THE CONSTITUTIONAL
[ALEXANDRIA, LA]
August 4, 1860 –
June 1, 1861
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860,
masthead
C. W. Boyce, Proprietor; Benj. Turner, Publisher, "The
Union—Esto Perpetua"; vol. 1, no. 1
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 2,
c. 1
For President, John Bell, of Tennessee.
For Vice President, Edward Everett, of Massachusetts.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 3,
c. 7
Summary: Advertisements
for the Ice House Cigar and Fruit Store, and the Ice House Saloon at the Ice
House Hotel.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 4,
c. 3
Summary: Advertisements
for the Magnolia Coffee House, and Billiard Saloon; The Eldorado Coffee House,
and Billiard Saloon; The Jewel Coffee House and Billiard Saloon.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 4, c. 3
W. O. Dammon,
Painter, Glazier
and
Paperhanger.
Would respectfully inform the citizens of the town of Alexandria and the parish of Rapides, that he has opened a Show in this town, one door below the Fulton House, where he is prepared to do all kinds of
Painting, &c.
All orders from the country for work, will be promptly attended to.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 4, c. 3
J. Goulden.
House Sign &
Ornamental
Painter,
Glazier, Paper
Hanger, and Imitator of
Wood and Marble.
Flags, Banners and
Transparencies
Executed in Short
Notice.
Plantation work strictly attended to. Shop in the rear of Rapides Hotel, on the corner of Third street.
References:
E. Johnson, S. K. Johnson, Druggists, W. O. Winn, and Dr. S. P. Ward.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 4, c. 6
Eagle Line.
Great Eastern and
Western
Line of Stages.
Central Route
Through Louisiana
and Texas.
From Alexandria
Louisiana,
--To—
Nacogdoches Texas.
Connecting with the Eastern Mail at Alexandria, from New Orleans, also,
with the Western Line of Stages, from Nacogoches to
Douglas,
Linwood,
Alto,
Crockett,
Cincinnati, to
Huntsville.
Also, connects with the Line of Stages to
Tyler, and to
Henderson
and
Mount Pleasant.
N. C. Taylor,
Proprietors.
Stages leave Alexandria three times a week, for Nacogdoches, Tuesday's,
Thursday's, and Saturday's fare through from Alexandria, to Nacogdoches, $15.00,
to Milam, $11.00, San Augustine, $12.50, Cherino, $14.00. Passengers taking this route, will be certain to connect with
all of the above lines, and will be Put Through with dispatch.
Stage Office at the Ice House Hotel.
Thomas Clements, Agent.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 4, 1860, p. 4, c. 6
To the Ladies!
Mrs. A. Legras has just opened, at her Store on Front Street a large and well selected Stock of Spring and Summer
Millinery Goods
consisting in part of the latest and most fashionable Bonnets—
Mohair,
Silk, White
Chip, White Neap-
olitan,
White Braid,
Italian Straw
English Straw
Swiss Straw,
Pedals, &c., &c.,
Ladies Riding
Hats, Flats, children's
Hats, all
descriptions. spring and Sum-
mer Mantles, Lama
Lace Points, Black do,
Black Laces,
Valencienne Lace, Fans, Gloves,
Braids, Ruches,
Artificial Flowers, Parasols,
Berthe Caps, Black
Chantilly Lace Veils,
Black Silk Lace
Veils, Fancy Cmbs,
Embroideries of
all descriptions
Buckles, Plums
latest style
Corsets, Hook
Skirts,
Lace Capes, Lace
Caps, Also
the lar-
gest and best stock of
Ribbons and Dress
Trimmings
in the market. Ladies will please call and examine for themselves.
Dress Making.
Ladies who are desirous of having Dresses, &c., made up in the latest
and most fashionable style, can always be accommodated by calling on Mrs. Legras.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 13, 1860, p. 2,
c. 1
The ladies of the Episcopal Church will hold a Fair at Cheneyville on
Thursday evening, 20th Sept., 1860.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 13, 1860, p. 2,
c. 5
Diabolical Abolition Plot in Texas.—The Origin of the Late Fires.—D.
Pryor, editor of the Dallas Herald, publisher in the Houston Telegraph of
Thursday, a letter giving the details of one of the most diabolical plots ever
concocted by fanaticism.
Before quoting from the letter we must give expression to the hope that
each one of these sleuth hounds of abolitionism may meet with the fate of John
Brown and his bandits.
The particulars briefly are, that the fires occurring in various parts of
the country on the 8th, aroused the attention of the people.
On the 12th inst. Mr. Crill Millers house was burned.
Suspicion fastened on his negroes. They
were arrested, and in the course of the examination the particulars of the plot
were elicited.
It was determined by certain abolition preachers who were expelled from
the country last year to devastate, with fire and assassination, the whole of
Northern Texas, and when it was reduced to a helpless condition, a general
revolt of the slaves, aided by the white men of the North, in our midst, was to
come off on the day of election in August.
The object in fireing [sic] the town of Dallas was to destroy the arms,
ammunition and provisions known to be collected here.
The stores through the country containing powder and lead, were to be
burned, with the grain, and thus reduce this portion of the country to
helplessness. When this was
accomplished, assistance was expected from the Indians and Abolitionists.
Each country has a special superintendent, a white man, and each laid og
[sic] into districts, under the supervision of a white man, who controls the
action of the negroes in that district. The
negroes are not permitted to know what is doing outside of their immediate
sphere of action. Many of our most prominent citizens are to be assassinated
when making their escape from the flames of their burning homes.
Arms have been discovered in possession of the negroes, and the whole
plot of insurrection revealed for a civil war at the August election.
I write in haste; we sleep upon our arms, and the country is deeply
excited. Many whites are implicated
whose names are yet unknown to the public.
Blount and McKimmey, the abolition preachers, are expected with a large
force to be here at that time. We
are expecting the worst, and know not what an hour may bring forth. We may have to call on the lower counties for assistance; no
one can tell—excitement, and distrust.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 13, 1860, p. 4, c. 2
Evans House.
White Sulphur
Springs,
Catahoula, La.
The undersigned respectfully begs leave to inform the public in general,
and his old friends in particular, that he has lately purchased the above
mentioned establishment at the White Sulphur Springs, which he has entirely
renovated and furnished with neat and new furniture, and is confident that he
has prepared everything for the accommodation of travellers and the public
generally, who may wish to visit that well-known place for amusement and
recreation during the coming season.
His table will at all times be supplied with the best the market affords.
His rooms are large and comfortably furnished.
His Bar will at all times be supplied with the choicest
Wines,
Liquors,
And Cigars,
and he has lately received a new and splendid
Billiard Table.
It may not be amiss, for the information of those who are not acquainted,
to say that the Evans House is situated on a beautiful rising ground—about one
hundred yards North of the White Sulphur Springs, situated in the Parish of
Catahoula, State of Louisiana, and about twenty-five miles from Alexandria, and
thirty-three from Harrisonburg, on the public road leading from Natchez by
Alexandria to Texas, and it is located in the high and healthy Pine Woods, about
one half mile from Trout Creek, where the finest of trout fishing will afford
the greatest amusement to those who wish to pass time in that way.
The undersigned acknowledges his gratitude to his old friends and the
public generally for the patronage bestowed upon him during the time he done
[sic] business at the White Sulphur Springs Hotel, and earnestly solicits a
liberal share of patronage at the Evans House, where he will always be ready and
willing to receive and accommodate all who may favor him with a call.
Joseph P. Ward.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 1, c. 6
Rotation of Garden Crops.
By "rotation in a vegetable garden" is meant a regular
succession of crops, so that the same kinds shall not immediately follow each
other. For as plants of the same
sort consume similar elements of food, contained in the soil, it follows that
their continued cultivation on the same spot will more or less deprive the land
of the constituents upon which they feed.
The simplest rule, as to rotations of annual and biennial vegetables, is,
that they should succeed each other as nearly as possible in different classes.
For instance—leguminous class (peas and beans) which have deep growing
roots, should be followed by some of the numerous cabbage tribe, such as
turnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, carrots, parsnips and other roots should again
succeed the cabbage tribe; while onions and other bulbous-rooted vegetables may
again follow the root crop. Onions,
however, make a remarkable exception, as they can be cultivated on the same spot
successfully for many years, if the land is liberally manured.
Let it be remembered, that no soil to which manures are properly applied
ever requires what is called "rest," as it never becomes
"tired," as it were, of producing.
All that is necessary to be done, is to refresh it with those substances
which may have been consumed by the plants it has nourished.
If left uncultivated by the hand of man, it will produce rotations of
natural grasses, weeds, or trees, rather than remain at rest.
The greatest profits are realized in a garden in which the crops are
raised and consumed in rapid succession. the
market gardener who can clear out a square of any particular vegetable in a
single week, and immediately re-sow or re-plant it with another, makes more off
his ground than he who disposes of his crop but slowly, and yet does not break
up his square before the whole has been cleared off. Thus, instead of selecting up and down in a square the most
forward cabbages, it may be better when the ground is wanted and the season
presses, for a new crop, to cut off any other.
The loss of a good season may be the consequence of waiting for a further
growth, even for a single day.
Few vegetables are more benefitted by a proper rotation, than cabbages.
Somehow or other in spite of all manuring, the land constantly devoted to
cabbages will be tired of this crop, and show it by several diseases, such as
"clump-roots," "lice," and others, while a proper rotation
is the best remedy against this evil.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 2,
c. 1
Indian Fracas.—On Thursday afternoon last, a murderous conflict
occurred between a number of Indians, in the rear of the Ice House Hotel, which
resulted in the killing of two of the redskins.
A family feud of Montague and Capulet intensity had been existing for a
long time, which, by the aid of whisky, found active exhibition on the afternoon
aforesaid.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 2,
c. 3
Collegiate.—We have been favored by our friend, Mr. C. L. Walden, with
copies of the catalogue of the Mount Lebanon University and the Mount Lebanon
Female College. Of the former, that
ripe scholar and courteous Christian gentleman, Rev. W. Carey Crane, A. M., is
President. The catalogue indicates
an eminently prosperous career, the students numbering 112.
The Female College, under the Presidency of Rev. J. Q. Prescott, bids
fair to take a prominent position in the ranks of institutions devoted to the
culture of females. The students number 105.
While referring to this institution, we would suggest a reformation in
the rules and regulations of female colleges.
It occurs to us that these rules are of too puritanic a character.
Let us not be misunderstood. The
inculcation of sound moral principle we hold to be perfectly compatible with the
largest liberty of intercourse. Arbitrary
restraint produces the very results which are sought to be obviated.
Worse than all, this sort of restriction inevitably leads to deceit and
recklessness. Show a woman that you
trust her, and your confidence will never be abused. The implied idea of the generally adopted rules and
regulations of female colleges is a doubt of the moral principle of the student.
We trust that a change will be made in the treatment of female students.
Both of these institutions are located at Mt. Lebanon, La.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 2,
c. 3
Education.—The attention of the reader is directed to the dual
advertisement, in another column, the under head "Education."
Rev. J. P. Bellier gives notice that his school for boys will be reopened
on the first Monday in September. The
"Ladies of the Holy Cross" also announce that they will resume their
school for girls on the first Monday in October.
Parents and guardians will take action accordingly.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 2,
c. 4
Public School House.—By reference to our advertisement columns, our
readers will perceive that the Directors of the Fourth School District,
advertise an election for the purpose of testing the sense of the qualified
voters of that district in relation to the erection of a public School House,
for the town of Alexandria. The
election will take place on the 17th of September.
Let no voter fail to express himself in the affirmative.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 3,
c. 4
Chamomile.—A decoction of the common chamomile, it is said, will
destroy all species of insects, and nothing contributes so much to the health
for the garden as a number of chamomile plants dispersed through it. No green house or hot house should be without it, in a green
or dried state; either stalks or the flowers will answer. It is a singular fact that if a plant is drooping and
dying—in nine cases out of ten it will recover, if you plant chamomile near
it.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 20, 1860, p. 4,
c. 1
Turnips.—This is a most important crop for planter and farmer, though
not yet appreciated fully. A
distinguished English statesman has said that England could better afford to
lose its navy than its turnip crop. Therefore,
plant largely; it is indispensable as a winter forage.
We will, hereafter, describe the best and most profitable way of feeding.
If you have not already prepared your land for turnips, do it at once,
pulverizing it thoroughly by several plowing and cross-plowings.
If you have no land which recently has been cow penned, sow guano or
phosphate (250 lbs. per acre) previously to the last plowing, and turn it under
immediately. Sow in rows, at such
distances as to allow the turnips to be worked with "Knox's Improved Horse
Hoe," if you have this excellent implement. Make arrangements to sow often and largely, commencing early,
as it is sometimes extremely difficult to get a stand. Make your first sowing about the 20th of this
month and if that should fail, try again every 10 days until the last of
September, and your perseverance will be crowned with success. Guano, superphosphate of lime, broken bones, or a compost of
woods mould or well rotted stable manure with crushed bones and ashes, are each
and all proper fertilizers for the turnip crop. The manure may be applied in the drill or put on plentifully
broadcast, and plowed in well. The
Rutabaga, Red Top (strap leaf,) Early Flat Dutch, Yellow Aberdeen, Norfolk and
Globe are all good varieties—the two first, fifth and sixth being the best for
field culture. As food for stock,
we believe the Rutabaga is conceded to stand foremost. [Southern Cultivator.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 25, 1860, p. 2,
c. 2
Don't forget the Pole raising to-day.
It will take place about 12 o'clock.
Every thing has been arranged, all friends of the Union candidates will
please be on hand. Addresses will
be delivered by Messrs. Marr and Ogden.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 25, 1860, p. 3,
c. 1
The Ladies' Fair, to be held at Cheneyville, La., has been postponed to
the 4th of October.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], August 25, 1860, p. 4,
c. 1
Queries for Census Takers.—Interrogatories to be Put to the
Ladies.—How many new dresses does your husband allow you a year, and how often
was your last winter bonnet "done up" before you had another?
Are you almost or quite worried to death by Bridget, and how often does
she demand a day out?
How many evenings in the week is your husband detained late at the office
or store on business, and does he belong to a Lodge?
If so, how many "special meetings" does he attend in a month,
and has he ever been called upon to sit up with a sick brother?
Does he smoke? Does he chew?
Is he in the habit, after being kept late at the "office," the
"store" or "Lodge," of taking copious draughts of ice water
the next morning?
Does he allow you to open his letters?
Does he ever grumble when asked to take you to the opera, and is he
limited in his ideas on the subject of gloves?
Does your mamma visit you frequently?
What is the average length of her stay?
What sentiment does she entertain towards your husband?
Interrogatories for Gents.—State your grievances on the subject
of buttons.
Are you familiar with the words "brute" or "wretch,"
and have you ever heard them applied to yourself?
Do you know the meaning of a curtain lecture?
Are you on good terms with your mother-in-law, and if not, why?
What are your ideas relative to the influences of shopping?
Did you ever hear any comparison made between the style in which you live
and the style in which the "Browns" live, who are "not half as
well off as you?"
How often in the course of a year does your wife warn you that
"you'll be sorry for it when she's gone?"
Do you always tell the truth when asked "Where you have been?"
and if not, how often do you do the other thing?
Does your wife belong to a "sewing society," and if so, what is
your opinion concerning the "old cats" who meet there?
How many times per annum do you have to wait for your dinner, and on such
occasions what is your average state of mind?
Have you any friend (?) whose example as a husband you have been
requested to follow?
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p.
2, c. 3
The Douglas men will give a grand Barbecue on Saturday next. It is expected that some of the most distinguished speakers
in the South will be present. There
will be a chance to hear all sides of the question.
Arrangements are being made to accommodate every body and the "rest
of mankind."
We hope that men belonging to every party which will be supported in the
South will be on hand, as they then can discern the "true path to
tread."
The ladies God bless them! they are expected to be present in large
numbers, as upon them rests the stability and permanency of our glorious
institutions. Much depends upon the
women of America, they should instill into the minds of their children those
noble principles, which have been handed down to us by the fathers of the
Revolution.
The Union of these States will then be ever safe.
It is a proud duty and we know that every patriotic women [sic] in the
land will endorse it.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p.
2, c. 3
One great difference between Japan and the United States is, that if you
insult a man there, he rips himself open; while if you insult one here, he rips
you open.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p. 2, c. 4
The Pole Raising.
It was apparent to the most casual observers on Saturday last, that
something unusual was about to occur to break in upon the dull monotony of our
town. At an early hour in the day
people commenced coming in from the country and by 12 o'clock quite a large and
respectable crowd had gathered to assist in raising the Bell and Everett pole,
announced to take place at this hour. . . .
Shortly after the conclusion of the last address, amid the shouts of the
multitude and the booming of cannon, the pole was elevated to its position, and
the national ensign was unfurled to the breeze, having inscribed upon it the
names of Bell and Everett.
Upon the summit of the pole, 125 feet high, is placed a gilded figure of
a bell. Some of our Democratic
friends, with a puerile attempt to be witty, remarked that it has no clapper.
Their favorite figure has been a rooster, but we never heard that the
figure crowed, and now that the Democracy is divided, we have yet to learn which
faction owns the famous rooster.
Our figure is but symbolical of that great National Bell which will ring
out in November next, on occasion of the mighty resurrection of dry bones among
which there is now such a shaking.
The proceedings of the day were characterized by much enthusiasm,
convincing all that Bell and Everett have a deep hold upon the hearts of the
people.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p. 2, c. 5
Catahoula Wide
Awake!
Great Out-Pouring
of the Union
Men at the White
Sulphur
Springs!
Tremendous Enthusi-
asm!!
The Whole Parish in a
Blaze!!!
One of the largest and most enthusiastic political meetings ever held in
the good old parish of Catahoula, took place at the White Sulphur Springs, in
that parish, on Saturday last, the proceedings of which will be found below.
It shows that the friends of the Constitution, the Union and the
Enforcement of the Laws, are up, and are nobly going on with the good work.
We have no doubt that when the ides of November come, Catahoula will roll
up a good old fashioned majority in favor of our gallant and patriotic standard
bearers, Bell and Everett. May
success attend the efforts of our friends in their noble efforts.
A great number of ladies graced the occasion by their presence.
This speaks well for the cause of Bell and Everett.
We are sure that the eloquent and true-hearted patriot, Everett, is a
favorite with all the ladies who honor the name of Washington. . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p.
2, c. 6
On Thursday night about 10 o'clock a fire broke out in or near the store
kept by a Mr. Davis, situated on the corner, in the rear of the Rapides Hotel,
commonly called "Tucks Row," the whole of which was burnt.
The loss we suppose is about $4,000.
It was by the greatest exertion of the firemen and citizens that the
Rapides Hotel was saved as also the residence of Mrs. Bogan both buildings being
closely connected with the row of buildings which were burnt. The latter building was saved by the use of buckets alone.
It was no doubt the work of an incendiary.
