The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-03-09
On the Teche.


Our readers will all heartily enioy the
ioliowlng communication from the Rev.
LIT. Parker, during 1909 and 1910 a resi-
uent OF Benton, and known and beloved
IN many OF the towns and villages of this
state as Jealous worker in the church
anu lot the oetterment of humanity gen.
orally. In fact, there is perhaps not a
minister in Louisiana to-day with a more
tar-reaching and enviable record in this
direction than has he.
he was recently placed on the superan-
uated list of Methodist ministers of the
State, but this was more than our kindly
and elderly friend (who has served the
church continuously for more than a half
century, could stand. He had to be busy.
despite the burden of years and failing
sight, and charge was found for him.
We sincerely hope that he and his good
wife are comfortably situated, and ere this
time we know they are surrounded by a
circle OF many new friends.
He is now located in ST. Martinville (St.
Martin Parish) from which place he writes.
His communication reached us on Thurs
day evening of last week. 1t follows:
It is wonderful how tradition will wrap
itself around facts, whether of history or
fiction. "Evangeline' has made this Sec
ton OF Louisiana famous, and Longfel-
lows story has been greatly enlarged by
tradition. We are shown the veritable oak
under which Evangeline slept, so near to
her lost lover, unconscious of his nearness.
Moreover, although she retraced her
course back north, and had the satisfac-
ton of meeting him in his dying moments,
her grave, it is said, sis somewhere near
this oak" How, when, or where she re-
vealed her experiences to the poet, or how,
or when she was brought back here for
burial, tradition sayeth not. There are
said to be "some very old people here who
remember" all the scenes described by
Longfellow.
The story is beautiful one and con-
forms, generally, to the license of fiction
and poetry, keeping within the limits of
possibility. But the weeping willows,
dipping their boughs in the water
beneath which the lover lay sleeping -
while Evangeline slept "under the boughs
of the OAK" are not possible, because this
genus willow is nowhere to be found on the
Teche. It is not Indigenous to this soil
and climate. The same is true of the
beautiful cedars described by the poet.
So much fancy woven into this story
raises the inquiry, Is it story from real
life, or is it fiction, pure and simple?
This scepticism will not spoil this illus
tration of woman's devotion, nor cause
Evangiline to become less real in the pop
ular mind. But "Enoch Arden" and
"Evangeline" are to me nothing more
than fction-hction pure and simple. II
is certain to any one having knowledge
kho IN fo11 h~,E hot
Longfellow knew nothing of the scenery
along the lines travelled by her.
Well, leaving Longfellow's story for q
little social chat, may say this is a fine
region for the tillers of the soil. The pre-
vailing language is French, and, it is said,
IS per cent of the people of st. Martin
Parish belong to the Catholic Church
There are only two Sunday schools in the
parish, and, as far as l can learn, am
the only Protestant minister in the parish
| Here in st. Martinville we have q nice
modern church, and comfortable eight.
room parsonage, having sanitary con.
nections.
! The population is said to be about 5000
of which seventy-five or perhaps 100 are
Protestants. Episcopalians, Presbyteri.
ans, Baptists and Methodists all worship
together, and only the latter have pas.
tor-and be only a substitute.
We have found the people to be kline
hearted and socially inclined.
Cold weather-frost and ice-has ruined
the prospect of our only fruit crop-the fig
Lemons were about grown and young fig.
were forming. Now, all are dead.
Respectfully,
/ J. A. PARKER.