The Republican journal., 1904-02-25

Mary, which is beautiful beyond words. !
Around the head of this statue is a |
halo of electric lights, and at its feet
are lilies with beautiful green leaves,
all made Respondent with lights. Be
low it is the word "Immaculate' in cleo
trio lights This statue was originally
ordered by Queen Marie Amelia of
France for the royal chapel at the
palace of Tuiieries, but after the revo-
luton which drove the Orleans dynasty
from the throne it was offered for sale
and was purchased by the ladies of this
church. On the left of the altar was
representation of the manger. The
floor of it was strewn with straw, and
on a bed of straw in the center was the
Christ child, with an angel kneeling at
its side. Figures of Mary and Joseph
and the wise men, bearing gifts, stood
near, and at the back were the animals
of the stable, with most life-like ex-
pressions on their faces. Way off, on
the hill, could be seen the shepherds
with their sheep, and high above all
was the Star of Bethlehem.
The windows of this church are
beautiful stained glass and in each is a
picture representing station in the
sway of the cross At the left of the
door, coming out, is a duplicate of the
statue Of st. Peter at Rome and before
it all devout Catholics offer prayer and
kiss its foot as they leave the church.
There are beautiful caG rides about
New Orleans and we made the most OF
these. We boarded the st Charles
Belt" one afternoon, which took US
first through the Dutch and Irish quar-
ter. Here the houses are but one story
high, and are so tiny and quaint that
they seem like village of play
houses" Then we passed Tulane UNI
versity, which is on st. Charles avenue,
the most beautiful street in the city.
Here are the rich southern homes,
built high from the ground in the old
colonial style, with massive pillars sup
porting the wide balconies. Nearly
every house was surrounded by spa
cious lawn, some of which were dotted
with magnificent palms, magnolias and
cedars, while others were a perfect
bower of different colored roses, which
were made into beds bordered with
violets.
We also took trip by trolley to lake
Pontchartrain. The cars ran along
wide, white shell road, which ex-
tends the whole length of the canal
COlutCIlllp tut IQhC Will IllS WY.
The lake is somewhat muddy and very
large. but as cool breeze always
blows from its waters it is great at
traction in summer.
Here are club houses, restaurants,
immense pavilions, scenic railroad, Il
Ferris wheel, and delightful walks for
the entertainment of the throngs that
gather there The club houses are
built about fifty feet from the shore at
the end of long piers and stand about
two yards above the water. Instead
of having the customary boat house,
they hang their small boats and canoes
under the club house, and all that is
necessary to prepare for for a sail is to
let down the steps, unlock the boat,
and all is ready.
On our way from the lake we visited
Metairie cemetery. where Albert Sid
ney Johnston and General Beauregard
are buried. The people of New Orleans
probably spend more money on their
cemeteries than any other city in the
United States. As the ground is so
damp the burying is all done in tombs
or vaults, some of which are very elab-
crate and costly. Some of the tombs
are built in the shape of houses, some
like churches with stained glass viii
dnWs. and it makes one feel As if he
We're truly visiting a ''clty Of the dead
1t is interesting to note the names on
the tombs here, as they represent so
many different languages. The French,
Spanish, Italian, Hebrew and Irish are
all represented. Everybody but the
negro. There is a large monument to
the army of Tennessee in this cemetery
which is surmour1ed by statue of
General Albert Sidney Johnston as he
appeared at the battle of shiloh. 1t
was here that jefferson Davis WAS
buried before his remains were taken
to Richmond.
We We're told that at the Howard |
library many interesting southern relics
were on exhibition, so one morning we
started in search of it. We were told
it was near Lees monument, but as
that is in small square by itself, when
we reached there we hardly knew
which way to turn. \ little policeman,
who evidently was an old Confederate
soldier stood near, so we asked him
our way to the library where the
southern curios were. He quickly,
but good naturally said: ''Do not call
it the library. 1t is the ex Confed-
crate Memorial" Then, after elab
Grating upon its worth, he asked
if we were strangers, and then from
whence we came When / told him |
was from Maine he shrugged his Shout
ders as if the very word made him shiv-
er, and said, "Way down in Maine! [
sure am glad | don't live there this time
of year" By his guidance we soon
found the Ex- Confederate Memorial
and the first room we entered was filled
with relics of the war. There were
many tattered flags and gray uniforms
which, could they have spoken, would
probably have told of many brave deeds
of the heroes who died for their defeat
ed cause. 1t was most fascinating to
read bits of the old literature and manu.
scripts there. l remember reading on
one little paper, yellow with age, an an
nouncement that 500 would be given
for the body of Jeff. Davis, whether
living or dead. Then there was JEFF
fersOn Davis room, where his cradle,
rocking horse, chair and numerous
OTHER sacred relics were on exhibition.
We regretted that we could not linger
in this interesting place, but we were
to have a tug ride that afternoon so
we rather unceremoniously took leave
of the Ex- Confederate Memorial and
were just in time to meet our friends
at the hour appointed.
1t was an ideal day on the water, and
we sailed about six miles towards the
Gulf, passing Algiers, the orange groves.
the L. 5. barracks, the big white build