We have no doubt that this is the continuation of that damnable plot
which was concocted and has laid in ruins a number of towns in the State of
Texas.
Our citizens should be on the alert and every suspicious character who
arrives here should be made to leave forthwith.
A strict watch should be kept every night for there is no telling what a
night "may bring forth." We
shall have more to say upon this subject next week.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p. 2, c. 7
State Seminary of
Learning and
Military Academy.
We are informed that Col. Sherman has succeeded in procuring at
Washington a large number of Minnie rifle muskets made especially for the use of
Cadets, together with other arms and accoutrements, so that he can now fully
equip a corps of two hundred and fifty cadets.
That looks like getting the sons of Louisiana ready for any emergency of
civil war or servile insurrection that may arise; the thanks of the people of
the State are due Col. Sherman for his promptness and efficiency, not only in
this important matter, but in everything that pertains to the good of the
Seminary.
We also learn that steps are being made to secure Bragg's famous
"Buena Vista Battery," which gave the Mexicans "a little more
grape," and the Presidency to Genl. Taylor.
Col. Bragg generously offers to purchase it for the Seminary if the
authorities at Washington can be induced to part with it.
While speaking of the Seminary, we should correct a wrong impression in
regard to the admission of cadets for next session.
It is generally believed that no one can be admitted who has not
obtained, before the beginning of the session a special appointment from the
Superintendent, this is not so. The
session commences the first of November, and any one between fifteen and twenty
one years of age, with a knowledge of the primary English Branches, who presents
himself in person at the Seminary, may be received as a cadet.
It is already known that there will be a large number of cadets next
session, and probably more will apply for admission than the building can
accommodate. We would then advise
those who wish to reap the advantages of the Seminary, not to fail to be present
by the first of November, else the opportunity might be lost.
We will also warn the public not to judge of the course of the study by
that of most other Military Institutions, where very little attention is paid to
literary studies. The Board of
Supervisors of the Seminary being firmly of the opinion that a thorough study of
language is one of the best means of mental discipline and development, has
determined that every facility shall be given for literary culture. Hence there will be taught a very extensive course of ancient
and modern languages.
As the Seminary educates, free of cost, one cadet from each Parish and
four from the city of New Orleans, we hope the city and Parish papers will join
us in laying the above facts before the public.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p.
3, c. 1
We learn that the free public school in this city will open on Monday
next under the superintendence of M. J. Flanigan Esq., who is said to be an
excellent Teacher.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 1, 1860, p.
3, c. 1
We are pleased to announce to our citizens that Miss E. Losee's young
ladies academy will re-open on Monday next.
Miss Losee is an excellent teacher and should be liberally supported by
our citizens in her efforts to keep up a school—such a one as our community
has felt the [illegible] of, for a long period of time.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 8, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
Tradition is more frequently the inventor of fiction than a preserver of
truth.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 8, 1860, p. 3, c. 3
[From the Union Bell.
Bell and Everett.
Tune.—Wait for
the Wagon.
By May Knevyt.
This is the finest country
On which the sun o'er set,
And the truest men to rule her
Are Bell and Everett;
They'll break apart the chains of shame
With which Buchanan's bound her,
And soon will give her name to fame,
With glory's flag around her.
Then come to the polls, men,
Come with your votes, men,
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, men,
For Bell and Everett.
The Eagle of our Liberty
Is in Disunion's net,
And the strongest men to free him
Are Bell and Everett;
Once more he'll proudly soar aloft
To bear our Country's weal,
The Constitution in his beak,
With Union for the seal.
Then come to the polls, men, &c.
Our ship of State is sinking fast,
Abolitions on her set,
And the only men to save her
Are Bell and Everett;
They'll set her, soon, afloat again,
And upon the troubled sea,--
Our lands again, the home will be
Of the brave and the free.
Then come to the polls, men, &c.
The clouds of war are gathering,
O'er head they've nearly met,
And the bravest men to stay the storm,
Are Bell and Everett;
They will light a sun of glory
That will melt away the gloom,
And they'll bury Abolition
And disunion in one tomb.
Then come to the polls men, &c.
Then let each patriot heart, men,
On our country's weal be set,
And carry the next election
For Bell and Everett;
They'll make her history's page, men,
Fairer than o'er its' been,
And a greater, prouder name, men,
They'll for "the Union" win.
Then come to the polls men, &c.
They'll make each foreign pow'r men,
That may glance at us with scorn,
Look on, admire, and fear, too,
The land of freeman born;
So they'll ne'er again an insult
Dare to cast upon our home,
Whilst her name will be a shield, men,
For her sons where'er they roam,
Then come on with your hearts, men
On certain victory set,
Come with your patriot votes, men
For Bell and Everett.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 8, 1860, p. 4, c. 1
Gardening for Women.
There is nothing better for wives and daughters, physically, than to have
the care of a garden—a bowerspot, if nothing more.
What is pleasanter but, to spend a portion of every passing day in
working among plants and watching the growth of shrub and trees and plants, and
to observe the [illegible] of flowers from week to week as the season advances?
then how much it adds to the enjoyment to know that your own hands have
planted and tilled them, and have pruned and trained them.
This is a pleasure that requires neither great riches, nor profound
knowledge. The humble cottage of
the laboring poor, not less than their grounds may be adorned with pet plants
which in due time become redolent with rich perfume, not less than radiant with
beauty, thus ministering to the love of the beautiful in nature.
The wife or daughter that loves home and would seek ever to make it the
best place for husband and brother, is willing to forego some gossiping morning
calls, for the cultivation of plants and shrubs and flowers?
The good housewife is early among her plants and flowers as is the
husband at his place of business. they
are both utilitarians, the one may be in the abstract, and the other in the
concrete, each as essential to the enjoyment of the other as are the real and
ideal in human life. The lowest
utilitarianism would labor with no less assiduity for the substantial things of
life, but would in addition seek also with diligence those things which elevate
and refine the mind and exalt the soul.
The advantages which woman personally delves from stirring the soil and
snuffing the morning air are freshness and beauty of cheek, brightness of eye,
cheerfulness of temper, vigor of mind and purity of heart.
Consequently she is more cheerful and lovely as a daughter, more
dignified and womanly as a sister, and more attractive and confiding as a wife.
Hence the fruits or products of garden culture as they relate to woman,
when viewed objectively are but small relatively as compared with the benefits
secured in regard to herself as the centre of social refinement and enjoyment
amid such a world as ours. A
husband who revolves round such a centre cannot but be a good neighbor, a useful
citizen, a kind father, a loving and confiding companion.
Do not then, mothers and sisters, the latter wives in prospect, neglect
the garden.—Exchange.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 15, 1860, p. 2, c. 4
The National Democratic Barbecue.
The citizens of Rapides turned out in large numbers on Saturday last to
attend upon the barbecue given by the friends of Mr. Douglas, and to listen to
the eloquent Soulé who it had been announced would deliver an address on the
occasion.
Preparations were made on a very extensive scale, and everything passed
off creditably. The gathering was
larger than any political assembly held here during the present campaign,
numbering nearly a thousand persons, and must have been fully twice as large as
the Breckinridge barbecue sometime since. We
observed that a considerable proportion of the fair sex graced the occasion by
their presence, showing that their warm hearts are now, as ever, true to the
UNION.. . . .
The dinner hour having now arrived, the people crowded around the tables
spread in Court House Square, and did full justice to the sumptuous repast which
had been so liberally provided for their wants.
The big gun also was brought into requisition during the day, ever and
anon pealing out its thundering tones.
The spirit and enthusiasm of the day was sufficient to convince all, that
old Rapides is firmly opposed to the disunion schemes of the Breckinridge
faction, and the friends of Mr. Douglas may justly congratulate themselves on
the respectable turnout of their party.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 15, 1860, p.
4, c. 1
Such is Life.—A jotter down of doings in Saratoga says that a gentleman
from New York, married and wealthy, visited the springs last week with his
nephew "Charley"—a bright handsome youth, who attracted the envy of
the men and the attention of the ladies. Charley
rode, smoked, drank, and did many other fashionable things, and was what might
be called "fast." One day
he drank too much, and in consequence talked too much, stating among many funny
things that he was a she—and that "Charley" was a
woman. This proved to be a fact,
and on the development the married New Yorker and the female Charley left for
elsewhere.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 29, 1860, p. 2, c. 4
Make Way for the
"Old
Gentleman."
Rapides Opposed to
Dis-
Union.
"Silence That
Awful
Bell."
700 Union Men on
the
Ground.!!!
Great
Enthusiasm!!!!!!
In accordance with the request of the Executive Committee, the friends of
Bell and Everett rallied in large numbers on Saturday evening last, at the rooms
of the Constitutional Union Club of Rapides, to take part in the grand
torch-light procession, announced for that evening.
It was a success in the fullest sense of the word, realizing our most
sanguine expectations, showing that even here in the very hot bed of
"Fugitive" Democracy, the Union cause has a strong hold upon the
hearts of the people; that it is a power full of life, vigor and energy,
marching onward silently, keeping its own counsels, but like the resistless
waves of the ocean, advancing with constant increasing force, and arriving at
victory over the prostrate forms of secession and disunion.
The procession started from the Hall at an early hour, headed by a wagon
carying [sic] a huge bell, with a transparency at each of the four corners,
bearing the motto, "THE UNION IS OUR WATCH WORD." Throughout the procession were distributed something over
three hundred and fifty flaming torches, thirty-four tri-colored transparencies
representing the thirty three States and District of Columbia, and a number of
larger transparencies with appropriate devices and mottoes. One represented the glorious old ship
"Constitution," about to be dashed upon the rocks, but fortunately the
sound of the fog "bell" is heard in time to rescue her. Another represented John Bell's negro man with a bell
requesting the defaulting post-masters and office holders to "walk up and
settle," and another portrayed Douglas and Breckinridge busily engaged in
sawing the platform apart, while Lincoln coming up with a rail under his arm,
remarks, "I always split 'em." Bringing
up the rear was another wagon containing the members of "The Union Glee
Club," who enlivened us occasionally with their spirit stirring songs.
As the procession paraded through the various streets, with their huge
bell pealing out its long loud notes, the long imposing array of flaming lights
and transparencies, the glorious song and cheer after cheer ascending up.
Democracy sank away abashed, disheartened, while aloft was borne another
note to the grand old song of the Union, which will chime in with the great
National symphony on the sixth of November next.
After completing the circuit of the town, the crowd repaired to the Court
House square and were addressed by Col. A. N. Ogden, and Major John Kelso. . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 22, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
Our citizens will please notice the advertisements of Messrs. McKinney
and McClour to be found in another column.
They have opened a new Butchery and are prepared to furnish planters,
citizens and steamboats, with a choice article of Beef at six cts. per pound.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 22, 1860, p.
1, c. 5
Our city is improving fast. There
is no less than eight or ten new brick buildings going up at this time and more
in contemplation.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], September 29, 1860, p.
3, c. 3
The Ladies of the Episcopal Church will hold a Fancy Fair at Cheneyville
on the evening of the 4th of October.
Doors open at ½ past 7 o'clock.
On the evening of the 5th of October (Friday,) will be enacted
from 10 to 12 Tableaux Vivant. Doors
open at 8 o'clock.
Entrance to the Fair Room 50 cts.
"
"
" Supper
1 dollar.
"
"
" Tableaux 1 dollar.
Children half price.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 6, 1860, p. 2, c. 3
Breckinridge Pole
Raising and
Mr. Elgee's
Speech.
On Saturday last the friends of
Breckinridge and Lane raised their flag pole, and as customary this event was
made the occasion of a great demonstration of the strength, resources and
enthusiasm of the party in this parish. The
attendance was quite large and respectable; the raising of the pole, an
operation supposed to be more or less precarious, was most happily achieved and
the first part of the dedication was creditably performed by the glee club. . .
.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 6, 1860, p. 2,
c. 5
State Seminary.—This institution will commence its next regular annual
session on the 1st November. We will not here set forth the many
advantages of this excellent Seminary of learning as we have repeatedly done so
heretofore. Suffice it to say that the Seminary is situated in the very heart of
Rapides, and has an able corps of Professors.
Parents who have sons to educate, and are desirous of promoting home
education, should patronize the "State Seminary of Learning and Military
Academy." For particulars see
advertisement.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 6, 1860, p. 2,
c. 5
Erratum.—In our last issue we stated that Messrs. McKinney &
McClure sold beef at 6 cents per lb. It
was a mistake. It should have been
8 cents per lb., the customary price.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 6, 1860, p. 2, c. 7
Louisiana State
Seminary
of Learning and
Military Academy.
The 2nd Session of this Institution will commence 1st
November and continue, without vacation, till 20th August, 1861.
Terms of Admission: The
applicant must be between 15 and 21 years of age, of good moral character, and
well versed in the primary English branches.
Expenses of the Session.
Tuition, Board, Washing, Lights and Fuel
$220
Uniform Clothing, Text Books, Stationery, Medical Attendance and Rent of
Fixed Furniture
$120
A Deposit of $200 must be made First of November.
Each Cadet must bring with him Bedding, the minor articles of Room
Furniture, or purchase them at the Seminary at a cost of $30
He must also bring a supply of under clothing.
For further information apply to
Col. W. T. Sherman,
Superintendent,
Alexandria, La.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p. 1, c. 1
Dressing for Church.
Has anybody heard the bell?
You have?—dear me, I know full well
I'll never dress in time—
For mercy's sake, come help me, Jane—
I'll make my toilet very plain,
(This for the sake of rhyme.)
Here lace this garter for me—do—
A hole you say? plague
take the shoe!
Please, Janey, try and hide it.
I know it's Sunday; but my soul,
I cannot wear it with a hole!
The men will surely spy it.
They're always peeping at our feet,
(Tho', to be sure they need'nt peep
The way we hold our dresses,)
I'll disappoint them, though, to-day,
"And cross myself," pray did you say?
Don't laugh at my distresses.
How beautifully the silk will rustle!
(Please hand my "self-adjusting bustle,"
My corset and my hoop,)
There, now, I'll take five skirts or six;
Do hurry, Jane, and help me fix—
You know I cannot stoop.
"How shall I say my prayers to-day?"
As if girls went to Church to pray!
How can you be so foolish!
Here, damp this ribbon in cologne;
"What for?" to paint, you silly one—
Now, Janey, don't be mulish!
Now, then, my bonnet, if you please—
The thing's as big as all out-doors,
The frightful sugar-scoop!
Thank heaven, my mantle's handsome, tho'
It cost enough to be, I know—
(Straighten up this horrid hoop.)
My handkerchief and gloves you'll find
Just in that drawer—you're kind;
(Does my dress trail?)
It's all the fashion now, you know;
(Pray, does the paint and powder show
Through the lace veil?)
Thank you, my dear, I believe I'm dressed;
The saints be praised!
the day of rest
Comes only one in seven.
For if, on all the other six,
This trouble I should have to fix,
I'd never get to heaven.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p.
1, c. 4
Hung.—The Vigilance Committee of Henderson, Texas, have hung Green
Herndon and his negro woman found guilty of firing the town.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
Spread of Celibacy.—This is getting to be an alarming fact to the
political economists, and in an article on the subject, "Once a Week"
thus remarks: "The
probabilities of marriage of a maiden at twenty are slightly superior to those
of a bachelor, and incomparably greater than those of a widow of the same age;
but with the lapse of years these ratios change; the probabilities of marriage
at thirty-five being, for a bachelor, cone to twenty-seven; for a spinster, one
to thirty-five; and for a widow, one to five—the attractions of the
widow standing to those of the spinster in the surprising relation of five to
one; or, perchance, that number mystically representing her comparative
readiness to matrimony. Thus the
chance of finding happiness and a home diminishes with years.
The growing disposition to celibacy among the young men of this class,
though in some manner attributable to a selfish and luxurious cynicism, is
chiefly due to the irrational expenditure consequent on marriage, and the
unattractiveness of prospective association with women so unlikely from their
artificial habits, to yield domestic happiness.
If this celibacy frequently defeats the economical consideration deciding
to it (as it should), and ends in much immorality and unhappiness among men, how
immeasurably evil must be its influence on the other sex, and what a violation
of natural law must that social organization be which so harshly represses the
affections, and bereaves so large a class of the support and sympathy they are
entitled to from man! Is the
Rajpoot [sic?] pride that slays a female infant, lest in after-life it should
dishonor its parentage, more cruel than the selfish social system that devotes
it to a solitary and weary life of penury and regrets?"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p.
1, c. 7
Summary: "A
Lady's Voice for the Union" reprinted from the New Orleans Picayune, right
side out of focus due to binding—should be readable in the original.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p.
1, c. 7
Summary: Ladies
Fall Fashions—right side out of focus due to binding—should be readable in
the original.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p. 2, c. 4
Journalism.
The calm and quiet student of life who looks out upon the world from a
stand point somewhat secluded from the broad public gaze, will doubtless record
as among the most powerful stimulants to the moral, social, and political
advancement of the age, the science of Journalism.
That it is a science we presume no one will deny—and the history of its
first development, rise, and subsequent growth to its present enlarged and
commanding position, fills up a most interesting chapter in the progress of the
age.
We think also it may very justly be denominated a science peculiarly
American wherein our great National attributes, of originality of conception,
rapidity of thought, and indomitable energy, find their most complete
development.
In the busy turmoil of our public marts, in the untiring, unceasing,
onward rush of present humanity, it keeps the even tenor of its way, recording
upon the roll of time the history of every passing event.
Describing the every day thought of the world and extracting wisdom from
each appearing scene. Then again,
it is the vehicle of truth and intelligence, gathering information in every
department of life, necessary alike to the merchant as well as the lawyer, to
the farmer as well as the mechanic.
The journalist therefore occupies no mean position in the active world,
his duties are important, his labors are onerous, and alas but too often pass by
unrewarded. Entertaining these
views as to the character of a public journal, we have ever sought to merit the
confidence of the community by a strict regard for those principles of truth and
justice recognized among men, and in discussing the political questions of the
day, or in canvassing the merits of the different candidates, we have always
endeavored to be guided by every feeling of candor and generosity, but we must
confess our patience at times has been severely tried.
The unprincipled manner in which the Democratic party has conducted the
campaign, by mis-statements, by false statements and false charges, is deserving
of the utmost censure. The late
charge of the Louisiana Democrat, that the convention which nominated John Bell
and Edward Everett was composed of political gamblers, men of such distinguished
ability and prominence before the country, and so often honored by the
confidence of their fellow citizens, we considered in this category and our
sense of truth as well as justice was so grossly outraged, that we could find no
words strong enough in which to denounce it, but to call it "a vile
slander." In our remarks
repudiating the charge we learn the editor has taken them as personally
offensive to himself. We take
pleasure in denying that there were any personalities intended.
Entertaining for the gentleman as we have always done none but the
kindest feelings imaginable. What we did mean, was but to express our indignation of what
in our humble opinion was such an unwarrantable accusation.
