The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1908-08-22
BAY ST. LOUIS Mss,
AND ITS ADVANTAGES.

II 2
ard Adv.sas.s 4 he 4ar.hs ''cay-hy
th.-ssa'-of hterea = Hs.e Pessle .
well ~ Strangers.
From the North and South
Bay BIT. Louis is the lsst point of mo-
ment on the Mississippi border and is
practically a suburb d New Orleans
Between the bay and 9he picturesque
Old Creole city, ffty-twD miles west, Lie
the Louisiana marshessa succession OF
ch arn,ing scenery, of lovely sheets Of
water, endless vistas OF tall grasses,
alive with game, club houses and fisher
mems homes.
The coast trains plving between these
points morning and night carry many
passengers to and frcms the city, men
whose business is in New Orleans and
whose homes are at Bay st. Louis,
where the fine salt air of the open gulf
makes residence more attractive. In
summer the number of these passengers
is considerably augmented, for nearly
all of the handsomest homes on the
beach are owned by New Orleans peo-
pie, who spend their summers here, rich
cotton planters, men in the highest busi-
ness circles of the Crescent City, lite
rary personages, and dignitaries of va
rious ranks. To have a summer place
at the Bay is the ambition Of the most
aristocratic. And Bay st. Louis is so
nearly akin to New Orleans that there
is small wonder it is we'll loved by her
people. 1t is as Creole, as quaint, as
delicious as the old town itself. Its lit
tie back streets with their vari-colored
houses smothered in roses, with vine-
and-fig tree besides, hide many rare
antique-mahogany tester beds, buffets
and chairs of the old regime, bits of fine
porcelain, ancient jewelry and quaint
baubles, things that curio hunter
would prize, such as the antique shops
on the Rue Royale sell at terrifying fig
ures. In the houses live many decayed
families and Creoles of lesser pedigree,
while French and Spanish are spoken
as freely as English. Then there are
the fish vendors homes whole streets
of them, with tiny shops Haunting their
signs "Fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp
for sale'. And in front, the men, wo-
men and children engaged at their work,
baskets of oysters, fish and crabs fresh
from the water and being made ready
for the market. These people live by
the sea alone; small beat and pair of
oyster tongs, with hook, line and net,
constitute their outfit. There is a ready
sale for all the sea-food taken, and here
is happy, care.free life that is found
irresistible by all foreigners. For they
are not all of Creole blood here. Bay
st. Louis is as cosmopolitan as any sea-
port, and owns as many mixed races.
Those of Catholic faith predominate, as
the many parochial schools, converts
and colleges attest. A little shrine to
Our Lady of the Woods in green
bower in the heart of the town brings
its daily pilgrims.
For sheer picturesqueness, indeed,
Bay st. Louis has no equal among the
coast towns and resorts. 1t has its own
individuality, strongly defined. Not
only is it quaint and foreign, but its
beauty is almost indescribable. To
paint picture of it at this season that
will convey all of its delights is impos-
sible.
The town fronts the open gulf with a
clean sweep of wind and wave from east,
south and southwest. Out OF the west
the breeze comes from the great Lake
Pontchartrain through vast resinous
pine forest; from the north it blows
from the highlands. The far-famed
Bay of st. Louis, where the fleets OF
Iberville and Bienville lay in the early
days of French occupation washes a
part of the shore line. This has been
called the most charming piece of water
in America and is often compared with
the Bay of Naples. The high penin-
sula upon which Bay st. Louis is built
/ has a bold water front, curving in and
out, so that the entire town overlooks
the water to the horizons limit; Hen
derson's Point, a long, wooded strip OF
land with white, sanded beach, which
outlines the far side of the Bay OF ST
Louis is the orly break in this vast ex-
panse of sea. From end to end OF the
beach project long bathing piers, hun
dreds of them, one for each private resi-
| dence or hotel, for nowhere is there
more perfect salt water bathing than
here. And as the breeze is always
fresh, fresher than in the more land
locked harbors, sailing is also favorite
pastime, and the waters in front OF Bay
lSt. Louis are always alive with white
winged craft. Along the beach, fol
nearly eight miles, is solid row o.
lhomes-not houses merely, but homes
| in the fullest sense of the word, in which
owners take such pride that this has be.
come one of the loveliest beach towns
| in the world. Every house is set in the
midst of green and towering grounds
- r,rovoo NJ the nnhlest trees to b<