
layed forever. And this = their story.
Before the century was IN its teens. Jn-
Hen Poydras, a COY OF re-. aud a native OF
France, landed n New Orleans. Exl.ed
for political reasons from his country he
made his home in louisiana. ard with
true French adapsahilssy soon became ons
or the people Gently born aaa educated
though he was. he asa not scora % strap
a peddiers pack upon ass back with
which he tramped lp and down the river
coast. selling his wares TO the wives Of the
rich planters.
Up and down all the hayoas. as far az
they were settled along the Atehafalaya.
The Lafourcsle and Tae Red rivers.
t-amped the sturdy young peddler HIS
manner was GENIAL and deferenssaI. his
wares the best Of their kind and his hon
esty and fair dealing unaaestioned- He
became great faveriie. he prospersd ard
grew rich.
After a lapse OF years he dropped the
pack and sent his wares down the water
ways IN great bateaux. His business grew
TO immense proportions. Then Julien Poy-
dras INDUCED himself in a Little repcse.
He courted the muses.. ne wrote poetry,
he admired la beau sexe, but he did not
marry. AT last be died. leaving large sums
10 found and endow noble charities "A
New Orleans and other parts Of his
adopted state. Rat the rs-.sr astonishing
feature OF his will was the legacy left 20
provide dots for the pennisess girls of
Nachitocnss PARISH And yet 10 this day
the women OF that place have NOT lad the
first stone In monument 10 his memory.
Ingrates.
Nachitoches was fa:r and fertile. rich
parish when Poyiras died. There was 10
poverty IN ali its wide borders. Besides us
wealthy planters, IL had a large AcadIan
papuiation-thviIty. hardy rich in aocks
and herds. and making at home every ar
tlcle OF domestic use. These people had no
use for money. When jeune file and her
cavalier concluded to marry his father
gave him So many arpenres OF the pafer-
nal domain, so many betaiI.e. her father
gave her likewise the bridegroom built
the eabane. and housekeeping began with
out dollars expenditure. The Poydras
legacy lay undistarbecl long time, and
gathered TO Itself soodly Interest Then
came the war, which brought ruin and
poverty elsewhere But the Aeadian lads
continued 10 WOO Acad.an iasses. and now
calls began TO be made upon the trustees
OF the Toydras legacy. But the Acadsan Ia
proud and independent, only the very
poor man ever applied for dot for his
daughter
Every year since the war half dozen or
more girls are made happy by this curious
provision or this man. who. although
never married. loved women and children
devotediy. 1t Is told by some who knew
him, that very early In life the young girl
whom he was to marry was snatched
away from him by an awful Doom While
walking with her sister on the levee that
sksrted the Mississippi river. without a
moments warning the mass OF earth upon
which they stood sid noiselessiy into the
yellow gulf below. and. the treachsrous
waters closing instantly above them. they
persisted without even a cry.
Marie and Celeste the last two girls 20
enjoy the legacy or old Poydras, are typi-
cal Acadian girls. pleasant Of speech and
manner, 1.-THE. graceful and rudeiy heautI-
ful. with the warmth of earth and vine
and sun. Their thoughts may be are not
of a kind to make wise people walk the
door or iii note books virtual. but they
have their own homeiy wit and wisdom
Even II the Acadsan woman does not run
halfway 20 meet the scnooInssster. she
has much common sense. and makes an
excellent wife and mother.
Why not. instead OF taxing bachelors
above certain age. IS suggested, COM
pei them 10 leave certain proportion oe
their fortunes to promote the marriage OF
othersg