The last number of the Democrat makes inquiry as to the authorship of our
remarks, to this we can only reply, that by calling at the proper place any
desired information will be most cheerfully afforded.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 13, 1860, p.
2, c. 4
For three weeks the "fugitives" have been making preparations
for a torchlight procession and to-night they have a turnout.
A brass band from the city has arrived to wake up the
"natives." Carts, drays
and wagons have been procured to carry off the dead, so those attending may not
be uneasy about the funeral services not being properly conducted.
The expenses incurred by this grand outpouring will be paid by the office
holders, the money emanating from the poor and the working class generally.
Those sympathizing with the "fugitives" on this occasion and
having any spare "shad scales" which they wish to contribute, will
find several Government officials on the ground who are in every way
trustworthy, and sworn to do their duty.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 20, 1860, p.
1, c. 7
Summary: "A
Musical Petticoat"—out of focus due to binding. Should be readable in original
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 20, 1860, p.
2, c. 1
There will be a GRAND RALLY of the friends of the Union and of Bell and
Everett, their nominee for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency, on
Saturday, Oct. 27,
at the Court House Square in Alexandria.
The BIG GUN will be brought out on the occasion, and will peal forth
thirty-three times, in thunder tones, in honor of the glorious galaxy of States
which now encircle one glorious center.
The Hon. Randell Hunt and other distinguished speakers will be present.
Come One! Come All!!
Free Discussion
is respectfully invited.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 20, 1860, p. 2, c. 4
Breckinridge and
Lane Torchlight
Procession.
After a vast outlay of means, the long anticipated procession of the
Breckinridge party was made a reality on Saturday evening last.
For the past two or three weeks extensive preparations have been going
on, and no little labor expended in the way of drumming up recruits to make it a
demonstration every way worthy of the "unterrified" Democracy.
All ages were brought into requisition to fill up the ranks, but
notwithstanding all their efforts, they were only able to display about equal
numbers with the late demonstration of the Constitutional Union party.
Well! taken altogether it
was certainly a very creditable demonstration.
The display of lights and transparencies, of which there was a great
superabundance, of course, had a most pleasing effect.
The music from the band was very entertaining, and served to enliven the
otherwise solemnity of the occasion. There
were several rockets thrown off, but unfortunately the whole of them
exploded—rather a forewarning for all Union men to separate themselves from
the dire schemes of disunion. It is
said the caricatures were all taken from the "Rail Splitter," a Black
Republican sheet published in the North. Whether
or not true we cannot say; if so, however, it gives great weight to the charge
of fusion between Breckinridge and Lincoln.
the great efforts put forth here by the Breckinridge party are truly very
commendable, and well worthy a better cause; but we are sorry to say we cannot
wish them success, and thereby obey the precept "rejoice with them that do
rejoice."—Doubtless were the success of Mr. Breckinridge dependent upon
the parish of Rapides he would be our next President, but unfortunately this
parish is but a small speck upon the wide extending plains of Columbia, and we
think the gloomy prospects of Mr. Breckinridge elsewhere are rather calling for
lamentation than exultation, which indeed draws out our sympathies in the sad
duty of condoling with their sorrows. We
cannot rejoice over disunion; our only motto is that simple grand and glorious
one of John Bell, "The Union is our only safety."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 20, 1860, p.
2, c. 4
We are under especial obligation to the proprietors and publisher of the La.
Democrat for the loan of their "Eagle" for the purpose of
embellishing our posters for the grand Union rally which takes place next
Saturday.
The "Eagle" is the grand emblem of American freeman, and, as
has been truly said "the British Nation may have their Lions and their
Unicorns, but the American Eagle soars high above them all."
May it ever be thus, "and may it never spread its wings "Over
the dismembered fragments of a once glorious Union."
We ordered an "Eagle" some time since, but it has not yet
arrived. Our friends of the Democrat
will please accept our thanks for the favor.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 27, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
An Editor's Hardest Work.—Every one who has had any experience in the
newspaper business will heartily concur in the views presented by a Virginia
paper, in the following article: "Many
people estimate the ability of a newspaper and the industry and talent of the
editor, by the quantity of editorial matter it contains. It is comparatively an easy task for a frothy writer to pour
out daily columns of words. His
ideas may flow in one everlasting flood, and yet his paper be a meagre and poor
concern. But what is the labor and
toil of such a man, to that imposed on the judicious, informed editor, who
exercises his vocation with an hourly consciousness
of its responsibilities and duties to devote himself to the conduct of
his paper with the same care and assiduity that a sensible lawyer bestows upon a
suit, or a humane physician to a patient, without regard to show or display.
Indeed it is but a small portion of the work.
The industry is not even shown there.
The care, the time employed in selecting is far the most
important.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 27, 1860, p.
2, c. 4
It will be seen by perusing our advertising columns, that Mrs. A. Legras
has sold out her interest in the Millinery and Ladies' Fancy store on front
street to Mrs. M. A. Zenker, and R. Legras Esq.
The business will be hereafter carried under the firm and style of M. A.
Zenker & Co., at the same place. They
have made arrangements to be always supplied with all articles of Millinery and
Fancy goods. Dress making done to
order. We know that the will be
well patronized.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 27, 1860, p.
2, c. 6
The most disgraceful slur upon the poor man appeared in the Breckinridge
torch-light procession at Alexandria on the night of the 13th inst.
The transparency bore upon it, a lean haggard individual with his clothes
worn thread bare and torn, with his rifle, leading a dog of lean and miserable
appearance, with the motto, "a DOUGLAS VOTER."
Are the poor men of our country to have slurs of this kind cast upon
them, because they see proper to vote for the man of their choice, by a set of
office holders who have been living for years off of the poor man's hard
earnings.
The poor man has rights, and we know they dare maintain them. We wish that every man in the parish could have seen it.
They would not support men who would dare attempt to cast redicule [sic]
upon them on account of their poverty.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], October 27, 1860, p. 3, c. 3
To the Ladies of Rapides.
Mrs. Zenker has just returned from New Orleans with a large and carefully selected stock of
Ladies Fancy Goods
and Paris Millinery, which she invited the Ladies to call
and examine, feeling assured that her selections cannot fail to please the most
fastidious.
No Lady in this Parish has any excuse for sending abroad for any article
of dress, for she can be supplied at home with as good and as fashionable an
article as can be had in New Orleans or elsewhere, with the advantage of being
able to make her own selections.
Mrs. Zenker would call the attention of the Ladies to the
Dress-Making,
Department of her Establishment. She is now prepared to cut, fit, and make garments of every
discription [sic] for Ladies and children, in the most fashionable style and at
a short notice.
Mrs. M. A. Zenker & Co.,
Successors to Mrs. A. Legras.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 3, 1860, p.
1, c. 7
Note: Unfortunately,
the "Ladies' Department" column is always on page 1, column 7, and is
almost always out of focus due to the curve of the binding.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 10, 1860, p.
1, c. 2
{From the Printer's News Letter.
The Country Editor.
Editors seem particularly to delight in complaining of their lot, and
some of them, we have not the slightest doubt, would like to have a law made,
that for robbing and cheating an editor, the penalty should be capital
punishment. When they chance, in
common with other men, to have their pockets relieved of a few dollars, or their
sanctum of a coat, they speak of the robbery as so cruel and unjust, as though
they were the poorest of all classes of respectable men in the world.
They have excellent opportunities to lay their grievances and privations
before the public, and probably receive much sympathy in return, as the legs of
venison from the east, legs of ham from the west, the rounds of beef from the
north, which mysteriously find their way into editors' sanctums, can testify.
City editors are more addicted to this fashionable complaint than those
of the country, and for their benefit we will just glance at a few of their
humble brothers' troubles, and perhaps the contrast will serve partially to ally
the irritation of mind which seems to force their pens into the habit of
complaining.
The farmer stops his ox team before the door of the printing office of
his native town, and with his whip over his shoulder, calls on the editor to pay
his yearly subscription. The
editor, perhaps wishing to draw out a complaint, asks him how he likes the
paper. His reply will be that it is
"first rate, only there is not quite enough said about farming," and
as the greater portion of his subscribers belong to that respectable class, he
advises him to read books that treat upon raising cattle, potatoes and corn.
he thinks he has some of the best books to be found on the subject of
farming, and kindly offers to lend them, for which he receives the editor's
thanks. The next morning the
farmer's son calls with two bound volumes of an agricultural paper published a
dozen years ago, with certain articles marked for the editor to insert, one
which recommends very highly a plough patented fifteen years before.
Next comes a pompous young man who has seen two or three productions of
his own in print, and who has the most exalted idea of his own abilities, to
tell the editor, confidentially, that he does not publish original matter enough
in his paper. He is satisfied there
is native talent enough to fill two papers the size of his, every week, and is
perfectly willing to do his part of the work.
The editor begs him not to write any more at present, as he has already
on hand more than a half bushel of original manuscript. The young man turns very red, and gives vent to his anger by
telling the editor he is afraid to publish his articles, and have them
contrasted with his editorials.
Another young gentleman, of studious, literary habits, but devoid of
worldly experience, drops in and expresses his distaste for all the simple or
exciting stories of the day, and proposes to the editor that he commence
republishing one of Scott's novels, to be continued weekly, and the news of the
day would in his opinion, make an excellent family paper.
A pretty, romantic young lady calls, who wishes the editor would print
more love stories and more poetry. She
thinks his paper is too dry.
Then comes the sedate, mater-of-fact man, who would like to have all the
light reading discarded, and the paper, if it would be profitable to the editor
in a pecuniary point of view, and he has no doubt it would be filled with solid
philosophical matter. He has long
wished to see one country paper devoted exclusively to the sciences.
Next follows the minister of a neighboring village, who expresses as
gently as possible, his sorrow that the editor does not devote more space to the
"one thing needful," and proposes to write a few articles on religion,
that will not offend the most liberal thinker.
A few weeks after come an article of twenty manuscript pages, defending
the creed of his church, by an elaborate argument founded on the text of the
Scripture, and because the editor refuses to publish this, the minister says he
is opposed to inculcating the doctrines of the Bible among his readers.
The village politician thinks if his columns were devoted to politics,
his circulation would double itself in less than six months.
One old lady wishes to know if it would be much trouble for him to print
his paper a little coarser, as she finds some trouble in reading it with her
glasses. Another wishes the paper
was'nt [sic] quite so large, as she cannot find time to read all it contains
every week, while a third thinks it ought to be larger, so that the editor can
afford more space in publishing recipes upon cooking and housekeeping.
Each one of these feel that if they help to support a town paper, the
ought to have a voice in determining what it shall contain, so you see, my city
friends, that besides your trials and privations your country brethren are
partially slaves, not belonging to themselves, but being the property of their
subscribers.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 10, 1860, p.
1, c. 4
After the 1st of January, 1861, the coffeehouses in the city
of Shreveport are to be closed on the Sabbath.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 10, 1860, p.
1, c. 4
The shape of a kiss is said to be elliptical.
This must be derived from the sensation one experiences when enjoying the
luxury, for it is certainly a lip tickle.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 10, 1860, p.
2, c. 1
Monday night last was announced for the Bell and Everett torchlight
procession, but owing to the wretchedness of the weather, the turnout was but
small in comparison to their previous magnificent demonstrations.
After the Bell and Everett procession disbanded, the "Whangdoodles,"
some twenty in number, "turned out," dressed in comic costumes, and
disguised with hideous masks, paraded the principal streets of the town.
Their rather comical appearance was quite amusing to all lookers-on.
The "Whandoodles' [sic] is the title of a new order in this town,
and is withal quite a unique concern.
Tuesday dawned clear and pleasant. The
election passed off quietly; less excitement was manifested than perhaps at any
Presidential election ever before held in the parish. The utmost order prevailed throughout the day.
The town presents quite a lively and flourishing appearance. The "dengue" (an unpleasant visitant) has, we
believe, totally disappeared from our midst; navigation is fairly resumed; our
planters are busy harvesting their crops, which we regret to say are
comparatively small; business of all kinds is getting brisk; money market is
unchanged, and politics is slightly on the decline.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 10, 1860, p.
2, c. 1
The members of the "Rapides Mechanics' Association" are
requested to meet at the Constitutional office on Monday evening next, at 7
o'clock, to take into consideration a matter of importance concerning the
Association. The Treasurer will
please be on hand.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], November 24, 1860, p.
2, c. 1
We consider it our duty to call the attention of the citizens of the
parish, to the position in which the whole Southern country is placed by the
result of the recent Presidential election.
We consider it to be the duty of the people of each Ward to organize
themselves in such a way, as to protect themselves from "enemies without or
foes within." It is
unnecessary for us to explain our reasons for this notice, as they are known to
all. A strict surveillance should
be kept up.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 8, 1860, p.
2, c. 6
We are requested to state that the steamer BANJO will be at Alexandria
with a celebrated Troupe of Minstrels on or about the 26th inst.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 8, 1860, p.
2, c. 6
The new Court House is progressing slowly.
We expect that it will be finished about the year 1875, if Gov. Mills
should live that length of time. If
not, there is no telling that it will ever be completed.
We have hope however that the Gov. will do his best while he does live.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 8, 1860, p.
2, c. 6
We publish by request the following preamble and resolutions, of the
Board of Supervisors of the State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy.
Adopted at their late meeting:
The Board of Supervisors having had the subject of the Cadets Commons,
all the various complaints, and all the testimony relating thereto, under
consideration; and having made personal examination of the fare themselves, have
come to the conclusion that many of the complaints are whimsical and capricious;
that the fare is generally as abundant and of as good quality as can be
furnished here for the price paid; and more so from the best evidence that the
Board is able [to] get than at most of similar Institutions.
The Board is well aware that no Cookery can always be kept up to
the same point; if it is generally good, an accidental occasional defect
should not be complained of, it is only habitual defects in fare and Cookery,
that should form sufficient ground for complaint.
Therefore,
Resolved, That the Board does not feel itself justified in either
censuring the Steward on the one hand, or increasing the price on the other; the
regulations of the Institution, together with the provisions of the contract
with the Steward, affording an easy and open road to the Cadets themselves, for
redress of any well grounded complaint.
Passed December 5th 1860.
Alexandria, La.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p.
1, c. 2
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
1840 and 1860.
It seems but recently since we were in the midst of the political
campaign of 1840, yet twenty years have flown since that year of humbug, log
cabins, hard cider and gold spoons. Twenty
years is a great period in the life of man, and a whole generation have grown up
who have no recollection of the days of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."
It is difficult to realize the fact that 1840, with all its memories, has
faded back so far into the history of the past, and that we now stand as far
from that era as we did in 1840 from the date of the Missouri Compromise of
1820; yet, when we look around us we see the indications of the tremendous
ravages which time has made and the momentous changes he has wrought.
Nearly all the statesmen of 1840—those who were connected with the
administration at that time—are in their graves, or have long ceased
participating in public affairs. Of
Mr. Van Buren's cabinet of 1840, John Forsyth, Secretary of State, Levi
Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury, Mahlon Dickinson, Secretary of the Navy,
John M. Miles, Post-master General, Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney General, Joel
R. Poinsett, Secretary of War, are all dead save Butler.
There is not a man in the United States Senate who was there in 1840.
Nearly all of the prominent Senators are dead, such as Clay, Calhoun,
Webster, Silas Wright, col. Benton, Berrien, Preston, Poindexter and Choate.
In the House of Representatives, save Thos. Corwin, we look in vain for
any of the members of 1840. General
Jackson and John Quincy Adams, venerable ex-Presidents, were then on the stage
of action and exercising a great influence on public affairs. Two of the chiefs of political strife in 1840, Mr. Van Buren
and John Tyler, still alive, in extreme old age, but long ago ceasing to take
part in the strife of the times. In
other respects, what mighty changes have these two brief decades that separate
us from 1840 witnessed! What a
difference between the United States of 1840 and the United States of 1860!
Not a mile of telegraph wire then in all our borders; few railroads
completed—scarcely any in the West; stages and steamboats the general method
of traveling; the daguerrean art, invented in 1839, hardly known in 1840;
seventeen millions of people in the United States then, nearly double, or
thirty-two millions of people now; California, Oregon and our Pacific coast, now
the seat of flourishing members of the American Union, as little known to the
people almost as the centre of Africa is now; gold scarce and hard to obtain,
now it comes almost at the rate of a million dollars a week from California.
when we looked at Europe, we beheld Nicholas of Russia, Louis Phillippe
in France, the Duke of Wellington in England, Metternich in Austria, as the
great representative men of that continent.
They have all gone!
The youthful Queen of Great Britain, then just married—now a
grandmother! Hardly a steamer upon
the ocean, and fifteen or sixteen days considered a quick passage to Europe. The vast continent of Australia has been lifted up from the
mists of the southern ocean, which had obscured it from the light of
civilization, and become a great member of the family of nations, with an
illimitable future before it. The
twenty years past have indeed been active ones in the history of the world, and
will keep the pen of the future historian busy to record their momentous events.
The twenty years from 1820 to 1840 were comparatively quiet and
unimportant. The world was taking
its rest, and recovering from the tremendous shocks and the unparalleled
exertions of the wars of Napoleon and the French Revolution of 1789.
What a retrospect flashes across our memory as we look back to 1840! The annexation of Texas; the war with Mexico; the conquest of
California; the French revolution or rather the European revolution of 1848; the
downfall of Louis Phillippe and the rise of Napoleon III; the coup d'etat;
the alliance of France and England against Russia; the Crimean war; the struggle
before Sebastopol—a siege which has no parallel in modern times; the mutiny in
India; the war of France with Austria, and the appearance again of the French
eagles upon the Italian plains, from which they had been so long banished.
At home the rise and progress of the abolition agitation, which has been
marching steadily to the overthrow of our Union and the destruction of our
national prosperity, has been one of the leading features of the times. We saw its germs in 1840, when Birney, as an abolition
candidate for President, received but seven thousand votes in the United States.
Then it was neglected and despised.
Little or nothing was said about Slavery in 1840, outside of the small
band of Birney fanatics. Log cabins, hard cider, coon-skins and gold spoons,
intermixed with something about the currency and hard times, were then the great
themes of discussion and political dispute.
Trivial and contemptible as was the electioneering trash and slang of
1840, how infinitely preferable to the pestiferous issues which have been made
between North and South in 1860! What
patriot would not like to see now a national and political campaign conducted
without the appearance of the inevitable negro! Who would not rejoice to see the harmony and fraternal
feeling which characterized the intercourse of the States in 1840, again
returned! Politics were then
national, having their adherents in every State in the Union—not as now
divided upon geographical lines. From
1840 to 1860 we had a continual and unnecessary wrangle in the United States
upon this slavery question. The
strands of our Union have been frittering away with a slow and gradual process. It has implanted the bitterest feeling of sectional hate
between brethren—between States of the same Union.
No bondsman has been freed, no benefit has occurred from it to any human
being! Still it is going on
with accelerated pace and there are not wanting prophets who tell us that this
second from 1840 will witness the final of the American Union as now
constituted!
