St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-02-12

Last year Abita Springs participat.
ed in Covington Carnival parade,
which was conceded to be one of The
best pageants ever exhibited in g
country town and which brought thou.
sands of visitors to the "Ozone City. -
The Abita contingent to this parade
added greatly to the success of the
Covington carnival and encouraged
the Carnival Club of Abita to further
efforts in behalf Of their town.
While Abita is a town of but five OF
six hundred inhabitants, its citizens
are enterprlsing and energetic, nor is
the civic pride which is so apparent in
public affairs confined to the business
men of the town. One of the chief
elements of success has been the active
part tarken by the young men, of
which the larger part of the Mystic
Club is composed.
When the Mystic Club was organic
ed, less than year ago, the avowed
purpose of the organization was the
upbuilding of Abita. and the phenomi-
nal success Of all its undertakings has
resulted from the attraction to its
membership of every citizen whose
influence and energy could add new
spoke to the wheel Of progress. In
consequence the membership of the
old Carnival Club was absorbed in the
Mystic, and the work of the two con-
tinued in consolidated effort.
The program carried out Monday
was in accordance with the announce
ment of the Mystic Club that a free
barbecue and parade would be given
on the 7th Of February and that all
who came would be provided for and
welcomed, but that admission to the
kings ball in the evening would be by
special invitation of members of the
Mystic Club.
There was one oversight on the part
of the Mystic Club that threatened
serious interference with the festivi-
ties Of the day. Evidently the mem
bers of the Weather Bureau had been
slighted. The day was dark and
sombre. Hardly a streak Of blue re-
lieved the leaden sky, and try as he
would old Sol could not get glimpse
of what was going on beneath the
moist curtain that canopied the eager
throng below. Yet the rain held off
throughout the day, and while a light
east wind brought a slight shower
about half-past nine in the evening, it
was not until early morning, when all
were housed after the enjoyment of
the evening, that the rain drops man
aged to break loose.
The threatning aspect of the weather
was a great disappointment to the
many out-of-town visitors who had |
anticipated the pleasure the occasion
would bring to them, and had made
preparations for good time; but
withal the afternoon saw large crowds
gathering, who were regaled with
tempting barbecued meats and Creole
gumbo, pronounced by all to be most
delicious and appetizing, which they
in the open air, with the green
pines waving above, and the soft,
brown needles carpeting the ground
beneath their feet. Many visitors from
Covington, Vaudeville and surrounding
settlements were among the throng,
and as the time approached for the
arrival of the 3:45 train from Coving
ington, the N. o. G. N. depot was
surrounded by crowds awaiting the
arrival of the King and his suite.
This train also brought many visitors
from Covington and the towns above.
AS the King alighted from the train
he was greeted with cheers from the
throng and muscle by the band. The
gay colors of the carnival decorations
and the happy demeanor of the surg
ing crowds made befttine welcome.
At the Town Hall the keys of the
town were delivered over to the King
with the following address by Mayor
Mutt:
In according you the freedom of the
town of Abita Springs, / cannot re-
frain from calling your attention to
the advantages we possess in health-
ful climate, healing water and hospita-
bic citizenship. Your Majesty viii find
our hotels in secluded spots, buried in
he perfume of pines and ladened
With the ozone that gives health to
he body, brightness to the eye and
IN appetite for the good things you
will find on the table [soto voce-I am ;
Ipeaking Of my hotell. Our judges
ire just; our law officers are discret [
md alert; our merchants are honest
md liberal. No fairer women, no
ruer wives e'er graced the homes of
lonest men than in Abita. Your j
Majesty has in thus honoring our j
own, given to yourself an opportunity '
or enjoyment that only comes to the i
wise who know the way or have /
earned the lesson. and we gladly well {
ONE you. K
Mayor Mutt has been and is still is I,