LEAVES FROM THE DIARY OF LOUISE by George Ann Benoit

Leaves from the Diary of Louise came back to the pages of the Lake Charles American Press on August 22, 1975, after an absence of almost 46 years. It had originally appeared from time to time between August 17, 1925, and November 25, 1929, as an unsigned column in diary form. Since its initial reappearance in 1975, 85 other entries were printed, either completely or in part, in the Fifty Years Ago column of the American Press. This book contains 92 additional entries that have not been included in the Fifty Years Ago column.

Who was Louise? This is the question that first excited Robert Benoit as he discovered her diary on the microfilmed pages of the American Press while working on the Press’ Fifty Years Ago column. Soon this question also had local historians and the readers of Fifty Years Ago buzzing with the publication of each new installment. As Louise revealed interesting facts about the 19^th century village of Lake Charles, she also told about herself and her husband, Michael; but she never gave her family name or even a good clue that could lead to its discovery. Readers of Fifty Years Ago called the American Press asking about Louise’s identity. American Press City Editor Jim Beam then wrote a story on October 4, 1975, about the mysterious diarist. In his story he asked for help identifying the author of Leaves of Louise, but to no avail. One researcher named Owen Bourque, a local high school history teacher, told of searching microfilmed census records, also to no avail. Another knowledgeable Lake Charles historian theorized that Louise was not a real person at all, although the events she told about really did happen.

This latter theory about Louise’s identity is the one that seems most plausible to me. A contributor to the American Press during the years 1925-1929 could have used copies of the Calcasieu Press, published from 1855 to 1866; The Lake Charles Echo, published from 1868 to 1895; The Weekly Calcasieu Gazette, published from 1878 to 1879; The Lake Charles Commercial, published from 1881 to 1898; The American, published from 1885 to 1898 as a basis for a newspaper column. These newspapers are no longer available to the public, although they are still owned privately in Lake Charles. Unfortunately, they have not been microfilmed; therefore, complete verification of this theory is not possible at this time. (This was the case when Leaves was written. However, at the present time most of these newspapers are microfilmed and are available in the McNeese Library and the SWLA Historical and Genealogical Library.) A list of dates of issue of these old newspapers, however, does show a correlation between the entry dates in Louise’s diary and the publication dates of a number of these old newspapers - hence the belief that these old newspapers are indeed the sources for Louise’s diary. Further verification of this theory is given by Louise herself when she often refers to particular newspapers as she does in speaking of The Lake Charles Echo in her diary entries for February 15, July 25, and December 19, 1868; June 24, 1871; June 6, 1874; and of other papers on later dates.

The similarity of Louise’s wording and that of existing historical documents provides further evidence that Louise was created by someone who had access to published historical material about early Lake Charles. The Lake Charles Centennial Celebration Official Program, published in 1967, quotes from The Lake Charles Echo dated March 26, 1880:

Everyone feels like shouting! At ten o’clock this morning the gap in the railroad between Lake Charles and Orange was closed. Lake Charles is now connected with Houston and all parts of the world. It is almost too wonderful to be true.

Hooray! Everybody feels like jumping up and down and shouting. For at 10 o’clock this morning the gap in our railroad between Lake Charles and Orange was closed. A locomotive left here and went all the way to Orange. That means that Lake Charles is now connected by rail, via Houston, with all parts of the United States. Isn’t that wonderful? Almost too wonderful to believe. But it’s really true.

There are also discrepancies in the diary which make it appear to be the work of someone not living at the time of the diary entries. For example, the most glaring inaccuracy is in two of her entries for 1868. On February 15, Louise tells of the double wedding uniting her and Michael and Max and Marie. Only eight months later on October 12 of the same year she states that the two couples have now been married 15 years. In another entry she subtracted 1832 from 1872 and got fifty years. There is the possibility that the 15-year discrepancy is meant to be taken tongue in cheek, and the mathematical error is merely that, or a typographical error. However, when Louise loses track of her own age and that of her husband and of her brother Max, one knows that there is something wrong with her credibility as a real person. For example, Louise gives her age on January 3, 1859, as 15. Twenty-six years later on April 25, 1885, when she should be 41, she says that she 43. Similarly, 24 years after April 27, 1861, when Michael and Max are ages 17 and 18 respectively, she says that Michael is 46 years old instead of 41 and Max is 45 years old instead of 42. Amusingly, somehow during this span of years Louise has also managed to have the two men swap positions in regard to which one is older.

As one reads the diary, he also finds that in the beginning the diary style of writing is thoughtful, absorbing, and closely adhered to. In contrast to this, one finds toward the end of the diary that the writer seems to grow tired of telling about personal experiences and has to resort more and more to listing names and events in order to keep the diary going. It is as if the diary style gradually gives way to the style of a newspaper’s society column as the years progress.

In bringing all of Louise’s 178 diary entries together under on cover, I have tried to record every word as it was originally published in the American Press, with the possible exception of correcting a few obvious typographical errors in the spelling of common words. The spelling of proper names was a problem because of inconsistencies in the original text, as in spelling of Hamand, Hammand, and Hammond. Rather than change a spelling and make a person’s name incorrect, I will leave it up to the reader to make corrections if he knows the proper spelling of misspelled names.

After working for many months with this material, I have come to have a deep-felt respect for Louise, be she a real person or a fictional creation. If she by some remote chance happens to have been a real person, than I hope to someday learn her full name. If she is a fictional creation, as seems most likely to me, then I hope someday to learn the name of the person who was her creator. I am confident that this unknown writer, whom I take to be a woman, would be happy to know that the diarist she invented also entertained and informed an even larger audience of readers in the 1970’s than she did in the 1920’s. As Louise herself put it in her April 27, 1868, entry:

Who knows? Someday, 50 years from now perhaps someone may find it interesting to turn through the pages of this book and read what I have set down here.

This is my first effort at publishing a book. I found out very early that it would not be an easy task and that I would need help. Because of the assistance I received from each of the following people, along with encouragement from family and friends who learned of my work, I want to publicly thank:

Robert Benoit, my husband, my editor, and my foremost supporter, for without his help and encouragement, this book would be far less than it is. Mrs. Patti Kiser, reference librarian at the Downtown Branch of the Calcasieu Parish Library, who assisted me in many ways and who listened each time I found something new to share. Charles Shaw, professional book illustrator of Seguin, Texas, who imagined Louise as she might have been and drew the cover. Jim Beam, city editor of the Lake Charles American Press, who helped in the search for Louise’s identity and who assisted me in other ways. Hugh Shearman, publisher of the Lake Charles American Press, for permission to quote the American Press. Miss Mary Louise Giraud, head librarian, Calcasieu Parish Public Library System, for enthusiastic encouragement. Dr. Donald J. Millet, former professor of history at McNeese State University, for encouragement before the actual research got under way. Mrs. Floy Nelson Allen, whose telephone conversations increased my interest in Lake Charles history. John, David and Matthew Benoit, my sons, who have endured the inconveniences of a mother whose main focus lately has been in the past. Thank you.

January 3, 1859
Marie and I went down to the wharf today to see the schooner “John Williams” come in. It carried a cargo of goods, from Galveston, for A. Pujo & Bros. Captain Foster had a lot of stories to tell us, as he always has. Some day, yet, some day, I am going to Galveston. Marie says she will go with me. Captain Foster said he would hide us in his cargo of lumber, with which he will start on the 7^th. He laughed when he said it, but I think it would really be fun. Mother says I have a long time yet in which to see the world. I am only 15.

Captain Foster hears all the news of the world. He told us about the Atlantic cable. It has been finally conceded to be a failure and will be abandoned. There is no hope of making it answer any useful purpose and this enterprise, which we have been hearing talked about for so long, is at an end. It is too bad. The men who have been thinking about it and planning for it and working for it will be so disappointed. When I talked to father about it he said that it had not been a complete failure. It has done two things. It has shown that wires can be laid from shore to shore and that electric force can be carried from one end to the other. Father says this will not be the last attempt, that somebody is going to try again, that they will take the little bit of success gained this time and use it on which to build a little bigger success next time. He says that’s the way the world makes progress, and in spite of this failure, he believes that 50 years from now, messages will be flashing back and forth, from Europe to America, under the water.
Mother is greatly worried about Rene. The superintendent of schools, so the Press for this week says, has suggested a change in the law to read that the children from 8 to 18 be given the benefit of school appropriations, instead of from 6 to 16. Rene is 6. Mother is teaching her at home this year. She knows the alphabet and she can read and write quite well already. We had hoped she might have a teacher next year. But he school man says that attempts to teach children of 6 and 7 have been literally thrown away, that at that age they can learn only by observation without being able to understand or appreciate what they have learned. He says, too, that by this change in the law more than one hundred thousand dollars a year will be saved in the expenses of the free schools. Mother says she will go to teaching Rene at home, if there’s nothing else to be done.

Rain, rain, rain! I think I never saw so much. Louisiana has almost broken her own record the last few weeks. The roads, even here in the village, are so sloppy and slushy that I haven’t been out of the yard, not even over to see Marie, for four days. About the time we think the rain has stopped, and somebody goes into the house to put away an umbrella, why, it’s pouring again. The creeks and bayous are filled to overflowing. Father said at the dinner table today that if preparations had been made in the summer, enough logs could be floated down the streams now, in a few hours, to keep the mills here running for a year. Father says there is a great deal of talk now about some men who are thoroughly prepared for the business coming in here and revolutionizing our saw mills. I wish some new people would move in. They say that the number of mills in Lake Charles right now, and the amount of lumber sawed here, makes it rank among the lumber regions of the country.

Max said today that there was talk of having a log rolling some day soon, with, of course, a dance at night. Oh! I hope they do. Max will have to take me and Michael will take Marie. Brothers are very convenient sometimes. Of course, by the time we get home we will probably have exchanged brothers. It is not settled yet when the dance will be. We will probably have to swim a coulee or two to get there, but little do we care for that.

Lake Charles may have a railroad. There was a man here the other day who gave us a little hope. He was an engineer of the Houston, Sabine and New Iberia Railroad and he was looking for a good place for his road to cross the Calcasieu. He found that the place where there was the least depth of water, 28 feet, was where the river blends into the lake, and most people seem to think that they will build the line right there. If they do, it will come through this village.

About all the other news that has happened here lately is a meeting of the police jury. Jacob Ryan resigned as president. They are going to find out is Mrs. Martha C. Kirby will give a title to the square of land where the court house and jail are standing. Dempsey Iles has been appointed overseer of public roads in the ward from Barnes Creek to Bundicks Creek. Francois LeBleu has been appointed seller of unbranded stock that may be found wandering around in the 4^th ward. D. A. Lyons and C. W. Alston are going to examine the books of James Hodges who has just resigned after faithfully performing the duties of parish treasurer and depository of the free school funds for many years.

We have heard nothing more from the railroad so I suppose we’re not to have it. But there has been a great deal of excitement here lately, without any railroad. Just a crowd of rowdies, out for a good time. But conditions really became serious. So much so that there was a meeting of citizens the other day. They organized the “Law and Order Company of Lake Charles.” The company is to be in operation until the town is incorporated and it is going to protect the property and interests of the town against violence and breaches of peace and it will assist the officers of the law and protect the courts in the discharge of duties and do several other things like that. They have appointed nine deputies, and they say that if we fail to have peace now, law won’t give it. I should say so; with nine deputies most any man you see now is very likely to be a deputy. By name they are Jacob Ryan, David Goos, Joseph Bilbo, Wm. Haskell, E. A. King, C. Barbe, L. LaFranc, Nathan G. Davis and Asa Ryan. Other members of the Law and Order Co. are Isaac Ryan, Michel Pithon, Jos. Pujo, W. H. Kirkman, Jos. Sallier, Victor Touchy and Michel Benoit.