When we look at the changes since 1840, we are filled with wonder as to
what will be the condition of the world and of this country in 1880, another
period of two decades. The men
to-day, who are now acting their parts upon the busy stage of public life, will
have vanished as completely as those of 1840 have now.
What an effect it would have on the actions of many, if not all of our
people, could the great scroll of future history be unloosed by the hand of
Omnipotence, and its mighty events—its tale of individual short-sightedness,
of party madness and national convulsions—be exposed to view!
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
Beef-packing in Texas.—The Jefferson Herald says that Mr. H. H. Black,
of that town, has commenced operations in his extensive packery, with ample
preparations to carry on the business as extensively, during this, as the
previous seasons. He has recently
made great additions and numerous improvements to his packery, and
notwithstanding heavy loses [sic] sustained last, goes to work this year with a
hearty good will, determined to show to the world that the business can and will
be profitably conducted. The
extensive packery formerly owned by Messrs. Staney & Nimmo, is now in the
course of rapid renovation, under the supervision of Mr. E. Price, of New
Orleans, who will, we understand, commence slaughtering on Wednesday.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p.
1, c. 6
A Sensible Conclusion.—The Atlanta Ga., American, after certain
calculations, in which figures don't lie, concludes, "Sixthly, all who re
in favor of civil war, starvation, ruin, desolation, robbery, arson, murder and
the utter destruction of the South, should go for Disunion if Lincoln is
elected."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p. 1, c. 7
Well Turned.
A young lady, over the signature of "Kate," sends the following
spirited article to the New Orleans True Delta.
We think she gives fashionable young men a well merited rebuke.
Her remark, "It will never do to commence the work of reform
entirely on one side," is worthy of consideration.
She entitles her piece "How to educate Young America:"
["] I read in a paper the other day, that some new ornamental
branches in young ladies' education were "Cook-ology, Spin-ology
and Weave-ology." All
honor to the projector of so happy an improvement, but allow me to ask, when our
young Misses become such pattern housewives, in what "circles" will
they look for suitable companions? Not
in upper tendom could they be found. Just
fancy one of the bewhiskered, bescented, moustached exquisites in companionship
with one of Solomon's maidens, who layeth her hand to the spindle, or plyeth the
flying shuttle, or compoundeth rare cookery.
What affinity would there be between them? The same that exists between the butterfly and the
honey-bee—one all glare and glitter and frisking movements, and the other all
patient industry and sobriety.
I cannot think of a more useless article, or one more out of place, in a
room where work is progressing, than a fashionable young man.
He knows so little about matters and things, that I feel in pain until he
is safely lodged in the parlor, among the other things more ornamental than
useful—annuals and bijouterie.
It will never do to commence the work of reform entirely on one side.
I propose three branches to be added to the list of studies
for finishing young gentlemen fashionable:
Saw-ology, Chop-ology, Split-ology, and that in
addition to the requisite number of "sheets, towels, spoons and napkin
rings," each pupil be furnished with a new wood-saw and ax, well sharpened,
and daily exercising with them to be practiced.
It will supersede the necessity of gymnasiums.
In our onward march to perfection, and in taking up the accomplishments
of our grandmothers, we earnestly beg that some provision may be made against
being cut off from the "best society;" and such would be the result
unless the lords of creation are willing to keep pace with us.
Their lily hands would scarcely, with present views, be willingly united
with those which bear marks of labor; and what a dreadful state of affairs would
occur in upper snobdom, if one of the "first families" were to
marry beneath their dignity?
Hasten, then, the glorious era when walking-sticks shall be converted
into hoe handles, crotchet-hooks into knitting needles, and quizzing-glasses and
flirtations be known no more.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p.
2, c. 3
The party given by the members of the "Cotillion Club," at the
Union Hall, on Wednesday evening last, was well attended by the belles and beaux
of our city. Our young men seem
determined that the "political crisis" shall not affect their social
enjoyments.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 15, 1860, p.
3, c. 2
Notice.—The Steward of the State Seminary of Learning and Military
Academy will pay the prices hereinafter stated for the articles mentioned below,
the same to be delivered at the Seminary:--
500 to 1000
Pumpkins..........................................................5 cents each;
Sweet
Potatoes......................................................................$4
per bbl.;
Turnips..................................................................................$1
per bushel;
Poultry...................................................................................$2.50
per dozen;
Eggs.......................................................................................25
cts. per doz.
I will also pay a fair price for other vegetables brought to the
Seminary.
B. Jarreau
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 22, 1860, p. 1, c. 2-3
Country Life.
Within the last forty years country life has quietly and almost
imperceptibly undergone great changes, and, under the influence of modern
discoveries and inventions, will, ere long, be wholly revolutionized.
The pursuits and amusements of our parents are not our pursuits and
amusements, nor has anything new come in to supply the place of what has passed
away. The whole tenor and
complexion of country life has changed, and that change consists in the country
having become more and more dependent on the towns.
Whether in pursuit of business, pleasure, or information, men leave the
country and visit some neighboring city. Agriculture
is the only rural avocation, and country is mere plantation life.
The private social festive board is rarely spread; the barbecues, with
its music and its dance, is obsolete and almost forgotten; the report of the
following [sic—fowling]-piece disturbs not the slumber of the woods or fields;
the huntsman's horn is not heard, the cry of the hounds, and the clattering
hoofs of pursuing steeds enliven but rarely the dreary monotony of country life.
The boys, like men, look to visiting town for amusement, and neglect
their traps and snares, their guns, and their boats, and their fishing tackles,
their dogs and their riding horses. The
anvil rings no more under the sturdy strokes of the stalwart smith, the
shoemaker has ceased to ply his awl, the seamstress neglects her needle, and the
sounds of the shuttle and the spinning-wheel are forgotten.
Our fields are clothed in living drapery of black negroes, black mules,
black birds, and black crows, and there and there a forlorn looking master or
overseer. Our bodies are in the
country, our souls are in town. There used to be far more variety, more leisure, more
refinement, and more social enjoyment, in the country than in town.
Each farm was a little community, producing within itself most of the
necessaries and luxuries of life, and each neighborhood a little world within
itself, with its store, its post-office, its church, its school-house, its
carpenters, blacksmiths, tanners, tailors, doctors, lawyers and farmers.
Men used to make fortunes in town and retire to the country to enjoy
them. Hospitality was unbounded,
and the guests always in attendance. Now
the tables are sometimes spread, but the invited guests have gone to the city or
the springs.
Men used to go to town to labor and to make money, and return to the
country to enjoy it. How sadly is
this changed. The country is the
scene of mere monotonous agricultural labor—labor neither lightened by variety
nor relieved by amusements. Men
endure country life merely to make money, and go to town to spend it—to cease
work and give themselves up to enjoyment.
Steam, and other modern inventions and improvements, but principally
steam, has effected these great changes, and will bring about, ere long, much
greater. Towns are become the foci
of all art, industry, education, wealth, amusement, and civilization.
They will rob the country at a distance of its wealth and its
civilization, and only shed their enlivening rays over little neighborhoods that
encircle them. countries with many
and large towns will become enlightened, powerful, and wealthy; countries
without them, dreary, poor, ignorant, weak, dependent, and tributary.
It has become cheaper to visit New York or Saratoga than to keep an
equipage to visit our neighbors, and as every one goes now to cities and
watering-places, 'tis there we are most likely to meet with our friends,
neighbors, and acquaintances. Railroads
and steamboats enable farmers to send daily to town for every article they need,
and this breaks up country stores, villages, and mechanic shops.
Men are wholly segregated in the country, and meet each other in the
cities in pursuit of business or pleasure.
Our daughters mope and pine at home, and desire to visit town for
amusement, or for religious, social, moral, and intellectual association.
Our little girls beg to be sent to school in town, in order that they may
see something of the world. Our
boys long for the holidays and hoard every cent they can get, in order that they
may go to town and see the great world—the theatre, the legislature, the
ships, the printing establishments, the factories, and the great stores.
Our wives, too, wish to go to town because there is no society in the
country, because there is nothing going on to improve the minds of their
children, because there are no openings for business or any sort in the country,
in which a talented or industrious child can get a living or attain reputation.
The women all hate the country, and they are right, for in the country
woman is now a mere fixture, with few occupations and no associations.
The domestic manufacturing, sewing, knitting, weaving, cutting, and
making the clothes for her children and the negroes, which she formerly
superintended and took part in, gave some interest and variety to life.
These occupations superseded and done away with, and visiting all tending
downward, has left woman solitary and disconsolate.
The negroes are the most social of all human beings, and after having
hired in town, refuse to live again in the country.
No doubt the census will exhibit proofs of our theory.
It will be found that population increases much more rapidly in all well
located towns, than in the country. This
tendency to aggregate population in the cities, will be of great advantage to
the South, which has all along suffered much from the opposite tendency.
Mr. Jefferson has taught us that cities were evils.
So they are, great evils to distant country people that trade with, but
great blessing to their neighbors. They
afford variety of occupation, increase wealth, and improve civilization in their
immediate vicinities, by robbing their distant customers. They hoard the wealth which their far-off customers make.
The wealth of London, of New York, and of Paris, is not made in those
cities, but transferred to them by trade, from a tributary world.
Agriculture as the sole or common pursuit, impoverishes a people; and the
larger their crops, the greater the draft on their land, and the more rapid the
process of impoverishment.
We must have cities, towns, and watering-places, in the South for country
life is daily becoming more unpopular; and unless we have cities at home, our
rich people will spend half their time and all their money abroad.
We must not leave trade, commerce, fashion, manufactures, taste,
education, and public amusements, to take care of themselves, and to pursue
their natural courses and direction. The
great centers of fashion, trade, manufacturers, literature, and education, are
all without the South, and all exploitate, tax, and fleece the South.
If we let things alone, they will daily grow worse for us; and the great
foreign centers will daily become more wealthy, enlightened, and attractive,
while we daily become poorer, more ignorant, and dependent.
We must make country life tolerable, nay, fashionable, by bringing the
country nearer to the town. We must
have many small towns, and in each State at least one city.
We must have attractive centers at home, or become daily more and more
the tributaries and dependents of centers abroad.
*
*
*
*
*
Town life and country life are both required, in order for the full
development of human character. He
who has lived always in the country is a mere rustic or clown; but he who has
spent his whole life in town, is a far more awkward, uncouth, and artificial
character. His notions are narrower
than the rustic's, because there is more of the world in the country than in the
city. A Londoner is proverbial for
his narrow notions, his bad English, his vulgar conceit, and his uncouth
deportment. But cockneys are not
peculiar to London. Every town
rears them; and the smaller the town the more intense the cockney.
To mistake London for the world, makes a man ridiculous; to mistake a
small town for the world, makes him absurd.
Country youths should spend some years of their lives in business or at
school, in town. It not only varies
and enlarges their experience but it teaches them orderly, systematic, and
industrious habits. Every pursuit
in life is carried on more systematically in town than in country; and men are
more industrious, because they gain their daily bread by their daily work, while
in the country, people, rich or poor, can idle away half their time, and get
along tolerably well. Two years as
clerk in a store in a city, is the proper education for a farmer.
He learns to keep accounts, and becomes habituated to calculating and
balances, expenses and profits, outgoings and incomings.
Merchants always make the best farmers.—De Bow's Review.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 22, 1860, p.
1, c. 5
The Excitement of Intoxication.—The love of narcotics and intoxicating
compounds is so universal, it may almost count as an instinct. Every nation has it in a greater or less degree—some in the
shape of opium, some in smoke, some in drink, some in snuff; but, from the
equator to the now-line, it exists—a trifle changed in dress, according to the
climate, but always the same need, always the same desire. Kings have decreed punishment on the secular side priests
have anathematized on the spiritual; lawmakers have sought to pluck out the
habit, root and branch from their people; but all to no good—man still goes on
smoking, snuffing and chewing; putting "an enemy into his mouth to steal
away his brains," and finding immense satisfaction in a practice that makes
him both an invalid and a madman, and ever quits him till it has laid him fairly
in the grave.—Chambers' Journal.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 22, 1860, p.
2, c. 3
The "b'hoys" would do well to call in at M. A. Grogan's and get
a supply of Fire-crackers, Roman Candles, Serpents, &c., for the purpose of
making a noise during the holidays.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 29, 1860, p.
2, c. 1
Christmas day in our city wore a very dull appearance.
The day was fine, but very few persons were to be seen on the streets.
Money as usual was very scarce. The
colored population seemed to enjoy themselves to an unusual degree.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 29, 1860, p.
2, c. 7
A Rich Obituary.—We clip the following touching tribute to a worthy old
gentleman deceased, from the Memphis Avalanch [sic].
Requiescat in pace:
Died.—On the 6th of November last, at the ripe old
age of 84 years, 4 months and two days, UNCLE SAM, leaving a numerous and
respectable set of friends and relatives to mourn his loss.
The funeral will take place immediately, or at least as soon as decency
permits. As the deceased was
renowned on tented fields and the briny wave, there will be several volleys of
musketry and a few rounds of ordnance fired over his remains. The disease of which my uncle died was African Itch, somewhat
resembling Red River mange, but much more virulent and fatal.
He has been ailing for a long time, and his complaint had become chronic,
and caused frequent spasms, which he bore with surprising fortitude.
A good many doctors worked on him from time to time, until finally Dr.
Buchanan took charge of the case.—He had several poultices prepared to put on
my uncle's stomach and spleen, but the nurses either never put them on, or else
pulled them off too quickly to do any good.
After my uncle was dead, Dr. Buchanan tried to bring him to by blowing in
his nose and saying some charm word over him.
Then he recommended a coroner's jury of 33 men to sit on the body, but
cousin Hawkins and some other declined because they thought it smelt too bad,
and so a great many of my cousins, seeing that the old man was dead, started
home to tell their mothers about it, and try to comfort them. My uncle had no money about him when he died, but he has a
right pretty property in real estate, which is to be administered on and divided
among the heirs by one Lincoln, who has just taken a lease of the place for four
years. L. is considered a very
honest man. His brother-in-law who
goes in with him, is named Hamlin, and is also a very worthy man.
Orphan Boy.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 29, 1860, p.
3, c. 1
A Secession "White House" and a Secession Bonnet.—A
correspondent writing from Macon, Ga.—where the cotton planters' fair is being
held—to the Charleston Mercury, furnishes the annexed paragraphs:
On entering the home department—a building set a part [sic] for Georgia
contributions—I noticed first the "President's Mansion of the Southern
Confederacy," a miniature White House, of beautiful design, in shell, every
room handsomely furnished, grounds tastefully laid out, and the "peculiar
institution," carrying light wood up the back steps, and sweeping the
gravel walks. This handsome
contribution is from the fair hands of Mrs. E. W. Jeffers, of Macon.
Miss L. L. Winemann, of Charleston, S. C., contributes a "secession
bonnet," dedicated to the daughters of Georgia by a Carolina sister.
The materials of the same art of Georgia
wool, very tastefully combined; a ruche of black cloth, rolled and tipped with
gilt, strings of black home-made woolen, edged with gold braid and a palmetto
embroidered in gold on the tips of the strings.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], December 29, 1860, p.
3, c. 1
A Fair Hit.—The South Carolina fussmakers already begin to talk about
not being coerced to stay in the Union. The
"fear" probably grows out of desire.
This anxiety to be coerced is of the same kind as the strict propriety of
the single Kentucky female, who had a single beau. After sitting up a long time, at a respectful distance, she
suddenly squeaked out, "Quit squeezin me!" The startled Kentuckian exclaimed, "I haint touched
you!" "Well," said
she, "you're goin to, ain't you?"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 5, 1861, p. 2,
c. 6
Doctors.—In olden times, what a reverence was associated with the name
of doctor! A doctor was a man who
by education and practice acquired a reputation which made him an object of
universal respect. He had about him
a retiring modesty, a dignified air—a Solon-like aspect and demeanor.
When he visited the domiciles of our fathers, how suddenly was the
unbridled liberty of juvenile speeches hushed into silence!
How the domestics and girls of sixteen would stare!
What a peeping and squinting all about the house to see the Doctor!
But times have changed. Now
the name of "Doctor" is as common as that of Colonel, or Captain, or
Major. The cognomen is no longer
indicative of profound scientific learning,
or elaborate study of the human system. When
a gentleman is introduced to you as Dr. So-and-so, it is impossible to tell
whether he is a farrier, a pill-vender, a druggist, a magician, a dealer in
magnetic rings, a physiologist or a phrenologist.
Time and change have completely robbed society of its staid, dignified
and old-fashioned "doctor."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 5, 1861, p. 2,
c. 7
That old refuge for rats, both two legged and four legged, the market
house situated on the bank of the river, opposite the Court House, has been
removed by the city authorities. This
should have been done years ago, as its been a perfect nuisance.
The new Market House now nearly completed is a nice building and much
credit is due to the present Mayor and Council for their efforts in behalf of
city improvements.
The new town Hall will also soon be completed.
The Court House is "coming on" slowly.
The iron cornice is nearly up.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 5, 1861, p. 2,
c. 7
Our city authorities seem determined to enforce the law, and all
suspicious looking characters are to be dealt with as the law directs. Nearly every town on the Western and Southern waters is
infested, at this time with a gang of villains.
A suspicious looking character, without any visible means of support, was
arrested in our city this week, who, not giving a good account of himself was
sent to "durance vile" for three months.
There are a number more of them about the place at this time who will be
attended to in due season. They are
closely watched by the authorities.
By making a few examples of these chaps, we will get rid of all such
characters.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 5, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Steamer Banjo.
Wells & Long's
Star Minstrels
and
Brass Band.
Consisting of the following Distinguished Artistes:
T. Chatfield,
Tom
Allen,
Joe Muirs,
Leon Berger,
N. G. Foster,
R. F. Cardella,
W. H. Browdell,
J. Clifford,
J. H. Davis,
J. H. Kinslow,
Ned Winchell,
Master Willie,
W. S. Whitcomb,
F. Pierce.
The above Fourteen Distinguished
Artistes will perform at Alexandria in the spacious Concert Hall, on board the Minstrel Steamer Banjo, on
Monday and Tuesday, January 7 and 8,
Admission, 50 Cents; Children and
Servants, 25 Cents.
Afternoon Performance on second
day for the benefit of Ladies and Children.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Rapides Theatre.—Mr. J. S. Charles has arrived in our city with a
select company of talented artistes, and will open the Rapides Theatre
for a short season, commencing to-night with the greatly admired comedy of The
Honey Moon with the farce of The Stage Struck.
Waiting [illegible] for the afterpiece.
The orchestra is composed of musicians of high talent. It is to be hoped that Mr. Charles, during his brief sojourn
among us, will meet with the pecuniary encouragement his enterprise so richly
deserves.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
The Banjo.—Our citizens have been very pleasantly entertained during
the last two evening by the burnt-cork "artistes" on board this
steamer. There [sic] performances
as usual were highly satisfactory to all—so we judged as we beheld the
continual smiles of the audience. The
vocal and instrumental music were much admired.
