The Natchitoches enterprise., 1919-02-06
Little Journeys Into the Past

A. P. o. FOG American E. F.
Little Journeys Into the Past
1t certainly is annoying to have
such service as we are getting from
the railroads these days." she adj
mitted, ''but l can recall my first
trip to Na,chitoches, and it took
several long days, tho New Orleans
was MY starting point"
l waited patiently while she re-
threaded her needle and resumed
work on a sturdy gray Belgian ref
ugee shirt, for knew would hear
an interesting "reminiscences.
That was just a little less than
fifty years ago." she resumed, and
there was no railroad, of course,
but travel, like everything else, in
those days. was a matter of leisure
ly enjoyment. There was a steam
boat line which piled regularly be
tween New Orleans and Shreveport
snd we could land at Grande Ecore
and take the hack over to Natchi-
toches, or, if the river was high
enough, the boats could come right
on down Cane and land in front of
the old Lecompte building. We
were as thrilled at the sight of the
John B. Maude and the b. L. Hodge
stopping at our town as you all
were over those airplanes this win
ter! The Mississirpl river packets
we're side. wheel steamers, while
those that usually went up its trib-
utaries were the smaller stern
wheel type.
Well, we left New Orleans on
Saturday afternoon, and should
have reached here Tuesday morn
ing, but while we had no stops at
Cypress we had other uncertain
ties in the shape of sand bars,
which dotted the rivers and on the
edge of which our boat often stuck
for hours at a time. l can recall
later trips when we were held in
front of Alexandria a half day, and
various other waits above Grande
Ecore.
But this first trip: the boats were
really palatial affairs, furnished in
heavy ornate style of the early sew
ent;es, with cabin" richly gilded
and carpeted, with imported fit
tinss- Our statsreemsAwereeo ms
Portable If tiny and there was al
ways = special bridal suite,
There was only one chambermaid,
but while tips were unknown in
those days, your Uncle E. knew
The lubricating effect of a dollar,
and we certainly received close at
tention The meals lavish, we'll
cooked and served, and the dining |
room extremely POPULAR
did you have anything special9"
interrupted eagerly.
'Special9 We had the best New
Orleans-and the country-could af-
ford. Let me see, l remember we
lad gelatin, and that was my first
Introduction. It looked 80 pretty
n it's ornate glass dish-I recall how
The movement, of the boat made it
luiver...... After dinner we vouldd
gather in the cabin for music, for
here was always some one aboard
Who could play 1.-The Maiden's
Prayer" or Listen to the Mock
ng Bird" on the fine piano."
But what did such q trip costa
Several days-and meals-and all2"
The fare was S15 inclusive. Re-
wasL't it9 Many people OF
eisure made the trip for pleasure
nd there we're always gentlemen
dept with the cards, who travelled
on the river boats. Pros
erous planters and merchants we're
sually aboard, and with the ineyi-
able bar and card rooms, such trav
was very pleasant to southern
of that period"
And what did the ladies do2" s
/ found plenty to interest me.
# course the boat carried freight
nd stopped at regular landings a.
'ng the winding river to leave I
oxes. or take aboard sleek cattle,
r bales OF cotton or hogsheads of e
Iolasses. We used to lean over !
'e railing of the guards" and {
atch the dusky roustabouts load I
q and unloading, superintended '
: the 2nd. mate who was easily l