Marie spent the afternoon with me. There’s going to be a party tomorrow night on the other side of Antoine's coulee, and we were each finishing a new dress to wear. I hope Michael will like mine, but, of course, I didn’t tell Marie that. She might have told Michael. But I did want o know which he likes better, blue or red ribbons. I asked Marie that, in a casual sort of way, but she had just picked up a new copy of the Press and she began to read aloud to me something about the steamship “Niagra” just arriving in Boston and bringing the news from Europe that Emperor Louis Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie have gone to Lyons to meet the Dowager Empress of Russia. And then she went on reading some other things like that. Sometimes Marie is very exasperating. I cared a great deal more about what Michael thought about colors of ribbons than I did about the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie and Dowager Empresses, but of course, I didn’t tell Marie that, either, for to Marie, Michael is only a brother. I didn’t have the courage to try asking her about the ribbons again.

About all anybody can talk about these days is the presidential election; that, and the many troubles that are in the air, all of which, it seems, revolve more or less about the election. Father says the country is facing a serious crisis. They’ve made a new election precinct at the store of John Iles, at Sugartown, in the 6^th ward of this parish. At Big Lake, Besire Farquar is one of the commissioners; at Lacassine, O. Derouen; at Barnes Creek, Sam Cole; at Hickory Branch, R. W. Perkins; at Big Woods, Luke Lyons; at Grangers, Jacob Cole; at Hickman’s Ferry, W. B. Berry; at the Meeting House, J. C. Simmons; at Sugartown, H. W. Iles; at Anacoco, William Slaydon; at Calcasieu Pass, G. W. Wakefield; at Johnson’s Bayou, Z. Griffith.
Michael told me last night that he wished he were old enough to vote. Max has been wishing the same thing.

Breckenridge got it, in Calcasieu Parish, I mean. Of course it will be some time before we will know the result of the national election. He received 396 votes in this parish.

Louisiana has been called on for 5,000 troops. That really means war. A company is forming in Lake Charles.

Max and Michael are wild to join but of course, they’re not old enough to do that, either. Michael is 17 and Max is 18.

We haven’t heard much news for three weeks because the Press has not been able to get any papers. The water has been so high that it has been impossible to get here from New Iberia with the mail, so the Press has only local news to print. Judge Mouton came in from Lafayette a week ago and he told us what he had read in a New Orleans paper 12 days ago. That helped some. Everybody is hoping the Press can soon get some exchange papers again so we can find out something about war conditions.

Yesterday, down in the very bottom of my trunk, I found this little diary. Poor little thing. Forgotten for 7 years.

But no one could be expected to keep a diary during the terrible war times we passed through. There was so much anxiety and we were in so much suspense. And then, ever since the war there have been the many readjustment problems that have worried everybody. It seems that just now for the first time, people are beginning to be happy again.

Michael and I are just as happy in our new white cottage. And I believe Max and Marie are just as happy in their little brown cottage. Our double wedding, two weeks ago, rather took Lake Charles by surprise, I think. Our fathers and mothers said it was hard to be asked to give up both a son and a daughter at the same time, but we four thought, having played around together since we were children it would be nice to get married at the same time. Michael and Max worked together, evenings, just before the wedding making part of the furniture for both houses – of course we bought some of the pieces – and Marie and I made dear little white dimity curtains for all the windows. We are really very proud of our little homes.

I had a letter from Aunt Matilde today. She says she is going to send Cousin Lorraine here to attend the spring term of the Lake Charles Male and Female Academy. She wanted to know the expenses and I must write to tell her. The mail carrier will be back from the Sabine River tomorrow and he can take the letter to New Iberia. The total expenses at the Academy are $11 a month, and that includes $9 for board, room and laundry and $2 for tuition. The pupils have to furnish their own bedding, lights and soap, though.

Again, Lake Charles has a newspaper, after being without for most of the time during the war when usually there was nothing to print it on but the back of wallpaper. The Echo got out its first issue today. It promises to give us all the news of the day from the exchange papers it gets. Only, of course, it won’t get them regularly. The mail can not be depended on to arrive even once a week from New Iberia.

The Echo says today that Lake Charles has improved more in the last two years than it did in 10 years before the war.

It’s strange how little time a housewife has to do the things she used to do when she was a girl. I shall write down a few of the things that happen in Lake Charles. Who knows? Someday, 50 years from now perhaps someone may find it interesting to turn through the pages of this book and read what I have set down here.

A newspaper, the Herald from San Antonio, Texas, was received in Lake Charles today. It tells of an Indian raid that has been made in Llano County. The white people had been missing things for some time. Finally someone caught eight of the plundering band. They followed then to camp and there they found quite a lot of the things that the Indians had stolen. They put the Indians to rout and that’s the last that has been heard of them.

We’re still having trouble with the mail. The tri-weekly mail from New Iberia occasionally arrives as often as once a week. Michael says he heard some men talking about it at the post-office today. They said if the contractor didn’t comply more strictly with his agreement, a complaint would be made to Washington. For a while four-horse stages were used, with relay every four miles. Then they tried two horse-backs with relays every 16 miles. Now a rickety open buggy is used.

I’m reading a delightful new book, a French comedy, Miss Suzanne. In that, we get an idea of how we look to the French. They are very much surprised it seems that American women can make their own living by giving lessons, and they are much more surprised to find that it is possible for a woman to walk alone down the streets of New York without meeting undesirable expressions of admiration, to say the least. I should like to see Miss Suzanne on the stage, but then plays don’t come to Lake Charles. Not hardly.

Hooray! Michael heard today that there is an engineer on the way to Lake Charles to examine the country for a railroad from New Iberia to Sabine. Of course, this may be just another false alarm; we’ve had so many of them. But, at least, we are hoping again. We saw a copy of the New Orleans Times in the Echo office the other day and it had a long article in it about the value of 117 miles of railroad from New Iberia on the Teche to Orange, putting all this territory into communication with Houston, a radiating point for 600 miles of railroads.

We were so disappointed this week when the mail came in. We were all standing around when the bag was opened, eagerly waiting. And there, after all, it proved to be the mail for Opelousas, and not Lake Charles at all. I suppose the bags had been mixed, and our mail had gone there. It was a terrible disappointment.

We have some new parish officers. D. J. Reid is our new parish judge, J. M. Reid is sheriff, I. B. Kirkman is recorder, J.C. LeBleu is assessor.

Hon. A. Pujo has returned from the General Assembly in New Orleans. He says that Congress has appointed a committee to propose and present a bill for the admission of Louisiana into the federal union under the new constitution. He says, too, that the impeachment trial of President Johnson is still going on and that the trial of Jefferson Davis is to begin June 3. Michael saw Mr. Pujo in the Echo office, giving the editor the news. He stopped only a minute, though. He was in such a hurry to get to his home on the river.

I spent the evening with Marie last night and we sewed. Max and Michael went to a meeting of the new Masonic Lodge. It was so late when they got back we had begun to worry. We even thought of the Indians who have been making trouble over in Texas. But they came back safe and sound at last. They said they had a big meeting with a very eloquent address by George Wells. There were men there who had driven 25 and 30 miles in buggies and wagons to hear him.

The mail came today. One mule brought it all the way from New Iberia. The carrier went on to the Sabine and then he is going all the way back to New Iberia, 150 miles for the round trip. Of course we can’t expect that mule to bring the mail three times a week. Not unless he is a very extraordinary mule.

Hon. A. Pujo came home today. He has been in New Orleans where he was a representative in the General Assembly. He told Michael there is a great deal of talk in the city about the impeachment trial that is now in progress for President Johnson. The Echo will obtain a great deal of news about it from the exchange newspapers that the mail brought today, too.

There was a stranger in town today. He passed the house several times this morning. When Michael came home for dinner, I asked him if he knew who it was. He did. The man’s name is A. E. Davis, and he is general agent of the overland mail route from New Orleans to Texas. He is reorganizing all the routes in this section of the country and having bridges repaired and some improvements made in the roads and various things like that done. He has promised that the mail on the New Iberia-Orange route will be more punctual after this.

Michael says there are rumors again that an engineer will visit Lake Charles sometime soon in the interest of a railroad from New Iberia to the Sabine. But we have heard so many rumors of that sort we don’t put much faith in them anymore.

We have an entirely new set of parish officers elected. They are D. J. Reid, parish judge; J. B. Kirkman, recorder; J. LeBleu, assessor; Asa Ryan, parish clerk; Stephen Andrus, D.A. Lyons, J. Bilbo and T. J. Lyons are among the justices of the peace.

Marie and I went shopping today. Louis Fisher has just come back from New Orleans with new supplies for his store and he has a wonderful assortment of things. It was fun just to look things over.

This has been a busy day in town. There were three important meetings. There was a police jury meeting, a town council meeting and a meeting to more thoroughly organize the Democratic Party. J. L. Bilbo was made president of the police jury and M. G. Rosteet was made clerk. James Cole is juror from the first ward, F. G. Hay from the second, J. L. Bilbo from the third, John Wing from the fourth, T. J. Lyons from the fifth, J. B. Ashley from the sixth and G. H. Guptill from the seventh. Louis Leveque has been elected parish attorney.

There’s a wave of excitement in town. They are saying that the Oil Springs are promising hope to our impoverished parish and state now, when all other hopes and prospects seem blasted. Here’s hoping that the Oil Springs fulfill their promise.

There’s an article in the Echo this week that says the world is reputed to be 5868 years old.

Hon. Wm. E. Haskell, our representative to the legislature, has sent the local paper a file of New Orleans papers so we have some news. We have learned that there are some men from New Orleans in New York now trying to get a loan with which to build a railroad from New Orleans to Texas. How I hope they will succeed!

It seems there is some yellow fever in New Orleans. I hope it will not be a serious plague.

Michael says there’s a great deal of talk now about the bright prospects that Lake Charles faces through the advantage of cheap water transportation. The men are saying that as soon as Western producers learn to see the superiority of this port over Atlantic ports and that articles can be shipped from here at one third the cost they have been paying, why, then Lake Charles’ future is assured. Michael says that soon sugar, coffee, salt, iron and lots of other articles will be shipped through this port, instead of through an Atlantic port, to 15,000,000 people living in the Mississippi Valley.

There was a big democratic meeting and barbeque at Big Woods yesterday. Everybody and his family were there, which means there were about 300. Max and Marie and Michael and I all drove over in a wagon that Max had borrowed. We had the best time ever. It was just like the good times we four used to have together before we were married. Max said it made him feel young again and Michael said it made him almost forget the past 15 years he had been married. Marie and I looked at our husbands and assured them coldly that the time since our wedding day seemed just as long to us as it did to them. Whereupon the boys brought us each a cup of coffee to make amends.

George H. Wells made an address at the meeting and Louis Leveque did too. There was a lot of cheering for Seymour and Blair, our next president and vice president. It was decided that we will have another meeting, with a barbeque, here in Lake Charles, next week.

On our way home from Big Woods, we visited the oil wells. It seems that our hopes of so long are about to be realized. Rock has been found at a depth of 333 feet in one well and indications for oil are increasing with every inch. The men said that in the last 20 days more has been accomplished than in 2 years before. James Munn is superintendent of the work. He is an oil expert who has accomplished some splendid results in Canada and Pennsylvania. His company is made up of a band of loyal, faithful men. They have sometimes lived for whole weeks on nothing but sweet potatoes and salted mackerel and they have never been known to murmur.

It was hard to settle down to work today after picnic yesterday. I prepared an extra good dinner for Michael and after the dishes were done I took my sewing and went over to Marie’s to spend the afternoon. I’m making a new brown wool dress for winter and Marie is making a blue one. If we hurry we hope to have finished in time to wear to the barbecue here next week.

Michael said at dinner today that the last paper from New Orleans that has reached Lake Charles says that Jefferson Davis is in England now.

Thanks to Postmaster Charles Glasspool and Louis Levy the mail was received today, the first since Oct. 30. It has been accumulating at Vermillionville, or Lafayette, for weeks and weeks. There hasn’t been any contract signed to carry the mail and there hasn't been any other was to get it. The stage coaches have stopped running and there hasn’t been any cattle on the road, so there just hasn’t been anybody going to carry it. Just think, if we only had a railroad we could get the mail every day. Or if only the officials in the post office department at Washington would look at a map once in a while and remember there is such a place as Calcasieu Parish in the state of Louisiana and arrange to have a carrier for our mail. They say that Washington thought, when it established this mail route, that the railroad would soon come, and now, since it hasn’t come yet, they are losing interest.

