The Republican journal., 1904-02-25
Christmas in New Orleans.
SCENES AND SIGHTS IN TEE GAY
CRESCENT CITY. A GLIMPSE OF
LAKE PQNCHARTRAIN. THE ME-
TAIRE CEMETERY. DOWN THE MIS-


Correspondence of The Journal.
1t was a beautiful, sunny morning, a
few days before Christmas, when a
happy party was gathered in the wait
ing room tor whites" at the l. c. sta
ton of small town in Mississippi.
The group consisted of large number
of pretty Mississippi college girls dress
ed in uniform, and three Northerners,
all anxiously awaiting the arrival of
the south bound train that would carry
them home or to some other place
where they would be free from books
and the college life for one whole week
the holiday vacation.
The train obliged us by being on time
and before long we were speeding on
our way. The college girls were soon
meeting old acquaintance and the
Northemers .busying themselves with
the scenery, which was both varied and
interesting. They saw long stretches
of prairie land, dotted with little shah
by log huts, always open, and they
thought the number of happy black
faces gathered at the doors quite out
of proportion to the size of the cabins.
The cotton fields were past their prime,
but there were numerous holly trees
laden with bright red berries; mistletoe
hung in big punches from the live oaks,
and now and then sturdy pine tree
1lr,at 30 .
writer's mind.
One by one our college girls had left
us, and at about two o'clock we reached
Durante. Here we were to change
trains and soon learned that our tram
was five hours late, which was anything
but joyful news to US. However, we
determined to make the best of it.
First, we went to little country hotel
nearby for dinner, which, i'll true
Southern style, contained a superlluity
of corn bread, rice and sweet potatoes,
but it was right" good and we did it
full justice. After dinner we walked
about the town bit to view the
sights" which consisted mostly of ne
groes. The old mammies, with gaudy
head handkerchiefS, were goSSipping
here and there on the street corners,
while the younger women and girls,
dressed in many colorS, were often seen
enjoying cigarette or pipe, and all,
from the oldest Uncle Joe to the little
pickanniny, seemed happy. After
while we left the gay throng and found
a sunny spot in the park opposite the
station, where we sat and wrote few
letters home. We were weary with
waiting when the train arrived. and
with sigh of relief we boarded the
comfortable "Chicago and New Orleans
limited which in the wee small hours
of the night landed us III New Orleans
tOur destination).
The next morning was the day before
chris mas and the streets were
thronged with eager shoppers. The
shops We're in gala day attire, and mauy
were decorated with festoons of holly
and mistletoe, and with palm leaves
arranged ike awnings. Spanish,
French. Italians. CreOles, and strang-
erS like ourselves, all joined III the
good cheer of the season.
We walked almleSSly about for
While and finally found ourselves i'll the
ed French Quarter. This is the Old
city of New Orleans The streets are
very narrow and the little shops and
houses all have balconies hanging far
Jut over the street. 1t is interesting
TO kuoW that the streets in this section
are named for the royal family of the
Orleans dynasty. Rue Royale, Cont
tleet, Dauphine street. and St Louis
~tlett are some of the most prominent.
III THIS qualter, the shop signs are i'll
French and funeral notices i'll French
acre tackled on many of the telephone
posts
The French market down on the
- 4, 70 ~
city, and is built in the style of IL pa
vilion with sides uncovered. Here we
saw huge crates of live poultry, numer-
Gus strings of garlic and curious yege-
tables which we could not name. There
we're long stands of luscious tropical
fruits and nuts. Pecans were ten cents
per pound, and small oranges were ten
cents dozen. Everything, from live
chicken to boots, shoes and dry goods
are for sale at this market, and the in
habltants, too, are mixture, shouting
their wares in all languages of the
world. Business is good every day in
the week, especially on Sunday morn
ing, when the crowd is dense.
The Hotel Royale is one of the most
interesting buildings in this part OF the
city. 1t is one of the oldest hotels in
the country and is not in use now, but
an interesting little lady who acted as
if she had grown up with the building
seemed delighted to tell us the history
of every nook and corner of it. After
ascending the wide spiral staircase, we
were shown the old reception room,
where magnificent mirrors lined the
walls and through which elaborate
chandeliers passed. Next came the
salon, the walls of which were covered
with rich velvet, and from there we
passed to the old dining room. The
ceiling of this room formed great
dome. which was decorated by one of
the French masters There is big
echo here, and the little lady told us
that when parties and balls used to be
given the merriment and laughter of
the gay young people would echo and
re-echo through all the building "In
We olden tymes' when Southerners had
wealth and fortune, Daniel Webster
was entertained at a banquet in this
room, when the price per plate was
800.
From there we were ushered into the
old slave market in the basement.
The name of the auctioner, sc. Bar
nett still remains, carved in the
marble, and above the counter on
which the slaves stood to be sold.
Back of this counter were numerous
stalls where the slaves were kept to
wait their turn This was dark.