Year: 1873

with those people whose uncomfortable
curiosity leads them to spend large sums
of money in visiting the notable places in
other sections. Practically. their money
is their own, and they are at liberty to
spend it when and where it may suit them
to do so. Neither do we use ii as an az
gument against the propriety Of those who
can afford it, or think they can. of running
off to the North or Europe for five or six
months every year. that one-tenth part OF
the money thus squandered would give US
beautiful parks, fountains. drives and
places of resort. These, in turn, would
invite strangers from abroad pleasure
seekers-to come here and return at least
portion of the money our citizens carry
abroad and lavish so recklessly on North
ern and European publicans, linen dra-
pers. funkeys and race courses. The
value Of the property of our most
inveterate absentee would be increased
by making New Orleans worth visiting;
his income from rentals would be more Of
course, and he would come nearer to RI
valing that New York shoddyite whom he
met at Saratoga last season, and who gave
two parties to his one. We can not call
in question the right of the richer classes
to spend their money in such manner as
suits them; but we do protest against
their rushing through all the fashionable
places of another civilization, having
their spree out. and returning here to
grumble at the way their neighbors have
conducted their business. If our absen-
tee has been unable to outshine some sprig
of Northern aristocracy by reason Of
thin bank account. we simply say we do
not care q straw about it one way or
another. But if he comes back after hav.
ing spent all the money be could
borrow and begins to complain
that his embarrassments spring from
Radical rule. high taxes and no
business. we defend by saying he is more
TO blame than any one else. For by
squeezing all the money out Of this COM
munity that he possibly can, and then
carefully spending it so far away from
home that it is not likely to find its way
back, he does all that he can to drain the
city Of its wealth. If we were SO situated
that our city would at one season OF an
other invite visitors we should get back
q portion of the money squandered On
sight seeing. Bul we have not in this
whole city one object Of interest which
makes it worth while for man to remain
over night. The balance of trade is,
therefore, against us. While our absentees
lavish money on other places, we have no
sight-seers coming here to bring it back.
One man dies, and when his will is
opened we find the bulk of his property
goes to Spain. Another, who came here
without a sixpence, but scrapes together
quite fortune leaves his gains to rebuild
an old rickety church in Ireland. And
yet the tax collector is always an object
of aversion to all Of this class of people.
When Louisiana, or the city of New Or
leans, asked for dollar to improve a
street or sustain charity. one fellow
would recollect his shoddy. rival at Sara
toga, whom he was determined to lay over
next season, and refuse to pay. Another
would -ecollect that he had that morning
made division Of property between his
Spanish heirs. and found there was just
enough to give them each a round amount


A third was absorbed with the idea Of
rebuilding an old country church, and
doubted whether he would die possessed of
enough money to attract attention in the
proper quarter. Each of these wrotched
specimens Of citizenship had a hobby--one
wanted all the money he could raise. to
crafty his vanity another. was boarding
for his heirs the third. was putting his
superstition before his duty to his adopted
State. All three were intent upon sys-
tenn or policy which is ,uinous to this
State. and yet all were agreed in ascribing
our troubles to radicalism and carpet
baggery. 1t is such men and such infu-
ences that control what there is of public
opinion in New Orleans. Men shut their
eyes to the most palpable evils of our sys-
TEN. and lay all the blame upon an alb
straction. In the meantime. absenteeism
is fashionable; it is practiced; it is on
the increase. and curses this community
more than our local extravaganza.


We hope when our wanderers return
next fall from Europe or any Of the North
ern fashionable resorts. they will not at
tribute the dattened condition Of their
pocket-books to radical rule. high taxes,
deprecated State credit, nor to anything
in short save their own extravaganza and
folly. For the people are not SO easily de-
ceived as many suppose. They generally
call things by their proper names. and
give man credit for all he is entitled to.
hypocrisy included. We are willing that
as many shall 60 as choose to do so. All
We ask is. that after spending many
months in dissipation and squandering
money which they as good citizens could
put to better uses. none Of them shall
come back and put on airs over citizens
who have remained at home and attended
to their own business. After having done
all they can to impoverish this city they


should not publish anonymous articles in
the Picaypos TO show the blame is on
other shoulders. If they will not do this
they may do as they please with their