The Echo has been coming out in a half sheet for some time. It can’t give us any news because it can’t get any to give, without mail and exchange papers from New Orleans. However, New Orleans has been asked to send their papers to Galveston, where they will be forwarded to us by schooner.

Our little village of Lake Charles is dressing up. Several people are painting their houses and new fences are being built. Really, this is a beautiful little place, but Michael says we’ll never be able to convince travelers of that until we have a hotel and a stable for their convenience. There is no place now for them or their horses, except as the hospitality of the citizens throws their own doors and accommodations open to them.

Captain Christian, from the light house at the bar at Calcasieu Pass, was here yesterday. He says the Calcasieu River has been doing a big business the past year. In the three months of January, February and March 374 vessels passed the bar, most of them schooners carrying lumber. The Mermentau and Sabine Rivers are also doing a large amount of business. Captain Christian said that one man near here shipped $2,000 worth of oranges on the vessels. There has been a large amount of tallow and hides shipped, too.

The weather is too lovely to stay indoors. Michael and I took a ride in our new buggy around through the country Sunday afternoon. Crops are coming along splendidly, sugar cane, corn and cotton. Michael says there won’t be so many schooner loads of corn imported this fall and winter. There’s more land in cultivation around here then there has ever been before.

We saw some beautiful gardens on our drive. I surely wish someone, through charity or through an interest in the town, would start a market, where the farmers can bring their fresh vegetables to sell. It’s an awful problem trying to find something to cook. I never know, one day, what I’m going to find for tomorrow’s dinner.

We crossed English Bayou on the new ferry that Miss Sarah Esclavon is operating. She charges fifty cents for a horse and buggy, $1.00 for a wagon or ox cart, 15 cents for a man and horse and 10 cents for a footman or lead horse.

We are getting our mail every week now but it reaches here six days after it arrives in Mermentau. It gets there on Tuesday and is brought over here on the next Monday. If the rider could only make his trip on Wednesday instead of Monday our news, and our letters, would be a little fresher. But then, after all the troubles we’ve had, often not getting the mail for months at a time, we are thankful for a weekly mail, though, as the editor of our paper says, it is sometimes a “weakly” mail by the time it gets here, it is so old.

Yesterday Marie and I and our husbands went down to the river to see the new schooner, Adeline, launched. James Blair and John LeCocq have covered themselves with glory for having built it. Everybody is saying if all the other young men in Lake Charles would follow their example, what an enterprising thing it would be for our village. The Adeline is really a beautiful architectural triumph. It was launched with complete ceremonies, wine and cake and everything, and then last night we all went to a ball on board.

There’s a new building going up on Ryan Street. Michael says it would pay anyone to invest and build here, because some day the railroad is coming and then this village is going to become a town.

The Weekly paper gives us the latest news from New Orleans. It says the city has never been more healthful. There are only an average of 120 deaths a week, and there is only one case of yellow fever. That was brought in from Havana. But there are a lot of robberies going on in private residences and business, it is said, is dull in all departments.

We’re going to have two new roads in the parish. The police jury has resolved that a new road shall be laid out from the bridge on Sugar Creek, near Sugartown, intersecting the road leading to Lake Charles near John Williams’ old residence on Bushy Creek. J. J. Miller, Dempsey Iles, J. W. Tyler, Jeff Young and G. W. Richardson were appointed commissioners to lay out the road and report at the next meeting of the police jury. Another road is to be laid out from Michel Valleatoroes ferry on the Mermentau, intersecting the road leading from Lake Arthur to Tanner’s ferry on the Lacassine. Aras Hebert, Delino Derouen, Eugene Guidry, C. H. Andrus and Stephen Andrus are the commissioners.

We hope we’re going to have a Sunday School in Lake Charles. Everybody in town is asked to meet at the new church building tomorrow, which is Sunday, to organize one. There’s a committee that has been working for some time to arouse the interest of the village. The committee consists of J. W. Bryan, Geo. H. Wells, A. H. Moss, Jacob Ryan, C. Schindler, David J. Reid and W. H. Kirkman. The have done some good work and I believe the house is going to be pretty well filled tomorrow. It’ll be mighty nice if we can have a regular Sunday School, with classes and music and everything, to go to every Sunday. Ladies are being especially invited.

Mr. Moss has just recently come to Lake Charles. He has opened a school called the Male and Female Academy. He and Mrs. M. I. Moss are the principals.

Michael says he is going to plant our garden to tobacco this season. He says the land around here will produce 800 to 1,000 pounds of tobacco per acre and anyone could make a lot of money in the business because the land can be bought so cheaply. Next year he thinks he will get a little farm and try it. The tobacco that has been grown here is of a very fine quality.

It has rained nearly every day for such a long time we hardly knew what clear weather would be like. High water makes it impossible to travel over a good many of the roads. The men are saying that what the parish needs more than anything else to make it inviting to new settlers is some bridges across the bayous.

What a wonderful time I had last night. I never had a better, really. Capt. and Mrs. Daniel Goos celebrated their silver wedding, in their beautiful home in Goosport. There were 25 seated at one time in the dining room and the table was spread and cleared three times to accommodate all the crowd. Nearly all of the Goos children were present and there are 15 of them. The national flag floated from the dwelling and from the mast head of several schooners out on the river. Among the gifts Capt. and Mrs. Goos received were a beautiful silver water set, a pitcher and two goblets, and a set of silver spoons, all the gift of the Captain’s brother-in-law, and partner, Frederick G. Moeling. All through the dinner there were toasts and speeches and just lots of fun. And my! that feast. An important part of the evening, of course, was the ball, which lasted until four o’clock this morning. I danced till I was worn out.

The Goos family are doing a great deal for this country. The Goos mill, a mile above the village, cuts 300,000 feet of lumber each month and the mill of the Captain’s son-in-law, Captain Lock, down on Prien Lake, cuts 150,000 feet. Captain and Mrs. Goos visited Germany last summer and they brought a number of men and their families, back with them, to help run the mill. The Captain also has a very fine fruit orchard and garden which is a shining example to every body else, just showing what can be raised here.

We’re going to have fresh oysters for supper tonight. Michael got some off an oyster boat that came in this morning. It was loaded with fine, big fat oysters and they went like hot cakes, too. I hope the boat will come back soon.

Thad Mayo came last night from Opelousas and he brought some New Orleans news with him. Even under the best of conditions it takes five days now for our mail to reach New Orleans and seven days for it to reach Opelousas. There is some hope that we may have a semiweekly mail after July 1. It seems unfair, when we think of it, that everybody in the parish must come to Lake Charles to get their mail. Only one post-office in a parish that is as big as the state of Delaware. There should be a post-office at Sugar Town, Barnes’ Creek, West Fork, Big Woods, Niblett's Bluff, Hickory Flat, and Vincent’s Settlement.

It’s so hot! And the blood suckers are terrible. Michael says mosquitoes have long bills and they have to be paid promptly.

We had a heavy wind last Friday, almost a hurricane. It did a lot of damage in Texas, we have heard, and for all we know it may have in other states, too. It destroyed a lot of corn and cotton and uprooted fruit trees by the score. Judge Reid, our parish judge, had such a fine orchard of grafter trees and it destroyed nearly all of them, while a lot of cattle and hogs were drowned in Cameron. The storm washed great gullies in the streets. And it made the bank of the lake cave several feet. Judge Reid says if the citizens on Front Street whose property borders on the lake will give him a ten-year lease he will stop the bank from caving. Otherwise, he says, those living there will have to move their buildings within the next 12 months.

The police jury is going to repair the old court house. Michael says it will cost as much money to repair it as it would to build a new one. The old shanty is a disgrace to the village. There is no sash for the window. There is no stove, nor is there any chimney.

Miss Fanny Gray’s Female school gave an interesting and creditable demonstration of its work the other day. It is the only female school in the parish and it is doing a very good grade of work.

They say that 3,000 or maybe as many as 4,000 German immigrants are expected to settle here next fall.

Every store and coffee house is full lately, with people who have come in from the country to get a supply of winter clothes. William Hutchins has more pretty things in his store. I only wish for lots of money. There have been six schooners, one sloop and one steamboat that have arrived lately bringing new fall and winter goods to our merchants.

We’re going to have a bridge over Kyosh’s Coulee, and a little change in the road to it, too. The police jury has named Dr. W. H. Kirkman, J. Sallier, J. Ryan, L. Lefranc, J. L. Bilbo, G. H. Wells and J. L. Ryan as a committee to lay out the road.

Last Wednesday the Steamer Cassie belonging to Captain Daniel Goos arrived from Galveston with 50 or 60 emigrants.

We really have a new jail, and we’re going to have a new court house! O. F. Lyons, foreman of the grand jury, reports that the court house is unsuited for the purpose of our village. It is too small, too old, and all out of repair, anyway. And besides, we just have to have a court house that isn’t ashamed to hold its head up and stand beside the new jail. W. H. Kirkman, J. Ryan, P. Pujo and T. Hansen have been appointed to draft the size of the timbers and make some preliminary plans.

J. L. Ryan is president of the police jury now. O. R. Moss is clerk, and J. Hagen, and P.A. Hebert are other members.

Yesterday I had a lovely buggy ride. Michael had to go across Bayou D'Inde on a business matter and I went along with him. Valentine Vincent is in charge of the floating bridge across the bayou. He charges fifty cents for a wagon, cart, or team, twenty-five cents for a horse and cart, or buggy, and fifteen cents for a man and horse.

Last Saturday we had more fun! There was a fish fry in the neighborhood of the L. C. Dees home with boats sailing on the river and the lake as the principal diversion. Marie, Max, Michael and I had a lovely sail all around the lake. Captain Reynolds gave an excursion, too, on his boat. That night we all went to the soiree at Haskell Hall and we danced till the wee morning hours.

Virginia Dade was our May Queen this year. Yes, we had a really lovely little May party.

William Meyer is having a two-story house put up. It’s going to add a lot to the looks of our village. Captain Gorham will soon build two cottages, too.

Joseph Bilbo has had some of the most wonderful orange blossoms I have ever seen on his trees. Some of the trees are 15 inches in diameter and they bear loads of oranges every year. He told me he planted them in 1832. That makes them 50 years old.

We had a good deal of excitement yesterday. A party of boys who had gone on a wolf hunt came back with 37 scalps. They received $4 apiece for them. They say they really feel they’ve had a rather successful hunt.

Last night Max and Marie were over to spend the evening. Max and Michael talked politics, mostly. I think, from the scraps of conversation Marie and I occasionally caught, Dr. William H. Kirkman is candidate for the state senate from the Tenth senatorial district. It sounded, last night, like Max and Michael were both going to vote for him.

Marie said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if women could vote?” But then, of course, they never will. But then, I wonder, why shouldn’t they, just as well as men? It is, after all, a queer world.

They say we really will have railroad connection with New Orleans and Houston within the next ten months or so. Won’t that be fine? I can’t believe it will come true - we have dreamed and talked of the railroad for so long. With a railroad, and trains stopping every day, mail every day - think of that - a new jail, and a new court house, with new offices for all our public officers - well, Lake Charles is getting to be a flourishing village.

Spring again and everybody’s happy. And the talk of May parties fills the air. There’s going to be a Sunday school party given near the mill that belongs to H. B. Jones. The children of the Sunday school are going to meet at the Methodist church at nine o’clock in the morning and march in a body to the picnic grounds. Everybody who has sail boats and skiffs is asked to offer them for use and everybody who plays any kind of musical instrument is asked to bring it along. And of course, everybody is expected to bring along a great big dinner basket.

In the evening of May Day there is going to be a soiree given at the home of George Ryan. Marie is making herself a pink mull dress to wear and I’m making a blue. We ran down to W. L. Hutchins’s store to get the goods just the minute he got his new spring things unpacked, after they arrived from Galveston.