WE would do injustice to the entertainment were we to forget Nick Foster,
who seemed to be the life of the company on the occasions above referred to.
His "Old Bob Ridley, "Happy Land of Canaan," etc., kept
the house in a continual uproar.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
A very serious difficulty occurred on Tuesday night last, at about 11
o'clock, in the room in which the game of rondo was being played, between James
Stewart, and John Masters. Some dispute arose between them about a roll of the
balls, severe words passed between them, and finally Masters seized Stewart by
the hair of the head, and beat it against the floor in such a manner as to
fracture his skull.—Stewart died soon after, and Masters escaped. If the city Council will license the game of Rondo they
should employ a special police to prevent such occurrences in future.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p.
2, c. 6
Many a poor woman thinks she can do nothing without a husband, and when
she gets one finds she can do nothing with him.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p.
3, c. 1
Homespun.—Two of our most beautiful and accomplished young ladies
appeared on our streets during the week, dressed in frocks made at the Bell
factory in this vicinity. Hurrah
for southern women and southern manufactures!—Huntsville Independent.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Rapides Theatre.
Manager.....................................................................................................Mr.
J. S. Charles
Stage
Manager...........................................................................................Mr.
John Davis
Open for a Short
Season.
Saturday, Jan'y
26, 1861.
The beautiful
Comedy of the
Honey Moon!
[illegible]
Mr. John Davis
[illegible]
Mr. J. S. Charles
[illegible]
Mr. Frank Rea
[illegible] (from the N. O. Theatres)
Mr. Sherry
Music by the Orchestra.
Leader of the Band Mr. L. S. Campbell.
To conclude with
the Protean Farce of
The Stage Struck
Waiting Maid!
In which Mr. Frank Rea will personate characters and sing four songs.
Prices of admission 75 cts.; Children and Servants 25 cts. Performance commence at 7½ o'clock precisely.
Monday night, Shakspeare's great play of
Hamlet!
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], January 26, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Dancing Academy.
Mr. H. S. Milum respectfully informs the citizens of Alexandria and vicinity that he will open a Dancing Academy at the Fulton House commencing on
Monday Evening,
at 7 o'clock, for gentlemen. The ladies and misses' class will meet on Tuesday, at 3½
P.M.
Mr. M. is prepared to teach the latest and most Fashionable Dances of the
present day, such as Quadrilles, Schottische; Polka, Three-Step Waltz, Gerlitza,
New Siscialienne, La Santrelle, La Cravcovia, La Orientale, Esmeralda, Varsouvie,
Highland Fling, &c.
Tuition for thirteen lessons, ten dollars.
For further particulars consult Mr. M. at the Fulton House.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 2, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
We are informed that the butchers, some of them in and out of our city
have raised the price of beef and pork to ten cents per pound.
The price formerly was eight cents.
They say that their reasons for this, is that they have to pay a higher
price for "stall rent" in the new Market House, than formerly.
We consider this to be an extortion upon the public, and is [illegible]
the advantage of people's necessities and should be met with indignation by any
who have patronized them heretofore. Two
cents per pound extra on the beef and pork sold in this city, would pay the
[illegible] license in ten days and yet these leeches & cormorants would
derive the benefit of the "raise" for the whole year.
We hope that the exorbitant price will not be [illegible], and those
butchers will be sustained who are willing to sell at fair rates.
P. S. Since writing the
above, we learn that our old friend "Jake" is still selling at the
same old price of 8 cts. per pound.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 2, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
The Mute
Magician.—We are requested by the Mute Magician to state that
by some mistake in the arrangements at the Rapides Theatre on Tuesday evening
last, that he could not perform any thing to his satisfaction or show the half
he intended for the occasion. And
finding it still impossible to play in conjunction with the drama, he will fix
up the old Masonic hall on his own hook, where he will be prepared for the
public for one night only. [illegible]
pressing engagements may call him away. Look
out for the Bills.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 2, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Theatre.—The Troupe playing in the city are nightly gaining favor by
their presentations. It will be
seen by the advertisement that Shakspeare's play of Hamlet is to be repeated
this evening by request. The name
of the play alone should be sufficient to draw a full house for the actors, who
are spoken of very [illegible] in their rendition of this great master-piece of
the Bard. Mr. John Davis who
assumes the part of Hamlet, has scarcely his superior on the stage in this
character. His readiness and acting
gave universal satisfaction, and evidence that justly merits high rank in his
profession. Mrs. J. Davis as the
Queen acquitted herself to perfection. Mrs.
Rea as Ophelia won many friends. In
fact the whole play was received with enthusiasm, and we say to the play-goers,
do not miss [illegible], but give them a bumper.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 9, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Theatrical.—The Theatre in our city has been playing during most of the
week to pretty fair houses. On
Monday night Virginius was received with demonstrations of applause.
Tuesday night Othello was performed to a respectable and appreciative
audience, Mr. Charles playing the part of the Moor and Mr. Davis appearing as
Iago. Mr. Charles acquitted himself
in his usual admirable style. Mr.
Davis during his brief sojourn in our city, has earned a reputation as an actor
of no ordinary ability, and as a clever, straight-forward gentleman, he will be
long remembered in this community. Mrs.
Rea and Mrs. Davis gained much praise for the handsome manner in which they
sustained their respective characters. It
is worth the price of admission alone to hear Mr. Rea, the Comedian, who can
make the sorriest one almost "die a-laughing."
The performances of the rest of the company were very creditable.
To-night and Monday night the lovers of the Drama are promised with some
rich treats, and rare ones for this place, on which occasions will be presented
the great plays of Richard III and Rob Roy.
No doubt the house on both evenings will be crowded to overflowing.
As the amusements at the Theatre are of a literary character, and of
especial benefit to our community, and as nearly all the funds collected are
spent in our city, we would suggest to the consideration of the "City
Fathers" the propriety of not charging any license for these exhibitions.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 9, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
The familiar "phiz" of our friend Col. Warner, late of the
Central Organ, has been seen in our city for a few days past.
The Col. has taken charge of the press and materials of the late National
Democrat, which he will remove to Jefferson Texas.
We wish to the Col. all success.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 9, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
The Dawning of a Better Day.
It is with pleasure that we note in our issue to-day, the late evidence
of excellent sense on the part of the State convention.
The defeat of those two arch-tricksters and traitors, Slidell and
Benjamin, as candidates for Representatives to the Southern Convention at
Montgomery, is an omen of good to Louisiana.
It is a promise of better things for our Republic, than those we have
endured for a series of years. It
is a streak of light in the East, after a night of mist and clouds and darkness.
It comes as a blessing. We
hail it as a victory over the powers of darkness.
There is cause for rejoicing and exultation on the part of all good and
patriotic citizens of our commonwealth. . . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Dramatic.—At the Rapides Theatre, this week, we have had several good
performances. Rob Roy, on Monday
night, attracted by far the largest audience of the season.
The performance of the piece throughout seemed to give general
satisfaction. On Tuesday (Mardi
Gras day) the bills announced the "Whangdoodles," a la the
"Mystick Krewe of [illegible]" of New Orleans, would attend the
theatre in a body that night, in mask. From
some cause or other their attendance, in point of numbers, was like
"angels' visits—few and far between."
Mrs. [illegible] Rea, the charming vocalist, took a benefit on Thursday
night, and was greeted with a full house. During
the exhibition of the Tableaux, the flag of the stars and stripes was unfurled,
which sent a [illegible] to every heart, and a great desire was manifested on
the part of the audience, [illegible] the song of the "Star Spangled
Banner." Mr. Frank Rea, as
Toodles, on the same evening, kept the house in a continual "roar."
To-night, we are to have the play of Isabelle, or Woman's Life, and on
Monday night, by general request, the re-production of Rob Roy.
Thursday evening next, the entertaining manager, Mr. Charles, is to have
a benefit, which we hope will be a "rousing" one. Notwithstanding the many setbacks, Mr. Charles has succeeded
in [illegible]ishing a good Theatre in this city, [illegible] our people can
resort for innocent amusement, and no doubt the public will appreciate his noble
enterprise on Thursday next.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p.
2, c. 3
St. Valentine's day was duly, if not very appropriately, observed by the
gay young men of our city. The
Post-office on the 14th inst., was flooded with queer pictures,
styled "comical Valentines."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p.
2, c. 3
The Louisiana Flag.—On Monday, the 11th inst., Mr. Elgee,
chairman of the committee to prepare a flag for the State of Louisiana, made a
report which will be found below. The
Picayune sys that the flag was hoisted in the convention and greeted with the
warmest applause and approbation from the lobbies and galleries, a number of
ladies being present.
The flag, continues the Picayune, is composed of thirteen stripes, blue,
white and red, alternate, so as to represent the thirteen old colonies, as well
as the tri-color flag of France—the Union is a pale yellow star in a square
field of red to represent the national colors of the flag of Spain—thus
grouping together three nationalities, emblematic of the origin of the State.
The following is the ordinance reported by the committee, which was
composed, besides Mr. Elgee, of Hon. A. B. Roman and Hon. C. C. Briscoe—a
Celt, a Creole, and a Saxon:
An Ordinance
To Establish a
Flag for the State of Louisiana.
["]We, the people of the State of Louisiana in convention assembled,
do ordain and establish, that the flag of the State of Louisiana shall consist
and be composed of thirteen horizontal stripes of the colors hereafter
described, and to be disposed in the following order, commencing from the upper
line or edge of the flag, to wit: the
first stripe blue; second, white; third, red; fourth, white; fifth, blue; sixth,
white; seventh, red; eighth, white; ninth, blue; tenth, white; eleventh, red;
twelfth, white; and the thirteenth, or bottom stripe, blue.
We do further ordain and establish that there shall be in the upper, or
chief corner of the flag, a square field, the color whereof shall be red, and
the sides thereof equal to the width of seven stripes, and that in the center of
said field there shall be a star of due and proportionate size, having five
points or rays; and that the color of the said star shall be a pale yellow.
We do further ordain and establish that the said flag, and no other,
shall be the national flag of the State of Louisiana.["]
Mr. Elgee made a very handsome speech explanatory of the reasons which
actuated the committee in adopting the design as the permanent flag of the State
of Louisiana. We regret that our
limited space prevents its publication in this issue.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p.
3, c. 1
The Disunion Flag.—The Courier of the Teche (St. Martinsville) thus
alludes to the secession of Louisiana, and the substitution of the Pelican for
the Eagle:
["]It was a sad sight we saw on Wednesday last.
We gazed for the first time on a disunion flag.
Our readers will not rebuke us, we hope, for childish weakness, when we
confess that a tear of sorrow, heartfelt sorrow, stole unbidden to our eye.
The flag of the Union, our once glorious Union, beneath whose ample and
sacred folds we first breathed the breath of life—under whose stars and
stripes our helpless infancy advanced securely to manhood's prime—that flag of
the brave, the honored, the free, which gave us protection at home and
abroad—which was hailed with respect on the land and the sea—that noble old
banner oft hallowed by triumph, and n'er did succumb, however tattered and
torn—that told of a Union cemented with blood—that waved in proud joy o'er
our great Washington—that gave to the tongue of a Webster and Clay an energy
and eloquence unequalled by man—"the star-spangled banner," with its
heaven-born bird, that grew in its glory as our greatness unfurled—the
American eagle, whose pinions so wide, like an aegis, spread over the land of
its birth, while its eye of fierce beauty shot freedom's bold light—that old
flag of beauty, of honor, renown, "which fond recollection still brings to
view"—that flag of the brave, that device of the wise, whose stars once
resplendent, now yielding to blight, in their fall throw "around us the
light of other days"—that flag lies unheeded, a thing of the past,
and the "pelican" unfolds its lone nest on "the mast!"
The heaven-born eagle has yielded to the earth-born "pelican of the
wilderness."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Musical.
The undersigned, having located in Alexandria, is desirous of taking a
limited number of pupils for the Violin, Flute, Guitar and Banjo, and will also
teach a Brass Band. Lessons given
at rooms to suit convenience of pupils.
L. S. Campbell,
Of the Rapides Theatre.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 16, 1861, p. 4, c. 1
The Kitchen Garden.
[First section of article has a tear down the right side]
The dwarf kinds [of peas], like Tom Thumb, Bishop's Long-pod, scarcely
need sticks and are on this account for town gardens desirable. They should be planted in single rows and as they branch a
good deal, should not be so thick in the row as the taller sorts.
For late peas, such sorts as White and Black-Eyed Marrowfat (the latter
continues longest in bearing), Champion of England, Blue Imperial, and Knights
Marrows, are among the best. Plant
peas at least four inches deep, and they will continue longer in use, and are
less liable to mildew. If they
suffer from drouth between the time they blossom and become fit for use, the
crop will be short.
Early York Cabbage, or the larger early sorts like Early Wakefield, Early
Dutch, Early Drumhead, and Winingstadt, may be sown in a sheltered place, in the
open ground, at once. The later
sorts should not, until later. Radishes,
Beets, Carrots, Onions, Leeks, and Parsnips are also among the first crops
planted. These, with Irish
Potatoes, are about all that need be in haste about.
Plants at all tender, one should not try to get out early, as the frost
will take them.
The best Irish Potatoes we ever had were grown from seed sent us some
years ago by Rev. C. E. Goodrich, of Utica, New York.
This gentleman imported from Chili and other parts of South American both
wild and cultivated sorts, to ascertain if they would not be more free from
disease than our old worn-out varieties. Of
those sent there were several of the original kinds and seedlings from them.
Mr. Goodrich has raised about nine thousand seedling kinds.
We found one of the original sorts, the rough Purple Chili, of good
quality, and very productive. Two
or three of the unnamed seedlings were also desirable as very late keeping
sorts, but what struck us most, as well s all who saw them, was the bright-green
healthy look of the vines compared with common sorts.
We kept them some three years, but one winter "cook got into
them." Those we had reserved
for seed were consumed, and that was the last of that experiment.
We advised Mr. G. of our satisfaction with these sorts, and we are
pleased to see in late numbers of the Country Gentleman, that his Garnet Chili,
New Hartford, and Purple Chili are found in Virginia and other States, to be
most excellent sorts, Garnet Chilis sometimes yielding about four hundred
bushels per acre of sound roots. The
sooner these newly originated sorts that still retain the vigor of their natural
state take the place of our present worn-out, decaying varieties, the better.
The mountain section of Georgia should furnish all the Irish potatoes and
apples needed in the State, and will easily do it, if the proper varieties are
obtained and preserved. If the
Patent Office of the United States had distributed Mr. Goodrich's potatoes, and
left the Japan Yam to the enterprize of Mr. Wm. R. Prince, the country would
have been more benefited thereby.
As to the Japan or Chinese Yam, it is a really good vegetable, but the
task of digging is enormous. No
part of them seems to be within a foot of the surface, and then to dig down in
the soil some eighteen inches more, gives one an idea of thorough cultivation by
the time they are out of the ground. They
increase in size and grow deeper in the ground for two years, and as Mr. Van
Buren happily states, "the rascally Chinese don't get hold of the lower
ends of them and pull them through," one may expect fine specimens.
Lettuce, we have said, was one of the earliest things to sow. For fall sowing, the Hardy Green, or Hammersmith Cabbage is
perhaps the best Lettuce, but for the first spring sowing, the Early Cabbage or
Butter Lettuce is the nicest; after which are several kinds of Cabbage Lettuce
for a succession, or the Paris White and Green Coss. If our Maryland correspondent succeeds in raising the seeds
of the kind he so well describes, and will send us a pinch thereof in due
season, we will reciprocate the courtesy in any way in our power.—Southern
Field and Fireside.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
"Cavalry Company."
We are gratified in stating to our fellow-citizens of the good old parish
of Rapides, that we have a fine cavalry company organized in our midst, at this
time numbering sixty members, who have all endorsed the "rules and
regulations" established by the Military Board of the State of Louisiana.
The name adopted for the company is the "Southern Guards," and
we do not believe that a better set of fellows can be found in the
"Confederate States of North America," and none more willing to stand
by the rights and guard the honor of the same. . . A regular mounted drill of
the Southern Guards will take place on Saturday next at 2 P.M.
Those whose uniforms are finished, will turn out in uniform, the others
in civilian dress.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Music and the Drama.—The most notable event of the week at the Rapides
Theatre, was the appearance on the boards of M'dme Dansi Hausman, an Opera
singer of high talent. Her singing
in the pieces from the great composers was justly appreciated, and elicited much
applause. Notwithstanding the
brilliant efforts of this "prima donna," the charming Mrs. Frank Rea
had her portion of admirers, and her singing created much enthusiasm.
At the Theatre to-night the great play of Rob Roy is to be repeated.
The proceeds of the entertainment, we learn, are to be appropriated to
the town for the payment of the license.
Mr. Charles' benefit, on Monday night next, promises to be the
feature of the season in the dramatic line.
We understand that our citizens purpose giving Mr. Charles and grand and
remunerative benefit as a testimonial of their admiration of him as an actor and
their regard for him as a man. The
beautiful play of Ingomar is announced on the programme for the evening's
entertainment, besides other novelties.
On Wednesday evening benefit of Mrs. J. Davis and children.
This we learn is to be a great juvenile treat, as it is intended to
produce on the occasion the drama from the world-famed tale of "The
Children in the Wood."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Dan Rice's Great Show.—'Tis a pleasant thing to anticipate a day of
enjoyment, particularly in these hours of gloom and despondency. the hand-writings on the wall, and our advertising columns,
announce the fact that Dan Rice and the entire great Show will exhibit here on
Friday and Saturday next.
Dan Rice is individually one of the representative men of the age, and
peculiarly well adapted, by association and sympathy, to please our people.
As a son of Cumus he is unequaled both for point and originality, whilst
as a conversationalist he can entertain the intelligent for hours.
The "Show" (to which we think the adjective "great"
was not misapplied) combines demonstrations of wonder, splendor, and infinite
amusement. The domesticated
monster, the Rhinoceros, and the Kangaroo, the Assyrian Goat, the horses, mules,
monkeys, apes, &c., &c., form a series of magnets, whilst the artistes,
Ella Zoyara, F. H. Rosston, H. W. Tenny, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Showles, F. Drew, J.
C. Clarke, and others, make up a fine constellation.
The diet of Rice will, we opine, constitute an acceptable repast.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
Cotillion Club Party.—The party given by the members of the Cotillion
Club on Thursday night last, passed off most pleasantly, the merry ones enjoying
themselves in the mazes of the dance till long past the "wee hours" of
night.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p.
2, c. 1
We learn that a grand ball was given at the State Seminary and Military
Institution last evening. A large
number of our citizens were present, and everything went off very agreeably.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], February 23, 1861, p.
