The Republican journal., 1916-11-02
A TRIO OF TRAVELLERS

AANAO VI AAN1A Y GA<1IJAC
Tour Through the South and to the Pa.
ciic Coast.
IA paper read at the meeting of the Belfast
Woman's Club. Oct. 10th.
Once upon time family named Sim
mons decided to see little bit more of
these United States of America than
could be seen from their own DOORWAY.
Now these people, there were three:
father, mother and Alice, lived in the
biggest little city in Maine and one cold
January day they shut the door Of their
home and started southwark.
The journey was uneventful until
Washington was reeched. There thew
did just what everybody who goes to
visit our National Capitol does, found
out how to make paper money, climbed
the monument, visited the White House,
heard our senators and representatives
arguing in rather desultory manner it
seemed, and spent all too short a time in
that wonderful specimen of American
art and architecture, the Congressional
Library.
Next came Atlanta, Georgia, but few
hours in drizzling rain found the three
quite ready to leave that. it must be
confessed, rather dirty city. A train
wreck ahead caused the first taste of
hardship, for the little town of Bay
Minette, with one small railway restau-
rant looked inadequate to satisfy some
hundreds of hungry travellers. Conster-
nation, indignation and resignation were
pictured on the faces round about, but
the one lone man in that little restaurant
heroicaly cut big chunks of bread, cook
ed eggs and made what he called coffee
and soon contentment reigned. Then
came the good news that the track was
clear and New Orleans could be reached
by afternoon.
New Orleans, the city of contrast and
conflict between the old and the new!
1ndescribable were the feelings of the
three who were acquainted with New
England order and cold symmetry when
they stepped from Canal street New
Orleans people say it is the widest street
in the world) with its myriad lights and
good pavement, into the narrow, ILL
lighted cobble-paved streets with open
cutters belonging to the creole sections.
Almost could, the three imagine them
selves in old Spain as they passed the
rows of dark houses closely shattered
at doors and windows, with only glimpse
now and then of flag paved courtyard.
Like an Arabian Nights Tale il seemed
until the old St. Louis Hotel and it's
slave block brought to mind the reality
of the terrible days of Civil War.
Many interesting things did the three
find to do in this metropolis of the south
land. A visit to the old French market,
with it's quaint stalls containing every
kind of edible; ride through City Park
where the duelling ground under the
HuSC WHio"o D1ouSuI UdCh W memory
the day of chivalry; and thirty mile
sail upon the calm waters of the great
Mississippi. Of course, Jeff. Davis
monument, the big cathedrals, and the
cemetery with its peculiar method of
building resting places Cor the dead
above ground were given due attention.
All three were somewhat shocked in
their New England consciences by tho
fact that New Orleans considers the
Sabbath Day-to keep it holy almost
not at all. All places of amusement and
many stores were open, and except for
early mass and service at the few Prot
estant churches. the day was like all
others.
The next stop was at Houston, Texas,
a very modern, clean looking city. Their