Wonder what there is about spring that makes one always want new clothes? And Mr. Hutchins has the most beautiful goods! We could hardly wait for him to get unpacked. And then there were so many things we wanted! It was hard to decide on just one dress. We both wanted two, a pink and a blue, so we compromised and Marie took the pink and I took the blue. Since we’re both the same size we’ll change sometimes. Our husbands like them both.

We have three churches in the village now, a Catholic, a Baptist and a Methodist. The Methodist will hold a quarterly meeting on the 25^th and 26^th. The presiding elder, the Rev. J. E. Cobb will be here.

There is just one Sunday school, a union one. It has quite a nice library now. Last week it received 150 new reading books and many lesson books.

Marie and I will be left alone together again tonight. Max and Michael are eagerly looking forward to a meeting that is to be held in the old school house, tonight, by the young men of the village, for the purpose of organizing a base ball club. J. H. Poe is secretary pro tem. If they succeed in their plans I suppose we’ll have base ball games to go to this summer, which will be some excitement.

We have some new road overseers, namely, D. J. Reid, Beloni Lebleu, P. A. Hebert, I. A. Perkins, Zavier Lagrange, Michael Benoit, R. G. Reed, from Wm. Simmons Gin to Six Mile Creek. G. W. Richardson, from Tyler’s Bridge to Hanchey’s Bridge on Bundicks Creek, David Holland, from the home of George Reeves, Sr., to Ritchie’s Ferry and John Lyons.

One of the best ferries we have around here anywhere is Nix’s Ferry about a mile above Lake Charles, on the Calcasieu River. There’s a pasture on each side of the river where the horses can eat while they wait and there are groceries that can be conveniently purchased, too.

We have another private school for girls. Mrs. Theodule Landry has opened it. She charges $2.50 a month for tuition in French and English.

Somebody wrote an article for the Echo the other day, about our lake. There was no name signed to it, but I’ve cut it out to keep it because it is so true. I wish everyone felt that way about this beautiful lake. Maybe some day, they will, and maybe then, when people from far away learn that this lake is here, and how beautiful it is, they will come from miles and miles to see it and they will make our village famous. This is what the writer said: “The sunrises and sunsets of Lake Charles are beautiful and exquisitely great. There is no town like Lake Charles for such rich and lovely scenes as are presented in the skies and water at morning and evening. Cloud palaces, purple and gold lake, rivers, vessels - the man who does not see and appreciate them has no beauty in his soul. The day is coming when all will be sung in song and story and they will excel in interest those of Venice.”

Our town is growing but still we have no dentist. We also need a tinner and a saddler. There are 15 sawmills here and they cut a lot of timber. But then, there’s no end of the forests here.

We have a new set of town officers. William Meyer is mayor. A. H. Moss, Victory Touchy, Thos. Hansen, W. L. Hutchins and John R. Spence are aldermen. J. Richard is constable. A. L. Reid is candidate for re-election for sheriff.

At a democratic convention that has just been held here, Jacob Ryan was made chairman and Julien Richard and David D. Andrus were appointed on a committee to examine the credentials of delegates. The first ward is represented by Leon Marcantel and Alex Fontenot; the second by David D. Andrus and Olivier D. Broussard; the third by Jacob Ryan, Allen Gilly, Julien Richard and J. J. Granger; the fourth by Isaac Vincent; the fifth by W. F. Henderson. Dr. Wm. Kirkman and George H. Wells are nominated for the state senate.

Mr. Meyer has just completed his fine two-story house. Captain Gorham and George Ryan have new cottages. Mr. Thorn has a fine large dwelling on the lake. Michael says this country is going to grow rapidly. It’s a good place for a man who is not afraid to work. The sawmills pay from $5 to $6 per week and teamsters get $45 a month. If a person will just set out an orange grove it will soon bring in a living without any other work.

Everybody is talking about the Fourth of July picnic. It will be held near Dee’s mill and there are going to be boat races and everything.

The boys were out late again last night. Marie and I sat up and waited for them until one o’clock. Another big Masonic meeting. They installed officers last night. I suppose the wives of all Masons had a lonely evening. Marie said how nice it would be if we women who were left alone at home every Masonic meeting night would form a club of some kind and have a meeting of our own one of those nights. Maybe we can, sometime. Michael told me who the officers were who were installed. They were Louis Leveque, W. M.; J. F. Hawkins, S.W.; Jeremiah O' Brien, J. W.; Jacob Ryan, treasurer; and J. W. Bryan, secretary.

There’s a lot of improvement going on in our streets. And it’s certainly time. We’re needing it. George Ryan, the colored man we all depend a lot on for help in lots of ways, is doing some repair work now on Ryan Street. George was a slave of the Ryan family, before the war.

There’s also some work going on in Broad Street and in Pujo. Michael says if the hills are cut down there and the hollows filled in some and the sidewalks repaired, we’ll begin to have some good looking streets.

We have a new family who have recently moved from Mississippi—the family of James B. Bilbo.

We had a lovely May Day celebration this year in Haskell Hall. There were declamations on the program and, of course, lots of dancing. John Poe had much to do with the planning and taking charge of the program. Our May queen again this year was Lillie Dade. And a beautiful one she was, too. This is the second time she has been chosen our queen. Her maids of honor this year were: Mrs. J. L. Ryan, Emily Herrington, Jennie Dade, Georgie Livingston, Mollie Costello, Gussie Wells, Sarah Haskell, Lucy Mayo, Rosa Kowatz, Annie Hansen, Evalina Pujo, Ida Ingle, Katie Munns. A bevy of pretty maids they were. Mollie Mayo was the scepter bearer. Seeing them all in their pretty gowns made me think of fairies in fairyland.

Thanks to John Poe, one of our clerks of registration, we know now what is the population of our little village and of all Calcasieu Parish. There are 502 people living in Lake Charles. There are 8033 white persons in the parish and 1926 colored and 117 Indians - 10,076 counting everybody in the entire parish.

In 1870, just five years ago, we had a population of 6,733 in the parish, so we are growing steadily. Cameron Parish has 2,131 inhabitants now and 1,596 in 1870. Calcasieu has one saloon keeper, 13 teachers, two innkeepers, two druggists, two bakers, two barbers, four lawyers, eleven preachers and nine doctors. There are 2825 white persons over six years old in the parish who can read and 3253 who cannot read. There are 76 colored who can read and 1460 colored who cannot read. We have 14,337 acres of improved land and 61,737 acres of unimproved land. Cameron Parish has four teachers, four preachers, four lawyers, 404 farmers, 34,308 acres of unimproved land and 3,620 acres of improved land.

Our new city officers are: William Meyer, mayor; George Wells, Chairman; Thomas B. Ferren, secretary; Allen Gilley, town constable; aldermen; C. Schindler, Jahon A. Spence, A. H. Moss, J . W. Bryan, J. P. Geary.

The Calcasieu Sulphur Mining Company has received a cable from Parish saying that the engineers and workers are organized and are leaving for Calcasieu. They will be expected here soon. And then our Sulphur mines will be working.

The Lake House Hotel is being thoroughly repaired and the annexed saloon is being renovated.

I hear the bread wagon. I must run and get some bread for dinner. We are putting on city airs now. We no longer have to go to the store to get our bread. We have two bread wagons from rival bakeries now and the make the rounds every morning. But the way, we also have a genuine bootblack on the streets now. But I must run, or the boy with the wagon will leave with my bread, and I’ll have to bake biscuit for Michael’s dinner, or else walk down to the bakery.

The very nicest entertainment this town has had lately was the fair that the Catholic church has given. There was a balloon ascension in the afternoon and at night there was a concert. It was mostly a Goos family concert. For there were 16 performers and 12 of them were the children of Captain and Mrs. Daniel Goos. That family might have given all the entertainment without any outside help at all, if all the children had been at home, for there are 16 of them, four others living besides the 12 on the program that night. Captain Goos is might proud of them, too. He stepped our on the platform that night, with the 12 all lined up, and introduced them, one by one. There was a gleam of pride in his eyes. And indeed, he had reason to be proud. Any man would have to be, father of that family. They had there on the platform and played a number of musical instruments, a cabinet organ, a piano, a violin, a guitar - in fact, it was a regular family orchestra. And it was a musical treat that everyone who was present - and who wasn’t - will long remember.

The new Methodist church looks so nice. The bell is up. The new doors and windows are in and there are blinds for the windows, too. The building can be dedicated just as soon as there is a new alter, a pulpit, a railing and some seats.

The men of our village are all talking politics so hard they can’t talk anything else. At least, I know Michael talks about that subject all the time and Marie says Max does and I know other women who say their husbands do. They’re trying to organize a democratic party in the state. If they ever succeed in doing that, and I suppose they will, Michael says so, why then the fathers of the democratic party, as far as this section is concerned, will be - well I’m not sure just how many might be included, but the ones I hear Michael talk about are Louis Leveque, F. A. Gallagher, J. V. Moss, W.W. Smart Ryan, Allen Gilley, G.W. Richardson, Wm. E. Gill, J. N. Prater, P. M. Allston, H. McDonald Coward, Middleton Coward, J. D. Alston, Benj. Lyons, Jas. Fancher, Henry Berry, D. Cole, Geo. H. Wells, N. P. Smart, David H. Lyons - and let me think, who else - oh yes, W. H. Kirkman, W. L. Hutchins, J.W. Bryan, Frank Moore, Joseph Nittelrode, E. J. Lyons, W. M. Perkins, R. M. Perkins, J. Williams, P. W. Perkins, Hardy Coward, J. J. Hewitt, Z. Marcantel - I’ll be likely to leave out somebody - there’s Calvit Andrus, W. L. Vickory, Lawson McCreland, A. Perkins - and let’s see, who else does Michael talk about? Last night I heard him and Max speak of Isaac Lyons, and that other Lyons, D.A. Lyons - and I mustn’t forget Seth Robinson - and then there’s another Perkins, Reese, his first name is, and - oh yes, there’s J. B. Ashley, too. I’m not at all sure that’s all, besides, of course, Max and Michael, but it do remember hearing then talk about all those. With such a group as that, it looks like most any kind of a party ought to be organized.

Hon. G. W. Richardson, our representative in the legislature, was in town this week. Julien Richard, our sheriff, and Louis Leveque, our deputy sheriff, have just returned from Opelousas.

And that’s just about all the news I know today, little diary. I must run and get some shrimp ready for Michael’s supper.

This is a game town. Last week a pinnated grouse, usually called a pheasant, paid us its respects. It lighted on the roof of the tax collector’s office near the court house square and looked over the village. Evidently it didn’t like our looks very well for it flew away. However, other game birds do like us. The wood cocks light all over town at night. And wild ducks and snipe may be found feeding in various corners of the village. They are almost tame.

Michael brought a crate of oranges yesterday from Victor Touchy. Mr. Touchy shipped 40,000 oranges to Galveston last week. His groves are a beautiful and an inspiring sight to behold.

Last night Michael was reading in the Lake Charles Echo about a new invention that it is believed is going to be very popular. He read the article our loud to me. The invention is called a Type Writer. The article said it looks a little like a cabinet organ, except it has three banks of keys instead of just one. The operator by striking the keys prints letters and figures. It is claimed he can print his thoughts four times faster then he can write with a pen. It is said ladies can easily learn to operate them.

There are a great many granges being organized now, all over the parish. The Sabine grange is one of the latest. Thos. McFarland has been elected master and T. J. Carroll is secretary.

Several of the young men of Lake Charles are faithfully attending the debating club which they have organized. The membership is increasing, from both the village and the country. Max and Michael go quite often and on those evenings, just as when the Masons meet, I go over to stay with Marie, or else she comes to stay with me till our husbands get home. A literary society is being organized now, too. Maybe Marie and I can belong to that. They ought to have something for the ladies.

Town lots are selling now for $75 and $200 each. Michael says they will never be cheaper and that now is the time far-seeing citizens ought to buy. There is still a great deal of building going on. I expect some day Lake Charles is going to be a real town.

Geo. H. Wells has just returned from Barnes Creek, on a hunting expedition. He says he found the deer abundant but that he did not materially decrease their population or their census statistics.

