Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-24

east and north. stopping by the
~ way at Pass Christian and BIZ
lou, resorts on the gulf littoral,
popular with the New Orleans people
and not unknown to northern tourists,
as well, who find the temperate eli
mate more bracing and enjoyable than
that of the resorts farther south.
Pass Christian is nearest New Or
leans, and 81 miles distant, says cor
respondent OF the New York Evening
Post. 1t is very old town, of which
both France and Spain had the found
ing, and has resident population to-
day of French, Spanish and English
origin. 1t was named-the legend runs
from the old Spanish explorer who
first discovered the deep pass" or
channel in front of the main shore.
Its admirers call 1t the Newport OF the
south. with this advantage over its
northern namesake. that 1t is equally
beautiful and desirable in both winter
and summer. The drive of IA miles
over its firm. smooth shell roads. with
the blue waters OF the gulf on one
side, and stately and beautiful resi-
dences on the other, is one long to be
remembered.
From Pass Christian the railroad
skirts the gulf shore, at times cross
ing wide bays or bayous on trestle
work, then dashing into pine forests,
through whose leafy vistas one catches
the distant CLEAN Of the gulf Biloxi.
22 miles farther east, set up the claim
that it is the oldest city on the coast,
and, indeed. in Louisiana territory.
Probably Iberville and Blenville did
erect there the first fort, but Mobile
contends that two full days before
they had landed at Dog river, in Mo-
bile bay, and had planted their lily
flag on the site of the first permanent
fort. which they called Louis de La Mo
bile.
However this may be, Biloxi is pic
turesque old town. reminding one Of
the French quarter of Few Orleans,
and with its handsome residences and
shell road along the ten mile beach
well repays visit. Between the two
lies Beauvoir, and a short distance
from it's station is the fine old country
seat in ample grounds. to which JEFF
ferson Davis retired after his abortive
confederacy went to ruin. and in
which he lived and died. After his
death the Daughters of the Confed-
eracy asked Mrs. Davis TO sell IL to
them for an old veterans home, to
which she consented, taking up her
abode in New York. and the old home
now shelters a number of those who
fought for tho lost cause" of 1865.
our hours from New Orleans we
reach Mobile, at the head OF the bay
Of the same name. and thirty miles
from the gulf. A bright, alert. pro-
gressive and pleasing city 1t is, OF ST.
900 inhabitants. a city which, like
most of the gulf ports. sees in the
opening OF the Panama canal an op-
portunity for almost boundless COM
mercial expansion. and is pulling her
self together to take advantage OF it.
Famous Shell Road.
The city recently has been newly
paved and severed. She has an ample
water supply Of the best quality,
Bienville water being so pure that it
is used in chemical emulsions and in
photography direct from the hydrant.
The city is lighted by electricity, has
IN excellent electric street railway
system. good schools, good hotels and
Government street, fianked on either
side with finO residences In ample
grounds. will compare favorably with
the residence section of any city In
the Union.
Mobile lies low on the bay, so low.
in fact. that a strong southwest gale
sometimes backs up the gulf into the
bay and soverfiows the contiguous
streets, but the land rises rapidly in
the rear until in the suburbs one finds
high pine lands, with fine country
seats OF merchants, green vegetable
gardens and fruitful farms. Spring
Hill, several miles westward and
reached by trolley. has several fine old
country mansions and estates OF the
old regime-two. at least. owned by
titled foreigners-where the hospital
fly of the antebellum days is dis
pensed. Here in wide. well Kept
grounds. is the Jesuit college. founded
rs years ago.
The traveller viii find many excur-
sions by water Of interest. Boats ply
to Fort Morgan and little towns along
the eastern shore" OF the bay, and to
the snapper banks" out In fits blue
waters. Mobiles famous shell road.
along the curves OF the bay. was par
tally wrecked In the great hurricane