Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-01
Joe Jenerson,s Home.

Anse island ris Orange island, ia
nous for it's orange plantation, but
called Jefferson island since it became
the property and home of Joseph JEFF
ierson. Not SO high as Petite Anse,
it is still conspicuous with it's crown
OF dark forest. From high point on
Petite Anse, through lonely vista OF
Trees, with Towering cacti in the fore
ground, Jefferson's house is a white
spot IN the landscape. We reached it
by a circuitous drive of IL miles over
the prairie, sometimes in and some.
times out OF water, and continually
diverted from our course by fences. IT
is good sign of the thrift of the race,
and ofitsindependence, that the color
ed people have taken up or bought lit
tie tracts of 80 or 40 acres, put up
cabins, and new fences round their
domains regardless of the travelling
public. We zigzagged all about the
country to get round these little en-
closures. At one place, where the
main road was bad, a thrifty Acadian
had set up toll of twenty-five cents
for the privilege OF passing through
his premises. The scenery was pas
toral and pleasing. There were fire.
qnent round ponds, brilliant with ILL
les and fleurs.de-lis, and hundreds OF
cattle feeding on the prairie or stand
ing in the water, and generally OF a
dun-color, made always an agreeable
picture. The monotony was broken
by lines Of trees. 10y cape like
woods stretching into the plain,
and the horizon line was
always fine. Great variety of birds
enlivened the landscape, game birds
Astounding. There was the lively
nonpareil, which seems to change it's
color, and is red and green and blue
II believe OF the oriole family-the
papabotte, favorite on New Orleans
tables in the autumn. snipe, killdee.
the cheerooke lsnipe?) the meadow
lark, and quantities of teal duck in
the ponds. These little ponds are
called "bull-holes." The Traveller is
told that they are started in this wa
terry soil by the paving OF bulls, and
gradually enlarge as the cattle fire.
quent them. He remembers that he
has seen similar circular ponds in the
North not made by bulls.
MIR. Jefferson's residences pretty
rosevine-covered cottaae-is situated
on the slope of the hill, overlooking a
! broad plain and vast stretch of bayou
country. Along one side of his home
enclosure for a mile runs a superb
hedge of Chickasaw roses. On the
slops back of the house, and almost
/ Ia 10
| OF liveoaks, great gray stems, and the
branches hung with heavy masses oi
| moss, which swing in the wind like the
| pendant boughs of the willow, and
with something OF its sentimental and
mournful suggestions. The recesses oil
this forest are cool and dark, but up
| on ascending the hill, suddenly bursts
upon the view under the trees a most
! lovely lake OF clear blue water. This
| lake which may be mile long and a
half mile broad, is called Lake Peig
nenr, from its fanciful resemblance,
believe to wool-comber.
The shores are wooden. On the isl
and side the bank is precipitous; on
the opposite shore amid the trees is a
hunting lodge and l believe there are
! plantations on the north end, but il
is in aspect altogether solitary and
peaceful. But the island did not want
life. The day was brilliant, with a
deep blue sky and hieh-sailing fieecy
| clouds, and It seemed sort of animal
holiday; squirrels chartered; cardinal
birds flashed through the green leaves
there fitted about the red-winged
blackbird blueiays, red. headed wood.
peckers, thrushes and occasionally q
rain-crow crossed the scene; high over.
head sailed the heavy buzzards, de
scribing great aerial circles; and off in
the still lake the ugly heads OF the al
ligators toasting in the sun.-Charles
i Dudley Warner. "The Acadian Land
in Harper's Magazine for February.