Both the Lake Charles Male and Female Academy, with Captain Marsh in charge, and Mrs. Landry’s academy, are doing splendid work this year and have a very satisfactory enrollment. Board at Captain Marsh’s school is from $8 to $12 per month, while tuition is $2 per month in the primary department and $2.50 per month in the grammar department. Mrs. Landry is an accomplished instructress in English, French, geography, history, the lower branches of mathematics, needle work and embroidery. She charges $2.50 a month.

Captain Marsh has night classes in bookkeeping now, on Monday and Thursday nights, beginning at early candle light. He charges $1.50 a month for that instruction.

The private theatricals at Magnolia Hall in Goosport the other night were fine. There were 100 present and there would have been more if the mail boat had gotten in before dark. Many were depending on coming in that way. In fact, it was only conveyance many could have. And of course, as luck would have it, it was late. But, anyhow, the tableaux and concert given were just splendid and $34 was made for the Methodist Sunday school. It will be spent for books for the Sunday school library. The program was given mostly by the Misses Goos, and Ryan, assisted by Messrs. Reynolds, Poe, Murray, Kirkman, Gray, McNulty, and Perkins and Walter and Albert Goos. The elocution of John H. Poe was fine, as his performance always is. Captain Reynolds, who never fails to excite mirth, kept the audience in a tearful state of laughter during the acting of his comic piece. Miss Frederica Goos’ impersonation of the maniac was perfect. Mrs. Wachsen and Captain Reynolds sang “Tenting Tonight” accompanied by Miss Georgie. Miss Della’s solo on the guitar was another splendid number.

We’re having lovely weather, just like summer. Caspar Schindler has a fine crop of peas in bloom in his garden. The orange trees are full of buds. Spring gardening is well under way. Victor Touchy still has 60,000 orange trees to sell.

Schooner building is still one of the principal industries in our little village. Bernard Sweeney is going to build one now for H. C. Gill. Mr. Sweeney has made a reputation for himself by having built two of the fines sailing schooners on our coast.

Our United States stage route to New Iberia carries passengers too, now. The fare if $12.50. The stage leaves Lake Charles on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at six o’clock in the morning and arrives in New Iberia the night of the next day, at eight o’clock, so it’s a two days’ trip.

There were 250 at our May Day picnic this year. It was held on the bank of the Calcasieu, below Jones’ mill.

A class for practice in vocal music has been formed. Max and Marie and Michael and I are all going to it regularly.

A public school has been opened in the Masonic Hall under the supervision of Captain O. M. Marsh, assisted by Mrs. E. Landry. There are now 96 scholars.

W. M. Meyer is our new postmaster. He succeeds C. Barbe. We couldn’t mail a letter now if we wanted to. The post office is out of stamps and out of stamped envelopes.

S. O. Shattuck, a well known young gentleman of this section, holds the exclusive agency for a delightful book on Africa. Michael says he is going to buy one.

Jos. Chavanne has opened a new cash store on Broad Street, near the Methodist church.

Our new town officers are Wm. Meyer, mayor; aldermen James P. Geary, Allen J. Perkins, J. W. Bryan, J. B. Kirkman, and Geo. H. Wells.

James Hodges, one of the first settlers of Lake Charles, has just returned after an absence of three years in Texas. He says he sees many improvements in our town, and he hopes to make this his home again.

The deer are unusually fat this summer. Michael says there’s going to be good deer hunting after awhile.

Here it is the very last day of the old year. I’ve neglected this little diary for several moons. The most important news there is to record at present is the fact that the ground has been covered with two inches of snow. We had a regular Christmas this year. There have been several hard freezes. The snow is the biggest event this town has known since the wedding on October 12 of Miss Frederica Goos, daughter of Captain Daniel Goos, to Reese W. Perkins, eldest son of Allen J. Perkins. I don’t know how many were present, but I do know it was the largest assembly ever seen in this parish. The snow is the first greatly talked of event that has occurred since then.

Eli A. Perkins is running a stage coach from Lake Charles to Orange now. We are all hoping Mr. Perkins will get enough business to enable him to continue his line.

At the elections this year, Michael said, only 1400 votes were polled out of a possible 1939. I wonder how the stay-at-homes are easing their consciences.

Flueller H. Gray killed 24 woodcocks within one mile of Lake Charles this morning. They are selling in New Orleans now for $18 a dozen.

We had fried oysters for dinner today. The oysters at Calcasieu Pass are better than they have been for several years.

At the annual Methodist conference this year, Rev. J. E. Cobb was reappointed presiding elder of the Opelousas district. J. D. Harper is the Lake Charles pastor, J. J. Billingsley has gone to Opelousas.

We’ve had some more snow. It was 18 inches deep in the northern part of the state, which means that it was probably the biggest snow the South has ever known. It was rather deep here.

The members of the new police jury are: William M. Perkins, president, Simeon Vincent, Isaac Meadows, Abner Cole and D. D. Andrus.

We had the best May Day picnic ever. It was under the auspices of the Lake Charles Council No. 61 and the Bagdad Council No. 64, of the United Friends of Temperance. It was held last Tuesday on the river bank one half mile below Jones’ mill. The weather was ideal and 400 persons were present. There was quite an impressive procession of the United Friends of Temperance, with their banners flying. Interesting addresses were made by John H. Poe, J. R. Kirkman, E. L. Riddick, O. M. Marsh, A. H. Moss, Rev. W. B. Pilley , Geo. H. Wells, Rev. J. D. Harper and F. A. Gallaugher. Brother Gossett of the Bagdad Council was master of ceremonies. A. L. Reid, of the Lake Charles Council, and F. H. Canter, of Bagdad, were the marshals. On the long tables under the shady trees, the feast was spread. Marie said she worked until late at night the day before getting her part of it ready. I did too and I suppose other women did the same, but it was surely good. I hope we always have a May Day picnic in Lake Charles.

Wm. Meyer has opened a soda fountain, the first one in this town. We feel we are getting to be quite a city. Marie and I went down town yesterday afternoon and stopped for ice cream.

We have a dancing school here now, too. J. M. Cleveland and J. C. LeBleu have opened one in Mr. O’Brien’s hall. They will teach all the fashionable dances of the day, waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, schottiches, Spanish dances, cotillions, quadrilles, and others. They will also give lessons on the guitar and banjo.

The public schools in this parish opened Oct. 1. This plan of having public schools which the children may attend, rather than having to pay tuition at private schools, is said to be working splendidly in other places and it is hoped it will succeed here. The parish school board was organized last July with J. W. Bryan being elected president. All applicants to teach were asked to appear before the board and a committee was appointed to examine then and issue certificates.

S. O. Shattuck is going to teach at Red Bank, in the third district; Daniel T. O’Quinn at Long Gully, in the fourth district; Rev. W. B. Pilley, at Perry’s Settlement, in the fifth district; Mrs. Mary A. Dunn at Grangers' Settlement, in the sixth district.

There are 88 boys and 76 girls in Lake Charles, between six and 21 years of age, and 12 colored children.

The private school taught by Mrs. E. Dade and Miss Maggie Kearney has dismissed for six weeks’ vacation. The parents and guardians were invited to a public exhibition at the closing exercises. The house was crowded and the pupils displayed a high degree of proficiency in the rhetorical exercises.

Jacob Ryan and George Ryan will soon have a shingle machine and a rice mill here.

The Lake Charles Council No. 61, United Friends of Temperance, electing officers for the next six months, have made George Wells worthy primate; John Lawrence, worthy associate; Julien Richard, recording scribe; Miss Mary Kirkman, associate recording scribe; B. F. Shattuck, financial scribe; John McNeese, chaplain; Mrs. M. Mayo, treasurer; Allen Gilley, conductor; Miss Marie Ryan, assistant conductor; D. A. Harmon, inside sentinel; Edward L. Wells, outside sentinel. For assistant conductor a tie vote was cast for Miss Mollie Gray and Miss Marie Ryan. Miss Gray withdrew.

We had a wonderful Mardi Gras celebration this year. All business houses closed from one to five in the afternoon. All ferries and public conveyances were instructed to convey his Majesty’s subjects at half rates by order of Rex. The procession, in which none but maskers were allowed, formed at Meyer’s hall and marched to the lake bank by Allen Gilley’s, by Hodges store, by T. B. Ferrens’, D. W. Jessens’, Jos. Mathis’ , Asa Royer’s, J. B. Kirkman’s, Allen Gilley’s, A. L. Reid’s, Victor Touchy’s, by J. L. Ryan’s, and back to Meyer’s hall. First came the chief marshal and his aids, mounted, then the queen and ladies of the royal household in a palace car, with a mounted escort. Next came the king of the carnival, the prince and the royal heir apparent in a chariot with mounted maskers riding at the side, then the king’s musicians in carriages and then the other maskers in carriages. It was a beautiful sight, so everybody who saw it said. I didn’t really see much, being one the maskers. Marie and I had a year’s fun dressing Michael and Max. We all four masked. There were two big masquerade balls at night and we all danced till we were absolutely tired out. But we has so much fun that we found ourselves wishing Mardi Gras came every day.

We had a big fire here some time ago. The planing mill of Lock & Co., on Little Lake in the Calcasieu River, eight miles below Lake Charles, was destroyed. It meant a $50,000 loss, covered by a $5,000 insurance.

John H. Poe, who is always evincing his possession of a high order of talent, with a special fondness for drawing and designing, last week made a sign for Geo. H. Wells, attorney. The sign is made on colored glass with gilt lettering that would do credit to a professional.

We’re going to have a total eclipse of the sun in Lake Charles on Monday, July 29, at three o’clock in the afternoon. We are going to get smoked glass ready to look through.

Allen Gilley has passed through all the parish and he says he has found not one case of sickness. That is unusual for this sickly time of year. I am afraid there will be a great deal if all these ditches are not opened and cleaned and all the places where garbage is deposited cleared away. There is a bit of yellow fever in New Orleans and in Vicksburg and on many plantations in Mississippi.

N. P. Smart is offering some land for sale at Bagdad, a flourishing village on the west bank of the Calcasieu, three miles from Lake Charles.

The new officers for the Lake Charles Council of the United Friends of Temperance include Thos. B. Ferren, W. P.; Geary, W. A.; Julien Richard, R. S.; Miss Mollie Gray, Assistant R. S.; Jasper Daniel, F. S.; S. O. Shattuck, chaplain; Willie Haskell, conductor; Nannie Kirkman, assistant conductor; Mrs. M. Mayo, treasurer; C. L. Daniel, I. S.; E. L. Wells, O. S.

One of the most beautiful spots in town is Haskell House. It has just been completely renovated. Willie Haskell, who is only 17 years old, did practically all the work of repairing it, doing the carpenter work and painting it. He is building a stable in the rear now. Haskell House is one of the finest and largest dwelling houses in Lake Charles.

Monty Gray, the son of Dr. R. F. Gray, brought into town this morning one of the largest foxes seen here for a long time. He killed it in the woods near by.

Michael said they elected Geo. S. Benson, W. M.; J. O’Bryan, S. W.; A. Rigmaiden, J. W.; S. H. Clement, secretary; J. W. Bryan, treasurer; W. F. Whitley, tyler; William C. Fricke, senior deacon; and Chas. Miller, junior deacon.

Our dreams are coming true. We have a locomotive in Lake Charles which means of course, that we have a railroad for it to run on. To be sure, it’s only a little piece of a railroad yet, but work is progressing on it, slowly but surely. Captain Reynolds has delivered at the railroad docks here 650 tons of steel rails brought from New York. There have been 100 piles driven in the Calcasieu River for the railroad bridge. The work is moving right along. Last Monday the entire Orange grading outfit, including laborers and teams arrived here and went to work east of Lake Charles. The name of our locomotive is “Calcasieu No. 3.” Its whistle is heard on the track every day. And it is the most delightful sound that has ever been heard in this town. Think of it. Soon it will be possible to receive a letter from New Orleans on the same day on which it was mailed! And it will be possible to make the trip to New Orleans in one day. It seems almost too good to be true. But it is true. The whistle of the locomotive is proof it is true. It will be called the Louisiana Western railroad.

