The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-06-25
An Interesting Letter

Following is part of a letter which
was crowded out of our Alumni Extra.
1t is from a former \ ale girl, and will
tell you of trip she recently made:-
Timberton, La, May 20, 1914.
Last week we were in New Orleans
for a couple of days and having little
time TO spare took an automobile sight
seeing trip through the old part of the
city" down town" or French quar-
ter. 1t surely was very interesting to
me so will tell you a little about it
though these things must be seen TO
be appreciated.
We first went down to the river and
saw the big coffee, cotton and sugar
warehouses, the ferry and transports
that carry trains and people across the
river, boats that 90 to New York and
Panama. Also saw the Quarantine
Station where the refugees from
Mexico are landed-and on the streets
saw some of the refugees themselves.
In the French quarter the streets are
very narrow and certainly were not
convenient for autos. On our way to
Jackson square we passed many old
buildings famous in the history Of the
city-the home of John McDonough
whose money was left to the city for
public schools and there are now 81
MeDOnOugh schools. The interest from
the money is sufficient TO build a new
school each year. We also saw a build
ing that was erected as a home for
NapoeOn-an expedition having been
planned to rescue him from st. Helena
But as they were about to leave they
heard of his death. Saw the home of
the first governor of Louisiana, which
/ believe was Bienville In the center
of Jackson square is the equestrian sta
tue of Andrew jackson, made of bronze.
On two sides of the square are two
long red brick buildings which L be-
lieve are called Pontalba buildings and
which at one time were mansions but
are now used as tenement houses. Fac
ing the square is the "Cabildo,' an
old Spanish building in which the sale
of Louisiapa was made. Right next
and very close is the old st. Louis
Cathedral built by an old Spanish no.
bleman-the Duke de Almonester-and
whose body was buried in the church.
There is a romantic story connecting
this man and his daughter with the
John McDonough of whom / told you.
u
Louis Hotel in which still stands the
auction block where slaves were sold,
and wherein Lafayette was entertained.
This building l think has been con-
demned but there has been some talk of
restoring it. We passed the building
which was once used by La Fitte, the
pirate, as "A blacksmith shop when he
was not sailing. There are so many
cemeteries and within the city limits,
some right in almost the heart of the
down town district The oldest are the
90 st. Louis, - of which there are three,
and in which the bodies are in vaults
or tombs-the poorer classes being
placed in the walls around the GENE.
tery-these walls being s feet thick ind
about 6 or ; feet high. The other Gene
teries are two st. Patrick, Greenwood,
Masonic, Odd Fellow, Metairie, and the
Jewish This last and the Potters
Field are the only ones where the bodies
are buried underground. The "Me.
tairie - was given to the city by a
man named Howard who was at the
head of the Louisiana Lottery The
ground was formerly race track and
Howard was one of the first to be bur
ried there. Certainly this is a beautiful
place and the tombs are beautiful, so
many being of marble.
We went through the city park, which
of course, is like all parks but which is
different because of the mammoth live
oaks, with the gray moss hanging on
them, and the palms. In one of the
ponds were some beautiful black swans. |
We passed one very large tree called |
Suicide Oak and under which there have |
been fourteen suicides in twelve years. |
The branches of this tree reach out
and touch the ground in one mammoth |
hig circle all around it.
At present they are tearing up the old
pavements and taking out great J
many trees which are in the center Of |
so many of the streets. But some of
the people are protesting against this, |
so meeting was called TO discuss the |
matter. Have not heard what the re-
suit of the meeting was To me the |
city is much more interesting as il was
and / too would feel like protesting |
against the change
Well | really did not think / would |
write so much but hope you are not
tired and maybe some of the others
would find these things of interest
Yours sincerely,
JULIA GRINNELL BURNS.