St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-07-06
LETTER FROM
Ruben Hayseed.

New Orleans, La June 81, 1905.
Neighbor Cynthia:
By Gosh! But New Orleans il
great town since l saw hit a little
after the war.
But say, Cynthia, l didn't think
l was so we'll known here-why
even the mayor, governor and
president Mac know my name. AS
l promised you when l left home
l would write yon megetly when
got there, but hits three weeks
now and l just thought to write
would've done so sooner, but was
too busy keeping my whiskers,
buster and 'breIla to myself, much
less write; bu, | tell you | am we'll
known here-fact is, l am thinking
of running for congress.
The first thing after we got to
the village, got the car to canal
street. Say, but you should see
them things-,here's no mule to
them; there's a sort of fishing
cane and line on the roof of hit,
and the man in front winds some
line OH a thing lhay call a brake,
and she goes like the cannon ball.
By Gosh, but she surely can go.
But the first thing when l got
aboard her, the fellow that col
lects came and looked at me and
said: .'Hello Ruben" Of course |
got up and shook his hand-why
shouldn't l. he knew me.
But tell you I'd rather live at
home than here, cause hits much
hotter here, and will tell you
how | noticed hit. There's one
of those hea, machines in each car,
which looks like clock, and folks
call thermometer. Well, when l
got on The car i, just came from
suburbs. Anyway heard them
say so. The old thing was 90,
and when we got half mile it
was Sc, and when we got to Canal
street it was 50, which shows hits
much warmer in town than IN the
suburbs. l told the conductor
that that was my opinion, and he
laughed, and all the passengers
looked at me and said "Ruben.'
OF course | got up'and shook their
hands-why shouldn't - they
knew me.
The next day was the day Presn-
dent Mckinley came to town. and
YOU should have seen all the folks
it was like circus day at home;
and you should have seen all the
soldiers and all the big Generals;
and then l saw the Mayor and Nc
Klnley, and just rushed up to
the carriage to shake his hand, and
the Mayor said to Mac, "why.
here is Ruben Of course |
shook his hand-why shouldn't |
he knew me.
Well, while was on Canal street
l went had and glass of sody
water, aud while l was waiting |
heard some men ask to have
stick in their sody; of course !
thought ! would like to try it too,
and ] did-had several glasses as
it tasted good. Well, BY Gosh,
you should have seen me about half
an hour later. Why l saw every
thing double and l was dizzle aud
my head was spinning like a top.
l suppose l had the blind staggers
like nv brindle COW had last
spring; but don't know how it
was, but l felt awful happy, and !
was willing to give everything |
had away. In fact, ! saw two po-
licemen al the corner and | wanted
to give them my buster and green
cotton 'brella, but they smiled at
one another and said, ''Why here's
Ruben come TO town." Of course
l shook their hand-why shouldn't
They knew me.
But my, | was sick the next
thought would die.
The landlady said | must have
got sick from the 'leclric car ride,
but think it was from the stick
in the sody. Say, | almost for
got to tell YOU that the folks don't
drink sody like at home, they just
suck it through two pieces Of hay
straw. The other day went TO
West End, which we used to call
New Lake when was here last
tell you hits a fine place. They
have a brass band playing
every evening, and sort of
circus show, and they have flying
horses, and big wheel that takes
yea way up IN the air bout 200
feet. by Gosh, | got on it and
l,Iol to,.. rds tnvlnutOn. and |