A union Sunday school was recently organized here with seven teachers and 18 scholars. Last Sunday it had an attendance of 49. S. D. Read is superintendent, W. D. Jenkins, assistant, James A. Lyons, librarian, Miss Mollie J. Gray, assistant, and J. W. Bryan, treasurer. The Methodist Sunday school had an attendance of 60 last Sunday.

The Lake Charles Institute will hold an exhibition on Monday, July 26. The program has been announced. Miss Izora Lyons will give the salutatory. Miss Ora Moss will recite What I Love. Allen J. Perkins will speak on Community Schools. Veanah Perkins, Inez Richard and Minnie Read will give a dialogue. Sammie Clement will recite What I Know. Stephen W. Read will speak on Deputation. Minerva Lyons, Adele Lyons and Izora Lyons will give another dialogue. Bennie Stagg will recite The Battle of Waterloo. Mattie L. Read will recite I Am Four Years Old Today. Allen J. Perkins and Brenton Richard will give a dialogue. Lea H. Moss will recite The Legacy of Lafayette. E. L. Wells will recite Snider’s Ride. Jas. A. Lyons will speak on Paine’s Age of Reason. Clem J. Moss will recite Fuss at Fires. Stephen M. Read will recite The Mariner’s Dream, and Sammie Clement will give the epilogue. It sounds like an unusually interesting program and most everybody seems to be planning to go.

Edward L. Wells, who is only 17 years old, has picked from a vine he raised himself a cantaloupe 25 ½ inches around the ends, by 24 ½ inches around the sides.

S. D. Read, president of the Lake Charles Baptist Society, will leave soon to visit Cameron, Orange and Vernon Parish in the interest of his society.

Judge D. J. Read has just returned from the constitutional convention. Judge S. P. Henry, a delegate to the convention from Cameron, passed through Lake Charles on his way home.

Dr. Wm. Kirkman and his daughters, Mary and Nannie, have returned home after a long visit. They came very nearly not getting back for some time. They reached Galveston just the day before the city was quarantined against New Orleans on account of yellow fever.

Lake Charles is now a money order post office. Isn’t that nice? We are progressing in the world rapidly.

Our second locomotive has arrived. It came on the brig O. B. Stillman from New York, arriving off Calcasieu Pass Thursday. We are expecting 1500 tons of rails from Calcasieu Pass each day now, on the schooners Eagle Reck and Cascated. Piling for the railroad bridges over the Calcasieu and Sabine Rivers will be completed within a few days now. One of the locomotives is kept busy running ten flat cars each day on the switch between the Lake Charles depot and the railroad docks and between the Hutchins and Munn mill and Jones’ mill. The contractor is finishing the work at the rate of a third of a mile a day.

George Vest, of New Iberia, the sub-contractor for carrying the mail between New Iberia and Vermillionville, was in town yesterday and brought us the news that the road is finished at that end to within four and one half miles of New Iberia.

S. O. Shattuck is now worthy primate of Lake Charles Council No. 61, United Friends of Temperance. Last week’s Echo said some nice things about our town constable, J. A. Ryan. It said he has been the most efficient officer we have ever had and the editor doubts if any town in the state has a better constable.

Yesterday I almost had an adventure. It came just a little too near being an adventure to suit me. Michael had to see a man way out in the country north of Lake Charles. I went with him. We drove in the buggy. It was a delightful trip until driving through the weeds in one place I heard the queerest sound I had ever heard in my life. I called Michael’s attention and there, not very far away in the woods, stood The Panther. I knew what it was without Michael having to tell me. For everybody in Lake Charles has been hearing about that panther for the past twelve years. His home is in what they call “The Big Thicket” which is about 30 miles from here, but sometimes he goes on an excursion abroad, and evidently yesterday was one of the times. Though we have heard so much about him, that was the first time Michael or I had seen him. The descriptions we had heard of him were not at all exaggerated. Michael says that three feet of daylight show between his breast and the ground. He has the biggest, fiercest eyes, and the longest, white whiskers. He looked like he could have lifted his paw and knocked our horse and buggy, including us, out of the road, if he wanted to. I held tightly on to Michael’s arm. But he big beast did not offer to attack us. He looked nice and fat. I suppose he gets all the sheep and calves he wants to eat and there’s really no danger of him attacking human beings. Michael says hunters have gone after him many times but he has always successfully eluded men and dogs. He will probably die of old age. Michael says the police jury should offer a reward for him.

Our railroad is coming along nicely. There are now four and one half miles laid east of the river. There have been 100 convicts put to work in the Choupique swamp. The laying of the track west of the Calcasieu is to start in a few days.

The Lake Charles Institute opens this year as a free school and will continue so as long as the funds last.

George Wells and is son and Adolph Meyer and Joseph W. Rosteet have left for the pine woods on a rusticating tour.

The concert and jug breaking at the Methodist Church for the benefit of the Sunday school was most successful. There was a program of instrumental music by Prof. Hortig and pupils, William and Adolph Meyer, William C. Frick and Herman Jessen on the cabinet organ, the first and second violin, the viola, the double bass violin and the flute. There was also much vocal music and many dialogues by the Sunday school scholars. Then came the breaking of the 40 jugs, the seven prizes being awarded to Miss Mattie Geary, Lee Moss, Ernest Meyer, Clem Moss, Iris Clement, Suzie Wells and Irene Lyons. The receipts were $112.50.

A school of Spenserian writing is going to be opened in the court house to be taught by Prof. W. R. Laughlin.

Our railroad bridge over English Bayou is nearly finished. The grading is finished between Lake Charles and the Mermentau except for one mile near Welsh on the Lacassine.

It is said that mail service is going to begin between Niblett’s Bluff and Leesville, a post office to be established at Isaac Meadows’ and also at Dr. Lovett’s. There’s a good deal of dissatisfaction because it doesn’t go on to Bearhead and Beckwith Creek neighborhoods.

Our fire company No.1 gave a grand soiree dansante at Temperance Hall last night.

Marie and I went for a stroll yesterday afternoon. We strolled up and down the lake bank. The orange groves - there are several along there - were loaded with golden fruit. The fig and pomegranate trees are full, too. We decided, Marie and I, that what Lake Charles needs now more than anything else is a good laundry. We saw one colored woman doing a washing down at the lake. She had rigged out a staging way out in the water and the only exertion she was putting forth, it seemed, was pounding the clothes with a paddle. But what Marie wondered was, could the clothes stand the strain very long? A laundry would find a plentiful supply of nice soft water here and an ideal climate.

Coming back from the lake, we stopped at the grocer’s and bought some supplies. Marie got a turkey for 60 cents. She said she would have Max bring it home. Michael likes chickens better than he does turkey. I got a pair of chickens for 30 cents. We got a hundred oranges for $1.25. Marie took 50 and I took 50, which will be as many as either of us can use before they spoil. Butter is from 20 to 30 cents a pound and eggs are 20 to 25 cents a dozen. Caspar Schindler is going to open a vegetable market on the lake bank which will probably make it easier for us to get fresh vegetables.

Speaking of things to eat, B. F. Shattuck, Sr., was displaying a stalk of cane the other day, on the streets. It was nine feet tall and had 27 joints.

S. O. Shattuck is now in charge of the discipline at the Lake Charles institute. He has acquired an enviable reputation as a successful, vigilant and benevolent instructor of youth.

Rev. Father Kelly is having the Catholic Church grounds leveled and cleared, preparatory to the erection of a new building.

Last Wednesday the boys and girls were terribly excited over a hand organ that appeared on the streets. There wasn’t any monkey but maybe next time there will be. At any rate, this man had an organ and he made music that made the children follow him around till some of us began to wonder if they might follow him clear out of town, just as the children did in the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It’s so seldom the children of Lake Charles see anything in the way of entertainment except local talent. Of course, they might be expected to get excited. But the railroad will be finished some day. There’s a good time coming, boys. Wait a little longer.

One of the biggest social events in the history of Lake Charles was the wedding Wednesday night of Miss Della M. Goos, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Daniel Goos, to J. Albert Bel. There were about 200 guests present. Music, dancing and social conversation made the long winter night seem very short. It was nearly daylight when the steamer, the Pearl Rivers, bore the last remaining guest away. Captain and Mrs. Goos have 16 children. Mrs. Bel is the eighth married daughter.

There are great preparations being made for a Christmas entertainment at Temperance Hall. There will be three Christmas trees and a great many gifts.

J. H. Poe is selling some handsome new buggies and spring wagons from his place of business over at Bagdad.

There are five or six new business houses going up on Ryan Street. There are a lot of fences being rebuilt, all of which means Lake Charles is being all dressed up. There are a lot of visitors seen on the streets. Some come even from Vernon Parish.

Is it really winter? The fig, orange, peach and plum trees are budding and strawberries are in bloom. We are having lovely summer weather.

Preparations are being made to make Mardi Gras this year the very best yet. A pavilion 60 or 80 feet in length is already being erected on the vacant lot opposite the court house for the big ball.

Fire has been doing a great deal of damage around here lately. The steam rice mill of Jacob Ryan and Sons was almost destroyed last Thursday night. The home of G. M. Gossett, Esq., in Bagdad caught fire the other night and was destroyed. Part of the furniture was saved but the loss amounted to about $500.

Last Monday night the eastern mail stage on the way to Lake Charles was thrown off the bridge over the East Lacassine Bayou, near Henry Welsh’s. A passenger by the name of Blanch, together with his valise and the mail bag, were thrown into the water. He suffered severely with the cold on the remainder of the ride, after his cold bath. Oh well, some day our railroad will be finished, and then travel will be much easier and more comfortable.

The Ladies Aid Association of Lake Charles have held a most successful entertainment. On the program was a lecture of 45 minutes by Rev. A. P. Scofield on the new electrical theories. The quilt that was given to the most popular lady fell to Miss Joanna Gossett, of Bagdad who won 106 votes. The receipts were $85.10. The Aid held another successful entertainment with a mite soiree at the home of H. C. Gill on March 23.

Last Saturday the L. W. railroad brought to Lake Charles from Lacassine the first lot of country produce ever received here by rail. It was sent by Doc. Welsh and included 73 bags of rice for Jacob Ryan & Sons steam rice mill, 30 hides, four barrels of sugar and one box of eggs.

Our town has made another step forward. We have a fire engine and, of course, a fire department to go with it. The engine has attracted a large crowd as it has been drawn through the streets. It, and the hose cart, were ordered from New York. The officers of our fire company are H. C. Gill, president; J. P. Geary, vice president; J. W. Bryan, treasurer; O. T. Schindler, secretary; Adolph Meyer, foreman; P. Brotherson, first assistant; Raphael Barbe, second assistant; E. H. Nichols, engine director; C. Brannon, assistant; Elias Olsen, hose director; D. S. A. Harmon, assistant.

We seriously fear the novelty of a railroad here will not wear off before we have a serious accident. Lake Charles has more boys per square mile than any other place in the world, I believe, and they are all fascinated by the trains. At Vermillionville the boys kept catching rides and running back and forth across the track in front of trains until one boy got killed the other day. We are terribly afraid that’s going to happen here.

We have a new police jury. Abner Cole is the member from the first ward; David D. Andrus of the second; William Holland of the third; Simeon Vincent of the fourth; Lastie Vincent of the fifth; Isaac Nichols of the sixth; J. J. W. Miller of the seventh and William C. Reeves of the eighth.

Lake Charles has a new saw mill, one of our other late improvements. Lock and Company have recently established a new steam circular saw mill on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, about eight miles below Lake Charles.

The state board of education has recently appointed the following school directors in the parish: L. M. Nichols, Wm. E. Gill, John H. Poe, J. W. Bryan, S. O. Shattuck, Wm. N. Perkins and Oliver R. Moss.

We are expecting to have all the ice cream we want next summer. Wm. Meyer is going to manufacture several hundred pounds of ice each day, so it will be abundant and cheap, we hope. He will open an ice cream saloon on Pujo Street.