3, c. 2
Summary: Almost
a full column advertisement for Dan Rice's Great Show
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 2, 1861, p. 1,
c. 5
The convicts in the penitentiary of Mississippi are engaged
in
manufacturing tents for the army of the State.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 3
The Flag.
The new flag, adopted by the State Convention, for the State of
Louisiana, was hoisted to the top of the Breckinridge pole, on Wednesday last,
in presence of an immense crowd of spectators consisting of three
office holders. No guns were
fired on the occasion, as the citizens of Alexandria and vicinity had no notice
that such a demonstration would be made on the day referred to, and everything
went on as still and quiet as though there had been a funeral.
We will however state that the designer of the "flag" was
present (he being a member of the Convention,) and participated in the
ceremonies of the occasion of hoisting the document.
A good natural jolly friend of ours who hails from the "Emerald
Isle" and who is not ashamed of his country, suggest that the
"designer" should have had the "flag" bordered with green as
emblematic of the land that gave the designer birth, and the land of "Erin
go bragh" and the "Sprig of Shillalah and Shamrock" &c. "This we think would have been a good idea, as it seems
their plan was to represent all nations as far as possible.
Alas! poor Pelican "ye
dirty baste," you have been kicked overboard by one who should have been
thy best friend. . . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 2, 1861, p. 2,
c. 4
To the Public.—When we consider that Drug shops are kept open until 9
and frequently until 10 o'clock throughout the week, it is not to be wondered at
that both Principals and Assistants are anxious to reduce the time on Sundays.
It is seldom that actual cases of necessity occur on that day; on the
contrary, the time is chiefly taken up in entertaining Sunday loafers, leaving
no time for recreation either bodily or mental to the parties engaged in
business. Under those
circumstances, the principals of the three establishments have concluded to
close at 9 o'clock on Sunday mornings and open at sundown in the evening.
It is to be presumed that should any real case present itself of actual
necessity, some one out of the three places will be found to supply what may be
needed.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 9, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The Theatre.—The Dramatic season in Alexandria is drawing to a close.
We are informed that the Troupe at the Rapides Theatre will give but two
or three more performances before their retirement from our midst.
The benefit of Mrs. J. Davis and children was again postponed—this time
from the fact of the rather sudden and unexpected departure of Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Rea. Many of our citizens
were sadly disappointed in consequence of this event, as it was intended to give
the beneficiaries a full house. Nevertheless,
an actress has been engaged to supply the place of Mrs. Rea, and the benefit
will assuredly come off on Monday evening next.
The worthy lady we know will justly appreciate the favors of the kind
public on this occasion.
Wednesday evening next, we learn, has been set apart for the benefit of
the gallant Sherry.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 16, 1861, p. 1,
c. 7
A "Northern Girl's Tribute" to President Davis.—The
Montgomery correspondent of the Columbus (Georgia) Sun tells the
following in his letter of February 27th:
President Davis received a present today of some twenty very beautiful
Cockades, from a young lady living in one of the interior towns of New York.
They are made very tastefully, and some are ornamented with the Palmetto
button, and others with the seal of Alabama on the button.
The young lady says she is a descendant of one of the heroes of the
battle of Ticonderoga; she congratulates Gen. Davis in very handsome terms on
his election as the first President of the Confederate States of America, and in
conclusion says: "A Northern
girl pays this tribute of her heartfelt admiration of the gallant soldiers who
led the glorious charge at Buena Vista."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 30, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
Parties.—The blithe and gay folks are to have two of their merry
parties in our city next week. One
is to be given by the Hope Fire Co.
No. 2, on Monday evening next, and the other by that gallant little band, the
Cotillion Club, on Thursday evening, the 4th prox.
Both deserve to be well attended.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 30, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
Ice.—Judge Ariail is "rigging up his traps" in front of the
Ice House Hotel, preparatory to the reception of his new supply of ice—that
indispensable luxury of the sultry months.
It is expected here in the early part of next week.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], March 30, 1861, p. 2,
c. 4
Texas Items.—We take the following account of a most horrible murder,
from the Jefferson Herald and Gazette of the 22d inst.: . . .
From the same paper we learn that a new journal has made its appearance
in that city, styled the "Star State Jeffersonian," under the auspices
of Col. Jas. A. Warner, editor and proprietor, with T. P. Ochiltree, Esq., as
associate editor. Of the
typographical appearance, etc., of the new paper, the Herald & Gazette
speaks very favorably.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 6, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The Rt. Reverend Leonidas Polk, D. D., will preach and administer the
holy rite of confirmation at St.
James' Church, Alexandria, on the 10th day of April (Wednesday,) at
11 o'clock A.M.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 6, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The Parties.—The party given by the Hope Co. No. 2, at the City Hall,
on Monday evening last, though it happened to be on the 1st of April,
we can assure our readers and the rest of mankind that there was nobody
"fooled." The host of
smiling faces which we beheld during our short stay fully convinced us that our
people know how to enjoy themselves, as well as how to appreciate the noble
endeavors of this fine Company in their efforts to please.
On Thursday evening the party given by the Cotillion Club was well
attended by persons of both sexes, and reflected great credit upon the group of
young bachelors who compose the Club.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 6, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
Home Manufacture.—We learn that Messrs. Stevens & McElroy, of the
Rapides Foundry and Machine Shop, in this city, have contracted with the Cotton
and Woolen Factory of this parish for one 35-horse-power steam engine of their
own manufacture, to be completed in May next.
Success, say we, to Southern enterprise, and Southern industry generally, and to Messrs. Stevens &
McElroy in particular.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 6, 1861, p. 2,
c. 2
Vanity Fair says the three ages of a United States Senator are Mile-age,
Post-age, and Patron-age.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 6, 1861, p. 2,
c. 6
The Wonder of the Spinning Jenny.—The London Quarterly Review,
in an article upon cotton-spinning machines and their inventors, thus
illustrates the productiveness of brain and hand, by showing what machinery now
enables the cotton-spinner to do with a pound of cotton:--Mr. Bazley, of
Manchester, exports what is called No. 240 yarn in large quantities, for the use
of the finest foreign muslin manufactures.
Of the finest of this thread some idea may be formed when we state that
240 hanks, each 840 yards in length, are spun from a single pound weight of
cotton, or a total length of about 114 miles!
But this does not by any means exhaust the capabilities of English
machinery; for at the Great Exhibition of 1851, specimens of yarn spun at
Bolton, were exhibited so fine as 700, or equal to 334 miles in length, spun
from one pound of material! Worked
up into the finer kinds of Lace, the original shilling's worth of cotton wool
before it passes into the hands of the consumer may be increased to the value of
between $1500 and $2000!
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 13, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The Ice boat has arrived, and our citizens can keep cool during the
summer months by applying at headquarters.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 13, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
Soda Water.—Messrs. Westbrook & Bro., the enterprising proprietors
of The Age, have put up a Soda Fountain at their saloon, where every one can be
accommodated with this refreshing drink during the "melting" months.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 13, 1861, p. 3, c. 2
Ladies of Rapides
Attention!!!
M. A. Zenker & Co., would call the attention of the Ladies, to their beautiful Store on Second Street in the new brick building adjoining the "Constitutional" Office, where they have just opened a splendid and carefully selected stock of
Millinery & Ladies Goods.
They have also secured the valuable assistance of an experienced
Milliner and Dress Maker,
from New Orleans, which conjoined with their own services
and other assistants, enables them to offer to the Ladies greater facilities for
executing work in the Millinery and Dress Making line than any other house in
this State outside of New Orleans.
Every reflecting Lady will readily see the great advantage of having her
Millinery and dress making done at home. If
you send to New Orleans, you know not what will be sent you; you are not present
to make a selection, and you must keep what is sent you. Here you have the advantage of making your own selections,
and of having your work done exactly as you wish it, and that by parties whose
interest is to do it well and in an entirely satisfactory manner.
The evidence of this is that our store is daily crowded with Ladies who
have experienced the benefit of home trade.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 13, 1861, p. 3,
c. 1
"What is a Zouave?"—As this class of soldiers is becoming
quite popular of late, especially in New Orleans, we copy for the benefit of our
readers the following somewhat "extravagant" description, by
Doesticks:
A fellow with a red bag having sleeves to it for a coat; with two red
bags without sleeves to them for trowsers; with an embroidered and braided bag
for a vest; with a cap like a red woolen saucepan; with yellow boots like the
fourth robber in a stage play; with a moustache like two half pound paint
brushes, and a sort of sword gun or gun sword for a weapon, that looks like a
lonely musket, indiscreet and tender—that is a Zouave.
A fellow who can "put up" a hundred and ten pound dumb bell;
who can climb up an eighty foot rope hand over hand, with a barrel of flour
hanging to his heels; who can do the "giant swing" on a horizontal bar
with a fifty-six tied to each ankle; who can walk up two flights of stairs
holding a heavy man in each hand at arm's length; and who can climb a greased
pole, feet first, carrying a barrel of pork in his teeth—that is a Zouave.
A fellow who can jump seventeen feet four inches high without a spring
board; who can tie his legs in a double bow knot round his neck without
previously softening his shinbones in a steam bath; who can walk Blondin's
out-door tight rope with his stomach outside of nine cocktails, a suit of armor
outside of the stomach, and a stiff northeast gale outside of that; who can set
a forty foot ladder on end, balance himself on the top of it, and shoot wild
pigeons on the wing, one at a time, just behind the eye, with a single-barrel
Minie rifle, three hundred yards distance, and never miss a shot; who can take a
five-shooting revolver in each hand and knock the spots of the ten of diamonds
at eighty paces, turning somersets all the time, and firing every shot in the
air—that is a Zouave.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 20, 1861, p. 1, c. 5
Easter Sunday.
The Charleston Courier has the following article in reference to this
interesting subject:
Easter.—This most ancient and most glorious of all the sacred
festivals, was called during a long period by the beautiful name of Pascha.
it is still celebrated under the appellation peace, in many of the rural
districts of England. It is clear
that this term is a corruption of the name given to the great feast of the
Hebrews.
The derivation of the word Easter has given antiquaries no little
trouble. Many of the highest
authorities are confident that this feast of feasts received its name from the
potent Saxon goddess, Eastre, whose festival was kept in the month of
showers. It is also derived from East,
to eat, from the removal of the restrictions of Lent, and the restoration of
liberty to the captive appetites. This
etymology is plausible, but it is so carnal and groveling, we are slow to accept
it, notwithstanding its exceeding speciousness.
This fine name is traced by not a few patient scholars to the Saxon word Oscar,
which signifies to rise. Auferstehung,
in the German means resurrection, and though the difference between that and the
title under consideration is somewhat broad, the changes through which many
words have passed, almost justify us, in regarding the euphonious modern
appellation as a corruption of the harsh and ancient one.
The resurrection was commemorated at the dawn of Christianity, and many
suppose they have traced the glorious festival to the days yet fragrant with the
gracious words and mighty deeds of Him whose triumph it celebrates.
But whether kept by the Christians who heard and saw the Son of God, or
not, it is placed beyond a doubt that the Queen of Festivals was solemnized in
the earliest days of the Church.
The celebration of the rising of the Savior is on the first Sunday after
the full moon, on the 21st of March.
This time was fixed by the Council of Nice, in 325; but owing to the
imperfect knowledge of astronomy, that ordinance failed to secure the uniform
observance of this feast, till Pope Gregory the Thirteenth altered the system of
reconing [sic], and corrected the vital error that was found to exist in the
calender [sic]. Limits have thus
been set to this joyous anniversary, and "Easter-day cannot fall earlier
than the 22d of March, nor later than the 25th of April."
The primitive Christians spent the night before Easter in devotional
exercises, and at the first crow of the cock, they exclaimed:
"The Lord has risen," and those who were saluted made
answer, "The Lord is risen, indeed.."
We trace the pretty custom of presenting eggs to friends at the opening
of Easter to the symbolical meaning they bore at an exceedingly remote period.
Among the Egyptians they were the emblems of the renovation of the human
family after the universal flood. They
were part of the Paschal Supper of the Hebrews, as a type of their departure
from the land of the Pharoahs. The
primitive Christians adopted the egg as an emblem of the resurrection.
The children of Mesopotamia, on Easter day, color all their eggs they can
buy or beg with some red substance, in commemoration of the crucifiction [sic].
The boys throughout England stain them with juices of various colors,
boil them hard, and sport with them on the grass.
The Russians, on meeting upon the morn of Easter day, give each other
colored eggs. The common people
carry red eggs in their hands on this anniversary and the four succeeding days;
and the higher classes observe this ancient custom with eggs covered with gold
leaf.
In the time of Edward I, four hundred and fifty gilded eggs were
distributed to the royal household. And
it is worthy to note that all these eggs cost but eighteen pence.
It was the custom, for a long series of years, for the Mayor, Aldermen
and Sheriff of Newcastle-on-Tyne, with the Burgesses, to go in procession in the
robes of office, and with the emblems of authority, to a spacious and beautiful
mall, and witness the game of hand-ball, and these high officials would often
forget for a time the dignity of their posts, and engage in the manful sport.
Once upon a time, while the Mayor of Chester was observing this strange
and ancient custom, his daughter was carried away by her lover who was not
agreeable to the old gentleman.
If the young men of Coleshill, at Warwickshire, catch a hare by fleetness
of foot in the morning of Easter Monday, and carry it to the Minister before ten
o'clock, he has to give them a calf's head, a hundred eggs, and a groat [sic?]
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 20, 1861, p. 1, c. 7
Woman's Mission.
We heartily commend to our readers, irrespective of sex, the following
article on "woman's mission," which we take from the Selma (Ala.)
Reporter. The author (who we
believe is a "young man") seems to fully appreciate the noble
qualities of woman, and he justly deserves the good opinion and "approving
smile" of the young ladies everywhere:
["] In commencing this article we beg leave to say that we have not
the vanity to suppose that we can enumerate all the great and good purposes
which a kind and beneficent Providence designed to accomplish in the
presentation of woman to man, but we desire simply to allude to a few of the
most apparent duties she was intended to perform, and to commit to paper a few
of the thoughts with which their contemplation has impressed us.
In the beginning God said: "It
is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him."
It seems then, from the language of the Bible, that God intended woman to
be a help for man—a help meet for him, that is suited to his
nature, condition and wants. But
how is woman to help man? She has
not strength to wield the axe or guide the plow or engage in the mechanical
pursuits, and if she had the strength and the will, the usages of society forbid
her doing so. We affirm that if
woman could do all these, and it was in accordance with the usages of society
for her to do so, if she could with perfect propriety (so far as custom is
concerned) and with equal ease go with her husband every day to his work, and
share all his toils, she would not be a help meet for him.
No. It is woman's mission to
remain at home and watch with jealous care the earnings of her husband—to see
that nothing is wasted or misapplied—to see that his house—to see that his
house [sic?] is kept in order—to meet him on his return from the day's labor
with a smiling face and hearty welcome—to make him feel and know that there is
one spot on earth where the troubles and cares of life never come, that there is
ever a loving, trusting heart that beats in unison with his own, and a face
beaming with happy smiles that will drive care and trouble from his perplexed
brain. It is her mission to
minister to him in the hour of sickness—to anticipate his every want, and ever
be by his bedside to comfort and console him.—It is her mission to read for
him God's holy Word, to point out its precious promises and by the example of a
fond and loving wife teach him to put his trust in Jesus and make these promises
his own. It is her mission to stamp
the character of her children forever in favor of the great truths of
Christianity,--to "train them up in the way they should go."
It is her mission by her quiet, unassuming course of conduct—her
Christian forbearance and fortitude to scatter broadcast o'er the land, the
seeds of a morality and piety that will germinate and "bring forth fruit an
hundred fold." It is her
mission to so conduct herself that the infidel will stand abashed in her
presence and the atheist bow his head in shame as he contemplated the being
before him and thinks that he has ever said so angelic a creature could have
been created by a power less than Almighty—by the hand of any but the
Christian's God. It is her mission
to nerve her husband's arm to bear up against the troubles and trials of
life—to strengthen and sustain him thro' all the vicissitudes of fortune, and
prove by her conduct that though all the world forsake him there is one fond,
faithful, trusting heart that throbs an echo to every pulsation of his own.
Oh what a noble, what a God-like mission!
A mission that could only be discharged by one filled with "faith,
hope and love, a trinity of virtues found only in those a little lower than the
angels." When we have seen a
woman fulfilling this her noble mission faithfully, we have been overwhelmed
with the goodness of God to man, and our wicked, stubborn heart has bowed in
meek submission to His will as we contemplated His mercy.
When we have left our homes for distant lands (and it has been our lot to
do so more times than one) and the tear of a fair-haired sister glittered on our
hand, and a fervent "'God bless my boy!" trembled on the lips of a
kind, loving mother, we have felt that to doubt the goodness and the mercy of
god would be a blasphemy of which it would be almost impossible to repent; and
when temptations have assailed us, and all the fiends of hell seemed turned
loose in one solid column to drag us into the vortex of ruin, we have remembered
the prayers of a mother and sister, and we have been safe.
Such is woman's mission. When
she has fulfilled that mission our country will be prosperous and happy.
God's Holy Word will be the constant companion of our youth, and the
religion of our blessed Savior will be the comfort and consolation of all our
people.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 20, 1861, p. 2,
c. 4
Col. G. W. Lay, the gentleman recently appointed Superintendent of the
State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, by the Board of Supervisors,
arrived here a few days since, to take charge of the duties pertaining to his
office. Col. Lay is an accomplished
and clever gentleman, and under his superintendence our State Seminary will
surely prosper.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 20, 1861, p. 2,
c. 4
Billiards.—Michael Foley, of Detroit, a young gentleman who is,
probably, the most accomplished Billiard Player of his age in the United States,
is in this city, at Jones' billiard rooms.
Should Mr. Foley continue his careful, methodical practice a few years
longer, he will have few if any superiors among the devotees of the
cue.—Memphis Paper.
Under New Charge.—Still another attractive feature in Fuller's Tremont
Exchange Billiard Room, is the presence of the celebrated Detroit player,
Michael Foley, who superintends that department.
Foley, it is generally considered, plays the best game of billiards of
any one in the Western country. Of
course the ten Phelan Tables and every thing about the room under his charge,
will always be in "tip top" order, so that the game can be really a pleasure
to every participant.—Detroit Paper.
Mr. Foley, the gentleman so highly spoken of above as a billiard player,
is at present at the Ice House Billiard Saloon, where he has, for several days
past, been "astonishing the natives" by his extraordinary billiard
playing. We are pleased to inform
the lovers of this pleasant sport, that the Billiard department of the
"Excelsior" is under Mr. Foley's able superintendence.
What with the attraction of this "star," and that of the
splendid new tables lately purchased by the lamented Smith, the establishment
cannot fail to "draw."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 20, 1861, p. 2,
c. 7
City, Weather, &c.—On Sunday night last this place was visited by a
severe storm which blowed down the fine Market House lately erected in our city,
and otherwise damaging property all over the parish to a considerable amount.
