Woman's enterprise., 1922-02-10
GEN. LAFAYETTE IN
BATON ROUGE IN 1925

du Duncan-noW Conrad's Point-the
ANDREW Jackson" whistles up the
river and lands. It is met by the
civic body of Baton Rouge, twenty
four guns are fired, the band plays,
the people shout, silk handkerchiefs
are wet as the mist on the river, old
eyes bright as the sun shining them.
Three Of the friends have met
again-LaFayette! Lafayette! this
beautiful procession comes up to the
river to the old landing place at the
foot of Laurel street, and there the
handsome young mayor, from DaX
afterwards vice-consul to France) !;
Leon Bonnecaze, clad in his gold-em-
broidered crimson velvet cloak ESQ
Mrs. Duncan, his daughter, then two
months old, told me), bowed until
the powder off his hair fell on his
diamond shoe buckles, and read a
welcome to Baton Rouge.
A magnificent body Of men in full
regalia then advanced, and with the
handclasp of the Masonic brotherhood
bade him welcome,
High over their heads Aoated white
satin banners, lettered in gold
L'Etoile Flamboyant and the Lodge
of the Guest. L'Etoile Flamboyant
banner was lowered, and ever after
ward the first brotherhood Of Ma
sons in Baton Rouge was known as
the Lodge of the Guest.
The magnifcence Of banners, vel
vet and diamonds shifts a little, and
gives place to the shades of two hap
py old niggers, old Caroline and 10y
ola Brehilde.
"Den mems toted Marse Lafayette
in de arms up over de heads plum
from dat steamboat to Marse Bonne-
caze's on de corner of Convention and
dat same street what dey change from
de River Road, an some say First
street, to Lafayette street from dat
day. Lord! Lord! man, dat was a
day! All dem Masonic gentums was
here wild dey little ap'uns on. Marse
de Belloise had made de speech to de
river--Miss Katie, she's got Marse
William Hubbses ap'un till yet-an'
Marse Bonnecaze and Marse Isadore
Larguier an Marse Joseph Larguier
an Marse Judge Favrot an Marse
Bouvier Favrot an Marse Shepperd
an a. plenty mo- l disremember-an'
dey give dem all refreshments a set
tin at de rosewood table in de big
dinin' room-den Marse Lafayette
went or de gallery an made de
beautifullest speech ever was-you
could hear dem people shout plum to
de woods"
"Don't I know dat, Niger? Didn't
tote a chair 'roun' behine Marse
Lafayette an set it right behine him
so he could set down any minute he
had a min to? 1t was Marse Shep-
perd's chair what was borrowed for
de 'casion. Don't know dat, mig
ger?"
Keep time to the march, Planchette,
as gilded coach and four white
horses swing into view. The Marquis
rides down to (what was later) Zach
ary Taylor's house at the barracks.
Rub-a-dub goes young Matta's drum
that day, and was echoed in the heart
of madame and demoiselle and many
knight and gentleman who proudly
walked behind in the train to the
marquis.
"The marquis was very much sur
prised and pleased that the Place
d'Armes at the barracks had disap.
peared for the nonce and was filled
with flowers and fair ladies, who
greeted him with refreshments and
joy."
Planchette is good to US, with the
Departed. We are at the reception
at Madame Mears'-take notice-at
the corner of Lafayette and Conven.
tion streets. Monsieur and Madam
French, from just across the way
are there; Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Gay
ARE, Monsieur Alexandra Cusso
blazing with orders from Louis XIV;
Louis Marie Michel Hypolite LaNoue
(the Comte de Vere); Monsieur and
M.l n,,h,ooo. MoJoooo opI nr