In June the work of taking the tenth census of the United States will begin. Those appointed to take it in Calcasieu Parish are: first ward, D. J. Reid, Jr.; second ward, John W. Gidlow; third ward, J. B. Kirkman; fourth ward, John A. Vincent; fifth ward, George W. Ryan; sixth ward, Augustus Lyons; seventh ward, J. J. W. Miller; eighth ward, Augustus Lyons.

At our last municipal election Wm. Meyer was re-elected mayor. Our aldermen now are O. M. Marsh, J. P. Geary, H. C. Gill, C. Schindler, and Frank E. Haskell.

Michael attended a meeting of the sawmill owners and other business man last night. They are considering the dredging of the inner bars of the Calcasieu River. A committee to confer as to the advisability of the work was appointed consisting of J. W. Bryan, chairman; G.P. Hampton, secretary; George H. Wells, D. J. Goos, A. J. Perkins, A. H. Moss, M. D. Hutchins, and Wm. L. Hutchins.

The Lake Charles Council No. 61, United Friends of Temperance have elected officers again. S.O. Shattuck, deputy grand worthy primate, installed them. They are Thomas Ferren, worthy primate; Mrs. Mary Glasspool, worthy assistant; Wm. H. Haskell, Jr., recording scribe; Miss Georgie Livingston, assistant recording scribe; J. W. Rosteet, financial scribe; Julien Richard, treasurer; Rev. A. Seveance, chaplain; John Shattuck, conductor; Miss Farque, assistant conductor; Frank F. Schindler, inside sentinel; Felix K. Perkins, outside sentinel. The worthy primate has appointed George H. Wells deputy grand worthy primate.

Today began the daily schedule of passenger trains running straight through from Vermillionville to Orange. From Orange one may go to Houston, which means that the trip from New Orleans to Houston can now be made in 24 hours. Isn’t that splendid? It’s so good that we, who have looked for and wanted this railroad for so long, can scarcely believe that it is all true at last.

The foundation of the Catholic Church is laid. It is going to be a large, very beautiful building and will be a great addition to our rapidly growing town.

The census for Calcasieu Parish has been completed. We have a population of 12,361 now and in 1875 it was 10,076, which means it has increased 2,285 in the past five years.

Mr. Meyer’s machine for manufacturing ice won’t work to the disappointment of everybody. He thinks it’s because the power isn’t strong enough. He says he is going to take it down to the rice mill and attach it to the engine there. If it doesn’t succeed he is going to send it back to the company and make them send something else. We haven’t been enjoying ice cream after all this summer as we had expected to.

Jeff Lyons, Amedee Farque, Reese Perkins and Edward L. Wells went into the Bayou d’Inde woods and got three deer. The say the deer are thick this summer.

There has been a meeting held at Sugartown to organize an academy. Dr. G. Meyer acted as chairman, H. G. Peninger as secretary. The committee appointed to draw a plan for the building and let the contract consists of Dempsey Iles, H. C. Lyles, J. D. Sigler, G.W. Richardson and J. P. Peninger. Sugartown is one of the best farming settlements in Calcasieu Parish. There are a large number of young people there who need the advantages of a higher institution of learning.

Another history-making event happened yesterday. The first through passenger train from New Orleans to Houston passed through. It left New Orleans at noon and at 11 o’clock last night delivered here in Lake Charles several of yesterday’s copies of the New Orleans Times. It is very interesting issue, for it was a special edition in honor of the paper’s first visit to Texas by rail. We are now eleven hours from New Orleans. Think of it! We can run down most any time now.

In the last nine days 278 cars of freight have passed over our new railroad. There’s an average of 35 cars a day now. There have been eleven cars of cotton and eight of cattle. There are two sleeping cars and two more will soon be added. The trains are all running on time.

W.D. Sawtelle, traveling agent for the White Sewing Machine Company, visited Lake Charles last week.

I’ve had the most wonderful week-end of my life. I’ve been to New Orleans over the new railroad. Saturday night Michael and I and Max and Marie went down. The railroad is offering an excursion every Saturday night. The round trip fare is only $12.50. The regular fare is $9.85 one way. A good many people are going on those week-end excursions. It was my first trip to New Orleans. My what a time the four of us had. We visited the Cabildo and the Pontabo buildings and saw just a lot of places. In fact, every minute of our stay was packed full. New we are eagerly looking forward to the time when we can go back.

The railroad has established headquarters here now. Charles R. Adams is the assistant general manager; G. W. Polk, the superintendent; J. C. Zimmer, the general freight and passenger agent; F. B. Parkinson, treasurer; E. W. Westerfield, master of transportation; J.C. Lopez, general traveling agent.

There are six new post offices in Calcasieu now. The offices and the postmasters in charge are: Soileau, James Cole; Calcasieu, August Johnson; Pinchburg, Charles Mazilly; Meadows, Isaac Meadows; Edgerly, J. T. Davidson; China, Lucinda Jackson. The other offices in the parish and their postmasters are: Lake Charles, W. D. Mearns; Lake Arthur, D. Derouen; Lacassine, C.D. Welch; Nibletts Bluff, S. A. Fairchild; Rose Bluff, O. R. Moss; Phillips Bluff, Eych Clement; Sugartown, H. C. Farquhar; The Bay, J.B. Thompson; Hickory Flat, Abner Cole; Dry Creek, Levi Miller. That makes 16 offices in all in this parish.

At the election of the Masons the other night Charles P. Hampton was made worshipful master; Henry Gieffers, senior warden; Harry Wachsen, Junior warden; J. W. Bryan, treasurer; John H. Poe, secretary; D. W. Jessen, Tyler; W. D. Mearns, senior deacon; A. Rigmaiden, junior deacon.

A grim discovery has been made here. Whether it’s the clue to a terrible tragedy that happened years, perhaps ages ago, or whether it’s just a burying place that has been found, nobody knows. But anyhow, Captain Thos. R. Reynolds, while excavating shell banks at the head of Calcasieu Lake, unearthed half a dozen human skeletons, about seven feet below the surface of the ground. They were in different postures, some lying on the back, some face down, and one sitting. They may have been Indians. It’s impossible to know how long they have been there, or how they came there.

Hon. E. H. Fay, superintendent of public education of the state, has appropriated the school funds. Calcasieu’s share is $977; Vernon gets $430; Cameron gets $187. If everybody owing a poll tax would pay it Calcasieu would have a public school fund of over $5000.

The fair for the benefit of the Catholic Church last week was a great success. The gross receipts were $700. Miss Mollie Costello won the ladies gold watch chain and Miss Evalina Pujo won the gold bracelets.

What a difference a railroad can make in one’s life. Max and Maria and Michael and I have had another grand and glorious good time. We went on the excursion to Orange to see the Welsh and Eands circus and menagerie. The round trip was only one dollar. There were 450 people who went from Lake Charles. Many of them were old men who never had an opportunity ride on a railroad train before. The weather was fine, the road was smooth, and the passenger coaches were elegant and comfortable. And the circus - Michael says there were all of 2,000 people there.

There has been another excursion lately - to Lake Charles from Vermillionville, $1.50 for the round trip. The railroad officials say if they are encouraged sufficiently they will put on an excursion once each week to some point. They are being encouraged.

William D. Mearns has resigned as our postmaster and William H. Haskell, of Haskell House, has been appointed to take his place. Mr. Mearns is a member of the lumber manufacturing firm of Dees and Mearns, with a steam mill just below Lake Charles.

We have another new mercantile firm, A. Rigmaiden and Co. The men in the company are well known here and have had successful experience in the business, too, for they have been employed by A. J. Perkins at West Fork and West Lake Charles.

Col. A. W. Gillespie, of Cameron Parish, has been on a visit to Lake Charles. He represented the parish in the state legislature during the stormy struggle between the Nicholls and Packard government.

We have a band in Lake Charles now. It was organized March 27. William Meyer acted as temporary chairman and W. L. Hutchins as temporary secretary. When officers were elected W. L. Hutchins was made president, Adolph Meyer, secretary, Wm. Meyer, treasurer, Louis O. Aucoin, Adolph Meyer and Wm. Meyer were appointed as a committee to frame a constitution. Others who were at the meeting and who are going to belong to the band are August Seckendorf, W.B. Hutchins, James A. Lyons, Bryant Hutchins, H. Waitt, Francis Chavanne, Peter Protherson. They haven’t any leader yet but all the members have already had some experience in playing before the public.

Marie and I went fishing this afternoon and had pretty good luck, too. We had fried fish for our husbands’ supper. The river is alive with fish now. You can find most any kind you want - gar fish, gaspego, mullet, cat fish, buffalo fish, and other varieties of the finny tribe. They sell for five cents a pound.

The mignonettes, Mrs. Meyer’s Sunday school class of the tiny little folks, won the silk banner last month. The banner was presented to the school by a group of friends. Moss and Riddick furnished the silk, W. Meyer the gilding, the ladies of his family did the needle work, and Paul Sullivan the lettering. The banner will go to the class that has had the largest collections.

The Magnolia Dramatic Club has been organized. Really, it is the old Magnolia Club, which gave several historic entertainments a few years ago. Thad Mayo is president; J. A. Kinder, vice president; A. M. Mayo, secretary; Thos. R. Reynolds, stage manager; Paul Sullivan, assistant stage manager; Dr. J. C. Munday, treasurer; P. M. Murray, janitor. The club embraces considerable dramatic talent and we are expecting some fine entertainments soon.

The R. K. R. is going to give a grand ball at Frick’s Opera house Wednesday, April 27. The floor managers are going to be Dave Bloch, H. C. Gill, Dr. J.C. Munday, J. H. McCormick, J. H. Poe, Paul Sullivan, Harry Waitt and A. C. Gordon.

Ship building seems to be the order of the day now. Messrs. Clooney, Schindler & Co., builder of barges and ships, are kept busy. Bernard Sweeney, another ship builder, has built a schooner for H. C. Gill. Otto Tell Schindler has launched on Lake Charles a new schooner built by him for C. M. Holden, of Fulton, Texas, for service in Corpus Christi Bay. It is named the Wm. Meyer in compliment of the worthy mayor. Mr. Schindler has closed the contract with the Mexican Central railway company for two more ships to be towed to Vera Cruz to be used in building a railroad.

Calcasieu Parish has a new post office. It is called Merryville and it is in the western part of the parish, on the postal route from Niblett’s Bluff on the Sabine to Vernon Parish.

Yesterday our post office here in Lake Charles became an international money order office. Money orders can now be sent and received to and from all offices in Europe and Canada. William H. Haskell, our postmaster says that our money orders amounted to $10,200 during April and May.

We had a fire here yesterday. The home of Thomas Barnes burned. The fire company did good work but we need a hook and ladder company to tear down fences and anything near by that is likely to make the fire spread. We also need 100 buckets.

We’ve had some lovely fruit here in Lake Charles this summer. Mrs. M. E. Howard had some of the finest raspberries I ever saw. Hon. S. D. Reid brought up some fine peaches from his orchard at Cameron Pass and James Howard had some wonderful grapes. All those people were nice about dividing up with their friends.

Wm. Meyer’s ice factory has been working successfully this summer so we have all the ice we need. We can even have ice cream.

Mr. Wm. B. Hutchins has opened a fruit and peanut business at E. Kaiser and Co.’s establishment.

Max and Marie and Michael and I have been going in the lake bathing quite often this summer. Most everybody else goes, too. But few go early in the morning, as we have done several times.

The lake is lovely at early dawn as we look out over the placid sheet of water. Occasionally, a fish leaps above the surface. I like to stand on the shore and watch the little crafts sailing around and the parti-colored lights still burning on the small vessels that ply between this and other ports and along the river. Then one can see the smoke starting up from the different mills. The labor of the day is commencing and we realize we are in the midst of a bustling, active commerce that will soon make Lake Charles a busy city with thousands of people.

Then Max says, “Come on, let’s go home to breakfast,” so we leave the lake until we can come again.

We’re going to have two newspapers in Lake Charles. John McCormick will begin publishing the Commercial in a short time.