On the same night the building in the Pinewoods known as Parker's
Institute, and at the time occupied by J. S. Calhoun, Esq., as a manufactory for
negro clothing, was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire.
By this disaster we learn that Mr. Calhoun sustains a great loss.
The weather since the storm has been characteristic of high winds but at
present it is greatly modified and has become quite pleasant.
The news of the surrender of Fort Sumter by Major Anderson was received
in this city with intense delight. The
old cannon was brought into requisition and seven "blank cartridges"
were fired in honor of the event, and the patriotism (!) of the
"intense" was more intense than ever.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
Col. Lay, recently appointed Superintendent of the State Seminary of
Learning and Military Academy, we learn has resigned and intends going to
Virginia for the purpose of taking an active part in the service of his native
State. We hope the post vacated by
him will soon be filled by one every way as worthy.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
We publish in another column the latest telegraphic intelligence received
here. Our readers should not place
too much confidence in them as the telegraph has become a perfect "lying
machine" and dispatches are sent over the lines, for the purpose of
misleading the people. The reported
non-resignation of Gen. Scott we believe to be false in every particular.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The annexed paragraph is from a correspondent of the New Orleans
Crescent, dated St. Martinsville, April 20:
Mr. Editor—There is great excitement in St. Martinsville. Everything,
from the cradle to the crutch, is in motion.
Lincoln was hanged and burnt in effigy here, last night, amidst great
rejoicings of the people. On the 15th
inst., all the young men in the town and vicinity of St. Martinsville came forth
and registered their names as volunteers, and are to be seen every day since
actively operating on the parade ground from 10 o'clock A.M. till night.
Their gallant Captain, Alcibiad Deblanc, left for New Orleans, on the 16th
inst., to procure the necessary equipments, and enroll for immediate equipments,
and enroll for immediate service. The
ranks are filling up every day from New Iberia, Breaux Bridge, and Fausse
Pointe. The colored men here are
getting up a very good company.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 1
The party which was announced to be given at the State Seminary on the 10th
May, has been indefinitely postponed.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 3
[Communicated.
We are United.
The tocsin of war has been sounded through the length and breadth of the
land. Lincoln has at last unmasked
himself, and his mad policy stands revealed in all its damnable and unmistakable
purposes. In his madness he has
done for the Southern States what was considered by many to be absolutely
necessary to maintain a distinct and powerful government. He has united all the slave States as one man, and they are
now banded together, an unwavering and impenetrable phalanx, ready and
determined to defend and vindicate their rights to the last extremity.
As one of those who strongly dissented from the dormant party in the mode
of secession, and the object for which I contended—a union of the slave
States—is now attained, there can be no longer but one voice in the land.
There is now but one purpose—one heart—one destiny.
One Who Loves His Country
Better Than Party.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 3
On Saturday last the news of the secession of "Old Virginia"
was received here with the wildest delight.
A salute of eight guns was fired on the occasion, under the
superintendence of our chief gunner Lieut.-Col. Russel.
The secession of Virginia has produced the desired effect, and all of the
border States will soon follow. Co-operation
has at last been accomplished.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 2,
c. 5
Female Volunteers.—The Holly Springs Herald learns that the
county of Chickasaw, Mississippi, has ten companies of volunteer soldiers ready
to be mustered into the service of the State.
It adds, that in addition to these the county has a regular officered and
drilled company of young ladies, who have pledged themselves, in the event the
men are called into service, to protect their homes and families during their
absence, and see that the farms are properly cultivated, and full crops raised,
not only for the support of the country but of the army of Mississippi.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], April 27, 1861, p. 3,
c. 1
Happy is the soldier who has been careful to provide himself for the
march with old and easy shoes. Ideas
upon this subject among the inexperienced are various, as exhibited in tight
boots, patent leathers, or heavy unyielding trampers.
The first five or six miles of the day are delightful.
The scenery is enchanting, the road better than was expected, and the
journey altogether delightful. The
soldier congratulates himself upon the enjoyment of so pleasant a promenade, and
steps out briskly with his left foot to the tap of the drum, chattering all the
while with his partner in file, laughing at his sallies of wit, and responding
as sharply. This distance passed, one commences to realize that he is on a
march, and not a mere pleasure promenade. Mile
by mile passes, and gradually he sobers down to a serious air.
Ten miles passed, and he finds that he is actually getting tired. When
once the thought of fatigue enters the mind, the body succumbs rapidly to the
reality. The elasticity of limbs
vanishes with the elasticity of the mind, and walking becomes a stern duty
instead of a pleasure. Now is the
time and now the opportunity of the officer to display his tact, and drive from
the limbs of the men their weariness, by acting through the mind, and driving
forth the though of fatigue. The
bitter pill of toil must be cleverly coated with the sweets of pleasure or
pride, and then we forget the nauseous dose within.
On the first day's march seventeen miles were traveled through a forest
where but one log cabin was seen on the way, and that was of a deserted cattle
ranche. Friday afternoon the camp
was made at the locality known in that region of the "independent State of
Baldwin county," by the euphonious title of Bull's Pen. There was no rain on Saturday, but worse than a storm was the
broiling sun. Oh, how furiously old
Sol blazed, blistering the face and hands, burning the feet, and parching the
throat. The men had no canteens,
and it was fortunate that springs of water were found at frequent intervals, or
they would have suffered greatly from thirst.
The men with barked heels or blistered feet gladly got permission to
climb up onto the baggage wagons, but nearly all of the command manfully trod it
out, soaking their feet to keep them from blistering at every pond and stream.
Seventeen miles were made on Saturday, and in the afternoon an encampment
was made on the bank of the Perdido river, where Gen. Jackson crossed his troops
forty-seven years ago, on his expedition to capture the very ground for which
the present generation are again volunteering, to defend its rights and to
preserve its territory. Here there
is a large steam saw mill just erected, to do all the lumber business of the
Perdido river, whose swift current brings down rafts of logs.
Singing is the principal pastime of the Louisiana Zouaves, as it is that
of the French soldiers, and let it not be supposed that they have not good
music. Private L. Marzieu [almost
illegible], of the Fifth Company, for instance is a vocalist of no mean ability.
With a fine tenor voice of good compass and very well cultivated, and
likewise possessed of an almost inexhaustible fund of songs, warlike,
sentimental and comic, he is the life of his comrades during their leisure
hours.
A Bully Fight.
A rather singular accident occurred on Saturday afternoon, while the
companies were halted for rest in a shady grove on the slope of a long hill.
A private of the Fifth Company, named Martin, who is a perfect Sampson in
strength and a man unacquainted with fear, had strayed off through the woods
while his comrades were resting. Droves
of cattle breeding in the forest and nearly wild roamed about in every
direction, but had heretofore been seen only at a distance.
Martin emerged from a thicket to come suddenly upon a drove of these
animals who stood defiantly gazing at him in evident amazement, and perhaps with
feelings of indignation. How it was
can never be known positively, but most probably the red breeches of Martin
enraged one spirited young "beef," who suddenly gave a snort of anger,
and pawing up the ground, rushed furiously at the soldier with his horns bent
down nearly to the ground and ready to tear him open with a toss from his
thickset neck. Most men would have
attempted to seek refuge in flight rather than "take a horn" under
such peculiar circumstances, but such an idea never entered Martin's head.
Bending down, he awaited the onset, and then seizing one horn and holding
down the brute's head with almost superhuman strength, he drove his knife into
its neck and finished it on the spot. Martin
was much applauded for his courage and presence of mind, and as "it is an
ill wind that blows no one good" there was fresh meat for that day's
dinner.
Along the route the very few houses passed were applied to in vain for
such luxuries as milk, eggs or poultry. They
had sold everything to the Mississippi Brigade that preceded the Zouaves two
days. At only one place were
obtained ten eggs for a dollar, and three cups of milk for fifty cents. On the banks of the Perdido the men wrapped themselves in
their blankets and slept, without tents, for it was a clear night, although
cool. Next morning the remaining
six miles of the route were made by eight o'clock, when the stage depot on the
railroad was reached. The train
from Montgomery was due at 9 o'clock, but we were told that as the cars came
down crowded with troops every day, their time was not at all punctual, and it
was impossible to tell at what hour they would be along.
So it proved, for the train only got there at two o'clock, and then every
passenger car was crowded with companies of riflemen fro Georgia and Eastern
Florida, so that the Zouaves had to crowd themselves upon piles of baggage, and
even sit on the roofs of the passenger cars to get down to Pensacola. . . . .
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 1, c.
5
God bless the Ladies.—The ladies of Nashville, to the number of several
hundred, have formed an association for the purpose of making clothing for, and
otherwise aiding, the volunteers for the South.
Mrs. President Polk was elected President and the first day upwards of
$1000 was received to further their patriotic aims.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 1, c.
6
What a Volunteer Needs.—An officer of the St. Mary's volunteers, a
company now being formed here, and soon to depart for the seat of war, hands us
the following article for publication. We
cheerfully comply with his request.
Each man should be provided with a small strong linen bag, with strings,
almost twelve inches long by six wide, containing a small paper of pins, six or
eight needles in a flannel book, some coarse thread, buttons, a little wax, a
ball of twine, a bit of buckskin and some whiting to clean arms, soap and a
small roll of linen for cut fingers, and a comb and tooth brush. If, as is probable, the company be stationed at any point on
the Southern coast, a mosquito net will add to the comfort and health of the
soldier. These should be six feet
long, three wide, and three and a half high, formed by simply folding the brown
net, tent fashion, and closing each end by a triangle piece, a loop at each
upper extremity will serve to suspend it.
These are things which can be easily done by female hands, and well done
by no others.
A warm blanket, two red flannel shirts, two pair of drawers, two pair of
woolen and cotton socks, and two pair of stout shoes, together with a tin cup,
and a knife, fork and spoon, are requisite for every man and every four should
possess a brush and blacking. Many
of these articles will be furnished by the Government. A small water proof box of matches, and a common pocket knife
are always useful.
If our ladies will employ their taper fingers in providing the linen bag
and its contents, they will add greatly to comfort of the volunteers, and
mosquito nets will also unquestionably become the means of preventing much
suffering and bloodshed.—Attakapas Register.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
Accidental Discharge.—Whilst firing a salute to the volunteers on board
the Burton this morning, the load prematurely discharged, and hurt the gunners,
Mr. Russel and Tom ______, very badly, but, we learn, not dangerously.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 2, c.
2
The Ladies.—To the noble ladies of our parish great praise is due for
the able assistance they are giving the volunteers who are about departing from
our midst. Many of them, we learn,
have volunteered to make the uniforms for the company just organized, and a
magnificent banner has been made for the same company, under the supervision of
Mrs. Dr. Smith, the commander's accomplished lady. Those ladies also, who, with the inestimable Mrs. Severns,
assisted in making the two handsome Confederate flags, should not soon be
forgotten. May their fervent
prayers be granted and their most cherished hopes realized.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 2, c.
7
Alabama Riflemen.—The Newbern (N. C.) Progress, publishes an
extract from one of Mr. Goose's letters, detailing the proficiency of Alabama
riflemen, who will now have an opportunity to "thread the needle" of
any Yankee that may come before their fire:
Another feat is "threading the needle."
An auger hole is pierced through the center of an upright board; the
orifice is just large enough to allow a ball to pass without touching.
A third is still more exciting—snuffing the candle.
It is performed in the night, and the darkness of the scene adds a
wildness to the amusement that greatly enhances its interest.—A calm night is
chosen; half a dozen ends of tallow candles and a box of matches are taken out
into the field, whither the uproarious party of stalwart youths repair.
One of them takes his station by the mark; a stick is trust
perpendicularly into the ground, on the top of which a piece of candle is fixed,
either in a socket or by means of a few drops of grease.
A plank is set up behind the candle to receive the balls, which are all
carefully picked out after the sport is over, being much too valuable to be
wasted. The marker now lights the
candle, which glimmers like a feeble star, but just visible at the spot where
the expectant party are standing. Each
one carefully loads his rifle; some mark the barrel with a line of chalk to aid
the sight in the darkness; others neglect his and seem to know the position of
the "pea" by instinct. There
is a sharp, short crack and a line of fire; a little cloud of smoke rises
perpendicularly upwards; an unmerciful shout of derision hails the unlucky
marksman, for the candle is still twinkling dimly and readily as before.
Another confidently succeeds; the light is suddenly extinguished; his
ball has cut it off just below the flame. This
won't do, the test is to snuff the candle without putting it out.
A third now steps up; it is my friend Jones, the overseer on the
plantation where I am residing; he is a crack shot, and we all expect something
superb now. The marker has replaced
the lighted candle; it is allowed to burn a few minutes until the wick has
become long. The dimness of the
light at length announces its readiness, and the marker cries "fire!"
A moment's breathless silence follows the flash and report, a change was
seen to pass upon the distant gleam, and the dull, red light had suddenly become
white and sparkling. "Right
good!" cries the marker; the ball has passed through the center of the
flame, and snuffed the candle, and whoops and shouts of applause ring through
the field and echo from the surrounding forest.
This extraordinary feat is usually performed two or three times in every
contest of skill.
A common exploit is "barking off" a squirrel.
My worthy friend, Maj. Vanner, the other day, at my request, performed
this. A couple of fox squirrels
were playing far up on a towering beech in the yard, little suspecting what was
coming "for the benefit of science."
My friend went in and brought out his trusty rifle; waited a moment for
one of the frisky gentlemen to be rightly placed, for it is needful to the feat
that the squirrel should be clinging to the bark of the tree.
The first shot was a failure; the squirrel fell dead indeed but was
pierced with the ball, which was not the object.
Perhaps the creature had moved a little at the instant, or perhaps the
planter had been a little too carelessly confident; however, his mettle was up,
and he took care that the second shot should be all right.
The ball struck the trunk of the tree just beneath the belly of the
animal, driving off a piece of the bark as large as one's hand, and with it the
squirrel, without wound or ruffled hair, but killed by the concussion.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 2, c.
7
How to Make a good Cup of Tea.—M. Soyers recommends that, before
pouring in any water, the tea-pot, with the tea in it, shall be placed in the
oven till hot, or heated by means of a spirit lamp, or in front of the fire,
(not too close of course,) and the of them [sic] filled with boiling water.
The result he says will be, in about a minute, a delicious cup of tea,
which is much superior to that drawn in the ordinary way.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 3, c. 2
Italian Opera Troupe,
This Company consisting of the following talented Artists:
Madame Galotti, a Prima Donna of Strakoch's Italian Opera Troupe
Galotti,
First Tenor.
Hoffman,
Violinist.
Aristide,
Flutist.
Raphaeli,
Cornet.
Clement,
Professor.
Will give a Grand Vocal and Instrumental Soiree at the
New Hall,
over the store of R. C. Hetherwick, on
This Saturday, Evening,
consisting of Solos, Duetts, Ballads, etc., from Rossini,
Bellini, Verdi, Bishop and other celebrated composers.
Admission: 75 cents.
Children and Servants, 25 cents.
Doors open at 7 o'clock, to commence at half past seven.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 3, c. 2
For Sale.
A Fine Young English Bull, raised by the United Society of Shakers of
Pleasant Hill, Ky., with full pedigree. Apply
to
W. L. Wale.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 4, 1861, p. 3, c.
2
Fresh Pumpkin Seed, for sale by
St. John & Burges.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 11, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The Concert.—A very pleasant entertainment was given by the Italian
Opera Troupe at the Ice House Hall on Monday evening last, and merited a better
attendance than it received on that occasion.
Signora Gallotti, the pretty and graceful prima donna, and the
talented Signor Gallotti, in their respective rôles, gave the most
unbounded delight; and the soft, dulcet notes of the violin, flute, etc., by the
other artistes of the troupe, fell upon appreciative ears.
Such amusements are of a healthy character and should be encouraged.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 11, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The lovely and patriotic ladies of the parish have been busily engaged
during the past week in making the uniforms for the volunteers under the command
of Capt. S. A. Smith. This company,
we [illegible] will soon receive marching orders, and will probably depart for
the "frolic" on Wednesday next.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 11, 1861, p. 3, c.
1
The Right Spirit at the Right Time.—In the Marksville Central Organ of
the 4th inst., we find the following most emulous instance of the
spirit and patriotism of a mother of the South:
Mrs. S. Providence Taliaferro of this parish has lately set an example of
self-denying patriotism, which mothers, wives and sisters would do well to
follow, and which cannot be too highly recommended.
One of her sons remaining unmarried, and one son-in-law, the Rev. Mr.
White, had joined Capt. R. M. Boone's Company of Atchafalaya Guards, and were
awaiting a boat at Simmesport to convey them to the city for active service.
She had one son about 16 or 17 years of age who desired to go in the
company with his brother and brother-in-law, but was considered too young by
some. He was going to a
neighborhood school. Mrs.
Taliaferro's Southern feelings boiled up with too much ardor to enable her to
yield to the persuasions of motherly affection. She went to the school house and called Master Warren out,
saying to him: "My son, if you
desire to go in Capt. Boone's company with your brother take your books home and
go on to Simmesport. The company is
there yet. It shall never be said
that I prevented you from going to defend your country. Go on with your brother."—Warren is the last and
youngest son; generally the idol of the domestic hearth.
This conduct we say is worthy of a Roman mother—a mother of the
Revolution—yea! it is worthy of a
Southern mother.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 11, 1861, p. 3, c. 2
For Sale.
A Negro Woman, about forty years of age, a first-rate cook, she
has two male children, one about ten and the other thirteen years old.
She will be sold either with or without the children, as would best suit
the purchaser.
S. W. Henarie.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 11, 1861, p. 3, c.
1
"What makes you look so glum, Bill?"
"Oh, I had to endure a sad trial to my feelings."
"What on earth was it?" Why,
I had to tie on a pretty girl's bonnet while her mother was looking on!"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 1, c.
5
Poetry and Reality.—The Poetry of War—when it is at a distance.
The reality of war—when it is at home.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The Zouaves.—These renowned actors—actors in the bloody drama of the
Crimean war, and who astonished the world by their daring performances at
Inkerman and Balaklava, etc., are advertised in our paper of to-day to give
exhibitions of their astonishing yet pleasing feats on board the Zouave, at our
wharf, n the 28th and 29th inst.
This is the most novel and unique entertainment of the day, and perhaps
it will be the most interesting at this critical time.
Of course there will be a full turnout of the "Militaire,"
as well as the "Civil," on the occasions above alluded to, to
witness the performance of what may soon be in their "line of
business." We have seen the
Zouaves spoken of in the most flattering terms by all of our exchanges wherever
they have exhibited and their engagement at the Academy of Music in New Orleans,
which was a rather long one, proved as highly successful, perhaps, though not quite
as severe, as did their "engagement" with the hardy Russians.
Their polite agent, Mr.
Hart, visited our sanctum a few days since.
A more gentlemanly agent cannot be found anywhere, and his pleasant
"smiles" and good humor at once proclaim him to be a
"trump."
