, 1922-06-22

mittee to endeavor to obtain q one
cent rate for Wyoming delegates and
visitors to the Fourth National con-
vention Of the American Legion Ia
the first definite step taken by Of
ficials Of the Wyoming Department
to prepare for the big meeting to be
held In New Orleans October 1920.
Department Commander D. W.
Ogflbee has announced the appoint
ment Of the one-cent rate committee
composed of r. H. Nichols, Casper,
chairman; C. P. Plummer, Casper:
Burke H. Sinclair. Casper Marshall
s. Reynolds. Kemmerer. and George
w. Scales, Sheridan.
The beginning thus made to Sc
cure a large representation at tho
Fourth National convention of the
Legion will stimulate interest among
Legionnarires throughout the state,
and many of them already begin to
speculate on what sort of a city has
been selected for the next national
meet. They will be interested to
know that the city Of New Orleans
will furnish them more history to the
square inch than any other city in
America. To the ex-fighter the
famous old port city will reveal the
marks Of two centuries of spirited
existence. inspired by the deeds of
ex-service men OF other days.
Founded by Bienville in 1918, New
Orleans has been under the French
flag twice; the colors OF Spain have
floated over the city. the stars and
bars OF the C~onfederacy. and finally
the Stars and Stripes Of the United
States.
In November. 1862, France trans
ferred Louisiana to Spain without
consulting the. wishes of the people.
The consequent indignation and re-
bellion caused the Spanish govern
ment to delegate a certain Don
Alexandra O'Reilly as governor of
the province. O'Reilly, true to his
name. was a fighter. After execut-
ing many of the foremost citizens, he
managed to restore a type of Flaw
and order" resembling the Roman
peace.
Louisiana was under Spanish dom
nation until 1900, when Spain trans
ferred the province back to France,
This was followed three years later
by the Louisiana purchase. which |
gave to the United States one Of
the most prosperous regions in the
world.
Many buildings intimately identi-
fled with the early history of Louis
ana and New Orleans. will be seen
by Legionnaires in the old French
Quarter. Prominent among these is
the famous Cabildo, a structure of
distinct Spanish architecture, built
in 1875. In this building were held
the ceremonies incident to the
transfer of Louisiana to the United
States.
Adjoining the Cabildo is the his.
toric st. Louis Cathedral. the oldest
religious edifice In the Mississippi
Valley. 1t occupies a site that was
set aside for religious purposes up-
on the founding of New Orleans in
1913. The present building was CIV
en- to the community by Don Almon-
aster Y. Roxas, a wealthy Spanish
nobleman.
Argonne fighters, who in school
days thrilled at the story of the
Battle of New Orleans. which took
place after the signature of the
peace treaty had ended the War of
1912. will assemble naturally in
Jackson Square. This place took the
name of the famous American gen-|
eral in 1856, when a splendid equest-
rian figure Of "Old Hickory" who
defended the city against the invad-
ing British forces, was unveiled. The
American troops. led by Jackson In
1915. assembled here before march
ing TO Chalmette. where the complete
rout OF the trained British army
took place.
Within three hundred yards OF
Jackson Square stands the French
Market. the first building OF which
was erected by the Spanish about
1891.
One of the most interesting build
1ngs in the vicinity Of the French
Market is the house at 514 Charities
Street. intended early in the nine
teenth century as the home of Ma
poleon. The idea was conceived of
taking the captive emperor from his
prison at St. Helena. and rushing
him to New Orleans before the coup
was detected. The promoters of the
scheme fitted up the home in sumpt-
GUS style. engaged a swift vessel, and
were preparing to launch the bold
enterprise when news of the death
OF Napoleon reached New Orleans.
A death mask of Napoleon. made
Immediately after his death by DR..
Antomarchi. his attending physician
and a former resident Of New Or
leans. was given to the city and now
occupies a prominent place in the
Louisiana State Museum in the
CRbildo.
The "Old Absinthe House. Haunt
cd House." and numerous other in
teresting buildings are preserved to-
day as reminders Of the past. The
home OF Lafitte, the notorious
pirate. may still be seen. "Mardi
Cras." as a world-famed festival. will
always be remembered at the men,
tion OF the "old" New Orleans. The
balls. pageants and other contribut-
ing features had their inception in
1897. when the scions OF old French
= "a illnr adaaaalaA L. naAla iAallAA