The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-04-19

The St Louis, or Royal hotel, stands
in the heart of the French quarter.
The original building, costing $1,000
600 erected in 1885. was completely
destroyed by fire in 1871, but another
was Immediately erected on the same
site and soon reached a degree OF
splendor almost unparalleled in the
United States. 1t was the resort OF
the wealthiest planters and largest
shareholders in the South. The lower
rotunda was used for a slave mart.
The old slave block is still in the
building and the names of the auc-
tioneers are engraved on the walls.
Henry Clay was entertained in this
building with a dinner costing S20,O00.
1t has been statehOuse and be-
sieged fortress.
But the most noted hotel in the city
is the st. Charles hotel, the third
structure bearing the same name. The
first was begun in 1885. The rotunda
was world-famed. A dome 40 feet in
diameter surmounted the edifice. The
hotel was the resort of the wealthiest
were famous. In 1851 it was de-
stroyed by fire. The second hotel was
erected in 1852. In its parlors Jeffer-
son Davis and number of Southern
leaders met on their way to the
Charleston convention in 1860. In
1862 Mr. Hildreth refused to give Cen
eral Butler accommodations. resulting
in a serious disturbance. General But
Ter finally succeeded in obtaining pos
session and stayed there few days.
In 1865 the impoverished Confederates
were entertained there free. The bills
contracted amounted to $4,000 and
have never been sent out for coliec-
ton. The historic building was de-
stroyed by fire April %, 1894. From
the ruins, like magic, sprang up the
present hotel.
The Jackson monument by Clark
Mills. was set up in 1916 at cost of
100000, Henry Clay making the dedi-
cation speech. The inscription on the
granite base was cut by General But
ler's orders during the Civil war. 1t
reads 1.-THE Union must and shall be
preserved
Haunted Hsuse and French Market.
Another interesting house is the
Haunted House. located at Royal and
Hospital streets, which was occupied
In 1913 by Nine. Lalaurie who treated
her slaves with great cruelty, starving
and torturing them to death. Her bar
barous acts being made known to the
public, forced her TO fleet to France,
where she subsequently died. Many
slaves were chained in this building
and after her flight human bones were
found in the rooms. 1t is said that
ghosts of the murdered slaves can be
seen on dark and stormy nights.
To see the French market at its best
one must visit il in the early morning,
Sunday above all others. 1t is the
most remarkable and characteristic
spot in New Orleans. Under its four
blocks of roof every language is spoken.
Gascon butchers, Moors Italians and
German vegetable women, Chinese,
Hindus, Jews, Teutons French and
almost every other nationality gather
here for business.
st. Louis cemetery, No. 1. is the old
est in the city. There numbers of the
most noted citizens of the state and
city are buried. among them Charles
Gayarre, the noted Louisiana histori-
an, and Oscar Dunn, colored lieutenant
governor under Yarmouth.
Another interesting cemetery is the
Metairie cemetery, organized in 1872.
At one time it was the race track of
the Metairie Jockey club, for over 81
years the most noted race track in the
United States. The track went out of
existence in 1870, when Charles It.
Howard, a wealthy citizen, bought it
and turned it into cemetery. On this
plot stands the monument-tomb of the
Army of Northern Tennessee, sur
mounted by Doyle's famous equestrian
statue of Albert Sidney Johnston.