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The Vigilance Committee of Pineville waited upon two thieves last evening
and ordered them to leave within a given time, otherwise they would be left to
the mercy of Squire Lynch.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
R. L. Fox Esq., has received per steamer Grand Duke, a lot of corn to be
distributed to the poor and necessitous of our parish.
Each person applying, must bring a certificate from the member of the
Police Jury of his or her Ward that he or she is [hole in paper].
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
To Pleasure Seekers.—There is perhaps no better place in the South
where one can resort to for pleasure and health and comfort, during the sultry
season, than the hospitable roof of J. P. Ward, Esq., the energetic proprietor
of the "Evans' House," situated at the White Sulphur Springs, in
Catahoula parish. The Springs are
most pleasantly located, and the great advantages afforded by the pure air and
sulphurous water to those in delicate health, are highly beneficial and well
known to most of our readers. The
advertisement of the "Evans' House" appears in to-day's paper.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 3, c. 3
To the Citizens of
Louisiana
Attention,
Militaire et Civil!!
Frederick G. and
Glatigny............................................................................Stage
Directors.
Mr.
Tidmarsh..............................................................................................Manager
of Zouaves.
The Zouaves, soldiers of the Crimea and Algeria, who instituted a theatre
upon the battle-field at Inkerman—who since obtaining their conges from the
French Army, have played with unrivaled success all over Europe, and have
recently concluded brilliant engagements of New Orleans (Academy of Music) and
Mobile; have recently reconstructed and fitted up, in superb style, a fine
steamboat, as a perfect Bijou of a Theatre, complete in all respects, whereon to
perform their delightful French Vaudevilles, Opera Bouffes, Operattas, &c.,
with the introduction of Popular and Patriotic Songs, and Grand Military
Spectacular Scenes, showing how the French Army was amused in its hours of
repose and how the carnage fields of the Crimea were won from the hardy and
valorous Russians.
The battles of Inkerman, Alms, Balaklava, Tractir, Mamelon, Vert and
Malakoff, will in turn be produced, offering a splendid opportunity to military
men who have not seen active service, to get a glimpse of how things are done
upon the battle plain. And the
Zouaves assure the public that the Vaudevilles, Opera-Bouffes, Operattas,
Military Drill, Evolutions and Battle Scenes will all be perfectly presented.
N. B.—The public attention is earnestly directed to the small and large
bills, distributed by the agent in advance of the company.
The Zouaves will perform at
Alexandria, May 28th
and 29th, at 12 m.
and 7 p. m.;
at Calhoun's, May 30th, at 12 M.; Montgomery,
May 30th, at 7 P.M.; Grand Ecore, May 31st, at 12 M. and 7
P. M.; Campte, June 1st, at 12 M. and 7 P.M.; Cotile, June 2d, at 12
M. and 7 P. M.; Mouth of Black River, June 5th, at 12 M. and 7 P. M.
In consequence of the great efforts made to secure Comfort, Gentility and
elegance to the above Entertainment, and the great expence attendant thereon,
the managers have fixed the following Schedule of Prices of Admission:
To Dress Circle, with numbered chairs, separate from other
portion of the Auditorium.................$1 00
Cushioned Seats in Parquette..........................................................................................................50
Children, under 10 years of
Age...............................................................................................Half
Price.
Servants.........................................................................................................................................25
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 18, 1861, p. 4, c.
1
Suitable Material for Army Clothing.—The following is from a graduate
of West Point—one who has seen service, and whose opinion is entitled to
consideration:
As many mistakes have been made in the selection of materials for
clothing our volunteers, a few suggestions from an ex-army officer will not be
amiss. The clothing prescribed for
the soldiers of the regular army, after long experience, is undoubtedly the best
for volunteers. The overcoat,
uniform coat, sack coat or blouse, trowsers and blankets, should be of wool,
without any mixture of cotton, and should conform in cut and make, to those used
in the regular army. The stockings
should be of coarse wool—no Cotton; flannel shirts of wool and cotton—the
less Cotton the better; drawers of cotton flannel.
Clothing is usually issued twice a year, in quantities as follows:
To each soldier one hat, one forage cap, one uniform coat, two sack
coats, two pair drawers, three flannel shirts, four pair boots, four pair
stockings in one year, two blankets, two leather stocks in five years; three
pair of trowsers the first year, two pair the second.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 25, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
Remember the Zouaves will be here on Tuesday and Wednesday next, and do
not be behind the age and not go to see them perform.
Christine Milly, the two-headed girl is a great curiosity and will worth
the seeing.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 25, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Rapides
Invincibles.
Their Departure,
Banner Presentations, etc.
Yesterday was a grand gala-day in our city.
Rarely if ever before have we seen such a tumult and excitement.
Young men and maidens, old men and children seemed to share in the
general enthusiasm. the occasion of
such a universal turnout, and such universal joy, was the presentation of three
costly and elegant banners to the Rapides Invincibles, and the departure of that
company of brave and gallant men for the seat of war.
The "Rapides Company," a fine and noble body of men, which had
been organized, by the influence and energy of Dr. S. A. Smith, for twelve
months' service in the Confederate army, having disbanded, in consequence of the
proclamation of the Governor refusing to accept any more volunteers unless they
enlisted for the war, some of our young men, the pride and flower of the parish,
determined not to be thwarted in their purpose to share in the perils and glory
of defending their homes and their country, immediately came forward and
accepted the terms of admission to the service. They at once gathered around them a band of brave and devoted
men, and, in spite of discouragements and difficulties, they filled their ranks,
elected their officers, and perfected their arrangements.
At about one o'clock the Rapides Invincibles, accompanied by the Southern
Guards and Hope Fire Company No. 2 marched to the Court House Square, which was
already filled with the beauty and intelligence of our city, to participate in
the ceremony of presenting and accepting the banners, and to listen to the
addresses. After order was restored
a beautiful flag, the gift of the Southern Guards, was presented by M. Ryan,
Esq., in an interesting and patriotic speech, and was accepted, in behalf of the
company, but its young and gifted commander, Lee Crandall, Esq., in remarks
eminently touching and appropriate. After
a lively martial air by the Band, two magnificent banners, prepared for the
Company that had been disbanded, by the noble and patriotic ladies of
Alexandria, was then presented by M. Canfield, Esq., in an address of great
power and eloquence, and they were accepted on the part of the Company by Rev.
Dr. Howard in the following speech:
["] Ladies:
The "Rapides Invincibles," whose organ I am, accept, with
indescribable pleasure, this beautiful banner and flag, as a token of your
admiration of their patriotism and courage, and a pledge of your own devotion to
the high and holy cause in which they have embarked their fortunes and their
lives.
It is a memorable fact in the history of Women, that, though her peculiar
sphere is the fireside of home—the quiet and peaceful retirement of domestic
life—yet, whenever extraordinary emergencies have arisen fraught with peril to
society, she has thrust aside the timidities of her sex, the instincts of her
nature, and the prejudices of her education, and displayed a valor and a
patriotism which put to shame the noblest qualities of the sterner sex.
History, both sacred and profane, abounds with narratives n this point
exquisitely delicate and touching. when
the children of Israel had seceded from the government of Egypt, and Pharoah and
his hosts, in hot pursuit to force them back to their galling allegiance, were
drowned in the depths of the Red Sea, it was Miriam, who, with a timbrel in her
hand, followed by the daughters of Israel with timbrels and dances, wove those
exultant strains—"Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea."
It was Jael, who decoyed into her tent the lordly and imperious Sisera,
who was marching against her countrymen with his nine hundred chariots of war,
and his thousands of armed and disciplined warriors; and, as he lay sleeping
under her roof, pity for her people fired her breast, hatred for the tyrant
gleamed in her eye, and nerved her arm, and with silent and stealthy tread she
crept to the couch of the sleeping Captain, and immolated him as a sacrifice to
the God of Heaven. It was the Spartan Mother, who, when her country was
trembling beneath the mailed heels of a foreign foe, buckled the sword on the
side of her son, and told him to "come home with honor or be borne home
dead." It was the women of '76
who inspired with energy and heroism the fathers of the revolution, and nerved
them for those splendid victories which won and established our country's
independence. And it is the mothers
and daughters and sisters of 1861, who are animating with their smiles and
counsels the freemen of these Confederate States, and encouraging them to repel
the heartless and fanatical invaders from Southern soil. With woman to cheer and inspire, there will be no lack of
brave hearts and strong hands.
Ladies—We accept this banner and flag with unfeigned delight.
We will beat them when and where the battle rages the fiercest, and when
danger is the most imminent. And
remembering that your hands wrought them, that your lips have blessed them, that
your hearts have gone up in prayer to God
that victory may perch upon them, we will never, while a man of us lives to wave
them, suffer them to be trailed in the dust, or a dastard hand to soil their
beauty; and we will bring them back again, riddled, perhaps, by the bullets of
the foe, when our state and firesides are secure, and the last armed enemy has
retreated or expired. For to the
degrading yoke of northern usurpation we will never yield, until the Mississippi
provokes her ancient bed, or our boundless and fertile prairies rise up in
rugged and barren mountains to the sky.["]
At the close of the ceremony of presentation, a closing appeal, full of
fervor and appropriateness, was made by Rev. Mr. Cravens.
At eight o'clock in the evening the steamer Rapides moved up to the
landing, and the Company, all on board, amid the cheering of the crowd, and the
booming of the cannon, she steamed away, while the prayers and benedictions of
every heart, followed that brave and gallant Company like the breath of Heaven.
We sincerely regret that circumstances prevent our giving in full the
several patriotic addresses delivered on this occasion, and other interesting
particulars. We may have something
further to say upon the subject in our next.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 25, 1861, p. 2, c. 3
Naturalization Papers.
That ever interesting paper, the Nashville Christian Advocate, whose
editor, the Rev. Mr. McTeiyre, we learn is a member of the Louisiana Conference
of the M. E. Church, in a late issue contains the following timely and
appropriate remarks on this important subject.
We heartily concur in what he says:
["] In the revolutionary war, natives of Scotland, England, Ireland,
and the rest of the world, approved themselves as staunch defenders of their
adopted country. all tories were
not foreign born; many of them were natives.
The courts for naturalizing citizens are not in session during wars. The process for naturalizing is, at such times, summary and
satisfactory to all the ends of patriotism.
Men are naturalized by becoming the defenders of their soil and
institutions. Thousands of
foreigners took out their naturalization papers at Lexington, and Yorktown, and
the Cowpens and King's Mountain. Nobody
can dispute such papers. No
now—nobody need look into our volunteer companies, or along the lists of
generous contributors to the equipments of soldiers and the support of their
families, and ask, Where was this man born?
No matter whether he was born in New York or Ohio or Carolina, if he has
cast in his lot with the South and her defenders.
He is our countryman, just as much so as if born among us. He is so by most deliberate choice, and henceforth by
indisputable title. Mason and
Dixon's line is not the test—but the line of patriotic duty.
The first company here in Nashville that offered themselves to the
Governor was the "German Rifles."
Very soon after, the "Sons of Erin" stood forth.
Many, both officers and privates, of the most brave and self-sacrificing
men who have entered, hand, soul, mind and fortune, into the defence of the
South, were born in foreign countries, which now include the North.
There is no difference.["]
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 25, 1861, p. 2, c.
3
Colored Soldiers.—Col. F. L. Claiborn, of Pointe Coupée, has organized
a company of eight of the free colored men of his parish, and says his company
will compete for the honor of taking Old Abe captive.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], May 25, 1861, p. 4, c.
1
Home-Made Clothing.—It is becoming very fashionable in our town and
country to wear clothing, the product of our own looms.
Men dress themselves in jeans of various colors, and of simple dyes, made
by their wives and daughters and sisters. [illegible]
a spirit of rivalry begins to show itself as to which can make the finest,
softest, and most elegant fabric. This is a commendable spirit at any time, and particularly
now in these decidedly revolutionary times, when each separate sovereignty
[illegible] that it must look to its own resources, that we must depend upon our
own looms and discard as far as possible all foreign fabrics.
There is no State, which has composed part of the old Union, now
dismembered, in a better condition to inaugurate a system of home dependence,
for all articles of wear, than Texas. Cotton
and wool are produced in the greatest abundance, and our forests abound with
simple and cheap dyestuffs, and our wives and daughters are both able and
willing to spin and weave without detracting them from their ornamental
abilities. A lady may play with
much skill upon the piano, and her voice be as sweet, and full of compass, and
as thrilling, if she knows how to handle the shuttle, or spin the humming wheel,
as though she will not have the latter necessary accomplishments.
The surest way for a people to become rich, happy and independent, is to
export more than they import—to manufacture as much as possible all the
articles they use, and only to buy foreign fabrics when they can be obtained
cheaper than at home. [illegible]
then in exchange for surplus products. All
things have a beginning, and we record this proclivity to wear home-made clothes
as but the beginning of a system of manufactures in Texas which is to result in
a complete independence of European and Norther pauper labor.
We have the means in the greatest abundance—the raw material, the
capital to introduce machinery, and the labor of our own, and to the "manor
born." Then what have we to
fear? A few years of fancied
deprivation may come upon us. And
some may regret the necessity which imposes upon them the wearing of home-spun,
but out of such a state of things, will eventually spring an empire of
unex[illegible] prosperity and greatness.—Texas [illegible]rer.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 1, c. 3
Bible, Blanket, Bowie.
Give him a bowie-knife!
With a blessing;
No time for kind phrases,
For tears of caressing.
Show him the weapon—
Bid him he use it—
Fame for each true thrust—
Shame if he abuse it!
Give him a Bible!
God's holy word
Be the stay of his spirit,
The aid of his sword!
By daylight and firelight
Pray him he read,
His solace in danger,
His counsel in need.
Give him a blanket!
And at night's falling
Be his thought of the land
For steel and blood calling!
May he ne'er close his eye
With home sigh of sorrow,
But vow to strike home,
Wooing death on the morrow!
Let him fight the good battle!
This triad alliance
Shall cheer him to boldly
Bid peril defiance!
Send you hopes with him—
He stakes a man's life—
Be his trust in his Savior,
But his hand on his knife!
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 1, c.
4
At West Point, Georgia, a company of Jews are organized, and an oath
taken by the members requiring half an hour in the [illegible]ing. A splendid banner was presented to the company, bearing the
inscription "Jehova nissi"—"God is with us," and the
Ensign on receiving it took a solemn oath to plant it on the Capitol at
Washington, or die in the attempt.—Baltimore American.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 1, c.
7
Discomforts of a New York Belle.—The New York Express publishes the
following:
Madison Square.
Dear Coz.—This horrid war that everybody is talking about has
interfered so with society that I have scarcely anything to tell you. Absolutely so many of the beaux have volunteered that we
can't have any German. There's one
of the consequences of civil war that I'm sure could never have been
contemplated. I think if it were
known, peace would be immediately proclaimed.
You haven't any idea of our sufferings here.
The girls have to talk to old beaux who were rejected by our
grandmothers; we have to spend all of our time at lint and bandage parties, and
our fingers are sore with scraping old napkins.
But its all the rage. They
sat a company of Florence Nightingales is to be formed; each lady to carry a
lamp; but I don't see any use in that unless it is like Diogenes, to look for a
man. Oh, the desolation of the ball
rooms! But I suppose I shouldn't
tell the enemy of our deprivations. I
haven't had a new bonnet since Easter; Pa says all his Southern stock is good
for nothing, and he must be economical. Lucy
Lovem is engaged—her intended proposed himself the day before his regiment
sailed, and of course she couldn't refuse at such a time.
I'm sure I should have accepted the whole company.
At any rate I wish they'd have proposed.
Ever so many marriages have been hurried up by the wars.
My cousin Matilda McFlimsey was one of the brides and she wore star
spangles all over her veil.
The worst of it all is, we cannot get our strawberries or peas from
Savannah. What is to be done?
Ma gives a dinner next week, and the idea of no green peas and absolutely
no strawberries for dessert? Don't
you think you could smuggle some to us? It
wouldn't be giving aid and comfort to the enemy, would it?
Surely food is not contraband of war, and really without our Southern
vegetables and fruits, the dinner would be a failure.
Oh dear, oh dear, no German; and no green peas!
What a dreadful thing war is.
Yours, my love, confidingly,
Florinda M.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The Cheneyville Barbecue.—The barbecue given at Cheneyville yesterday
by the citizens of that town and vicinity, in honor of Capt. Keary's fine
company which is about to depart for the wars, was a magnificent and orderly
affair, and gave infinite pleasure and satisfaction to all the participants.
The Southern Guards (of which we have the honor of being a member) were
in attendance as invited guests, and were hospitably received and entertained by
the people of bayou Boeuf and Cheneyville.
This company were very kindly tendered by Messrs. R. S. & T. K.
Smith, the use of the cars for their conveyance, free of charge.
The Guards, upon returning to the Alexandria depot, manifested their
grateful acknowledgements by giving three hearty cheers for the Messrs. Smiths
and three more were added for the noble and lovely ladies of Cheneyville.
Our hurry at this late moment prevents our giving in the present issue
all the particulars of the day's proceedings, but we shall endeavor to furnish a
full description of them in our next paper.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
The Zouaves.—These celebrated artistes performed at this place on
Tuesday and Wednesday last, to moderate audiences.
We were duly on hand the first night to see the "elephant," but
as the actors spoke entirely in French, we could comprehend but little of its
true merits (?). The few however
who could understand what was said, seemed to be overjoyed, and whenever they
would applaud, we, as well as others, taking it for granted that surely there
must be something very "good," would applaud also.
If another such a troupe should ever come this way again we would advise
the managers to send along interpreters to keep the audience posted with what
the actors are talking about. This
thing of listening to a performance and not understanding a word, is any thing
but pleasant.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 2, c.
1
Christine Milly, the two-headed girl on exhibition last Tuesday and
Wednesday last, is doubtless the greatest natural curiosity in the world.
We found her as represented on the bills.
The old adage that "two heads are better than one," may be a
truthful saying at times, but in this instance, we think the adage will not hold
good.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL [ALEXANDRIA, LA], June 1, 1861, p. 2, c.
4
[Communicated.
Regulating the Town.
Some miscreants, on the night of Friday last, taking advantage of the
absence of the patrol, consequent on the great fatigue undergone by all on that
day, committed various nocturnal depredations, such as tearing down fences and
letting cattle into honest citizens enclosures, carrying away vehicles,
up-turning and breaking the same, tearing gates which were locked, from their
hinges, breaking sign-boards, &c., &c., and with more diabolical cunning
than success, tried to charge these mid-night depredations on the members of the
Hope Fire Company. We trust the
public is aware that the mission of this gallant company is, protection to all
good citizens in their person and property, and that under their future title of
the "Alexandria Hope Defencibles," they will evince their readiness to
do so on all occasions.
A man who is supposed to know the parties concerned in "Friday
night's transactions"—but, who refuses to give names until compelled to
do so by the proper authorities, exonerates this company from any participation
in it.