Mrs. J. B. Demere is going to open a private school for girls Sept. 5, in connection with her music school. Many inquiries are being received here, Michael says, regarding a high school. I surely hope one can soon be established.

G.W. Richardson & Co. of Sugartown ginned their first bale of cotton the first week of August.

Michael says the police jury has been asked to dig a large cistern and place a town pump on the public square. Every well-regulated town should have one. As it is now, whenever court is in session, hundreds of people have to go to private homes to ask for a drink. Also, a cistern there might save thousands of dollars worth of property in case of fire.

A man here in town has said he would subscribe $500 for the erection of a graded school for boys. He said it is a reproach to Lake Charles to have no suitable building set apart for education purposes.

District Judge Hon. S. D. Reid and District Attorney A. J. Kearney have returned from Vernon where they have been holding court. Judge Kearney took a flying trip to Cameron to see his family. Judge G. A. Fournet returned yesterday from a trip to New Iberia. Claudius Mayo and A. Frazee of Opelousas visited Lake Charles this week.

The parish had just had a new coat of whitewash, inside and our, for which we are indebted to Sheriff Julien Richard.

Paul Sullivan, already known here as an excellent house and sign painter has made some new scenery for Frick’s Opera House. Mr. Sullivan, who is a nephew of Capt. Thos. R. Reynolds, of Haskell House, created quite a sensation last Tuesday in Ryan Street by driving a new elegant coupe to a spirited and handsome team of matched iron gray horses. This stylish turnout we learned is for the purpose of carrying passengers between Haskell House and the railroad depot.

Which reminds me that M. J. Rosteet almost had a run-away the other day. His horse tried to get away from the buggy to which it was harnessed. But no real damage was done.

As pretty a love story as I have ever read has been enacted right here in Lake Charles. At least, the closing chapter was enacted here. The story really began in Ireland. Thomas Wolfe and James Woods fell in love over there with Maggie Murry and Nannie Cain. Thomas and James couldn’t seem to get ahead there, at least not enough to support Maggie and Nannie the way they wanted to support them, so they told them goodbye, and sailed away to America to seek their fortune. They decided, not long ago, that they had found enough of it in Lake Charles to send for the girls, so that’s what they did. The girls arrived the other day, having come all the way from Ireland. The boys met them at the train and took then to Haskell’s House. Then they want to a minister and - now they are living happily ever after. They seem so very, very happy, and the boys seem to feel well repaid for their years of hard work and saving.

The big buck of Calcasieu has hauled in his horns and John H. Poe has added another victory to his laurels as a huntsman. For two or three years this deer, the largest ever seen in this parish, has roamed the neighborhood of the Big thicket on Boggy Bayou, in the pine woods, 25 miles north of Lake Charles. He has been shot at many times. But it remained for Mr. Poe to bring him down. Mr. Poe went out with T. J. Jackson and Allen Andrus. Mr. Jackson is a veteran deer hunter and he says that buck is the largest he ever saw. Mr. Poe has the horns at home to show as a trophy; his experience as a deer hunter is remarkable. He is quite a young man and he never shot at deer until two years ago. He killed two on his first hunt and he has killed 14 since. In fact, he is almost invariably successful on deer hunts. Whenever he starts out, the deer would do well to beware.

Speaking of animals, something else interesting, as well as unusual, happened the other day. It was at one of the camps along the Sabine where laborers are hewing railroad cross ties. At night a colored boy, 16 years old, was attacked by a pole cat. Oliver Perkins and Thompson A. Ashworth happened to be there that night and drove the cat off. And now the older men are telling a story that some years ago a large coon drove two men into the water in this parish.

We have five schools in the parish this year. They are taught by Rev. G. C. Hyde, Lewis L. Bourges, Mrs. M. A. McCelland, Mrs. J. B. Demere, Miss Julia Hennington.

Miss Lizzie Hennington has opened a school for instruction in piano and vocal music.

W. H. Baldwin, principal of Sugartown academy, passed through Lake Charles on his way to visit friends in South Carolina. The Academy is known as the Male and Female school. It stands about a half mile from Sugartown, on Commodious grounds, surrounded by a good plank fence. It has a convenient water supply. The school room is large and comfortable, with a wash room at each end for the young men and the young ladies. The principal is W. H. Baldwin. He has had 15 years experience as a teacher so the discipline is excellent. The second term will begin Monday, Oct. 31, and will continue six months. Tuition runs from two dollars to four dollars a month, with one dollar for incidental fees. Miss Mollie Richardson is assistant principal. Board may be had by the pupils in the best families. There are 45 pupils applied for enrollment, with as many as 75 expected.

Edward L. Wells and Benoit Barbe have left to attend the state university at Baton Rouge.

There are two young ladies from Mississippi visiting here now. They are Anna Hennington who is visiting her sister, and Miss Mattie Robertson, who is visiting the family of Geo. Wells for some time on her way to Hickory Branch to visit her sister, Mrs. Lucian Jones.

We’ve been having so many Sugartown visitors lately. Dr. M. E. Singleton was here a few days ago. He said that V. K. Singleton and his family have moved from Sugartown to Waco, Texas. Then there was a whole party in from our neighboring settlement. Jeff Iles and his family, Professor Baldwin, Miss Fannie Singleton, Miss Alice Cagle and several young men were along.

There’s an opening for a small school at S.A. Fairchild’s, near Sabine Station, on the Sabine. A teacher is needed.

There are a good many people passing through Lake Charles now, Michael says. Many of them would stay, he thinks, and make this their home, if they could find houses to rent to live in.

Miss Lizzie Walshe leaves Monday for New Orleans to buy her new fall millinery. As soon as she gets back, Marie and I are going down to her little store, next door to the post office, and get our new winter hats.

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Haskell, a bride and groom of a few weeks, returned Monday a honeymoon spent in Vernon parish. They were married here just three days before Christmas, at the home of H. C. Gill, Rev. S. H. Cooper performing the ceremony. The wedding festivities included a splendid supper. The bride was Miss Julia E. Smart, of Vernon parish, and a lovely girl she is. All Lake Charles is wishing them every possible happiness. We understand now why Mr. Haskell has been taking those long, hard trips to Vernon. It’s a two-day journey, just one way, to Leesville, through the woods practically all the way.

Dr. E. J. Lyons returned to town a few days ago with his family, after several months spent at his log ranch.

One by one Lake Charles obtains the things it needs. Another necessary convenience for the town has been opened - a feed stable where horses and oxen from the country can be fed and cared for while their owners attend to business in town has been opened by Julien Richard near Richard House.

Another sign that shows we are becoming like a city is the new hack that Captain Green Hall has recently purchased to carry passengers from the Lake House to the depot. He has put up new lamps in the Lake House, too, by the way. Then there is the new express wagon that Captain Tom Reynolds has purchased to carry the baggage of passengers from the railroad depot to any place in Lake Charles. Our town is truly becoming more like a city every day.

Another Masonic election. This time the new officers are Thos. R. Reynolds, W. M.; A. Rigmaiden, S.W.; D. Mearns, J. W.; J. W. Bryan, treasurer; D.S. Block, secretary; D. W. Jessen, Tyler; Dosite Vincent, senior deacon; T. H. Stanton, junior deacon.

One of the biggest events that has ever taken place here was the big Masonic dinner on December 27, two days after Christmas. Mr. Reynolds, the proprietor of Haskell House, and also the newly installed Master of the Lake Charles lodge, prepared the feast. Each one of the long tables, which were laid in Frick’s Opera House, seated 100 persons. There were 250 at the dinner. And the tables were loaded with a bounteous feast. After the dinner there was a grand ball. Invited guests were A P. Baker, W. M.; D. W. Donahue, S.W.; and C. Peveto, J. W. of Blue Buck Lodge, Cameron. A. Rigmaiden, D. B. Lyons, Charles Miller and Wm. D. Mearns worked at selling the tickets for some time before the day of the dinner.

There is still another steam saw mill going up in this territory. Sam and Marion Fairchild are building one near Edgerly Station, with a capacity of 15,000 to 20,000 feet of lumber a day. Alexander Cormier has been in town telling about it.

O. S. Lyons is in town now. He divides his time between staying in Lake Charles and running his log ranch in the pine woods.

We have a new doctor here. He is Dr. W. M. Flower, of Mississippi. He thinks Lake Charles is going to keep on growing and he has decided to settle here.

Mr. Schindler, of Hempstead, Texas, is visiting his brother, Casper Schindler, one of our aldermen. He is on his was home from the Atlanta exposition.

J. B. Kirkman and B. H. Harmon have opened a grocery store in the O’Brien house in Pujo Street near Meyer’s drug store.

Sam R. Lyons, a merchant and stock raiser from Edgerly Station, has been spending several days here. We’ve had another visitor in town, too, W.R. Hargrove, from Sugartown.

There were 15 large schooners anchored in the lake Thursday morning. They made a beautiful sight. They came for lumber.

Something has to be done about educating the children of Calcasieu. S. O. Shattuck has suggested one thing that might be done. He suggested it in a speech to the school board. He said there are 3,600 children in this parish to be educated. The state gives us only $3000 to educate them with. Mr. Shattuck says there should be 90 schools, with 40 pupils in each school. This would mean 90 teachers. At a salary of $40 a month that would mean $3,600 a month. For three months of school each year. Which is much better than things are at present. The state gives $3000. The police jury is allowed to levy a tax not to exceed ten mills; it might ask for a grant of one mill. That would make $1500. Then, Mr. Shattuck says, if a special tax of 4 ½ was levied, the rest of that sum could be raised. Mr. Shattuck says that other states levy taxes to support public schools and why shouldn’t we. The private schools are inadequate, he says. Michael says he doesn’t know what is going to be done about it, but anyhow J. W. Bryan, president of the school board, appointed Mr. Shattuck, G. W. Richardson, and T. E. Ferren on a committee to confer with the police jury.

Judge F. A. Gallaugher, Sheriff Lyons, Deputy Sheriff Julien Richard and Thad Mayo have returned from New Orleans, where they went to attend district court.

Tell Schindler is having a new house built in Clarence Street. C. Kose, assisted by H. G. Boardman, is building it.

One thing we’re needing is Lake Charles right now is a new hotel. What we have are always full. Haskell House, where Captain T. R. Reynolds is the host, has nine rooms for guests. Lake House, of which Captain Green Hall is host, has ten apartments. Richard House, with Jules Richard, a brother of Julian, as host, has eight bedrooms. Each of the three hotels has a stable.

Galveston thinks we have a future as a summer resort. One of the Galveston papers says this week: “Lake Charles might be called the twin city of Louisiana, since it lies on both sides of the lake. A stranger, crossing the lake, thinks what a summer resort it would be if lake shore were shelled, bath houses established, and streets improved.” Well, maybe some day we will do all these things.

G. M. Gossett is having bad luck with a series of fires. Recently his temporary residence on Marsh Bayou burned. That was his fifth loss by fire.

Thos. Barnes and Jos. J. Herrington have formed a co-partnership for light and heavy blacksmithing.

We have three new organizations in Lake Charles. The Lake Charles Literary Society was organized Thursday evening and now we expect to have series of debates. M. M. Singleton is president, G. A. Fournet is vice-president, A. M. Mayo, secretary, D. C. Kamm, treasurer. The executive committee protem to prepare the program is G. A. Fournet, Dr. Kamm and Judge Kearney. The question to be debated at the next meeting is “Ought the Right of Suffrage be Given to Women?”

Another organization is the American Legion of Honor. The officers are Thad Mayo, C.; James H. Kinder, V.C.; Adolph Meyer, secretary; Robert Landry, Col.; J. W. Bryan, treasurer; A. J. Kearney, P. C.; Benson Harmon, chaplain; Herry Waitt, W.; Thomas Reynolds, orator; Julien Richard, G.; W. H. Haskell Jr., Thad Mayo, A. J. Kearney, Junior Baker, trustees; Dr. Flowers, examining physician.

It seems that Lake Charles will soon have its share of organizations. The Ladies’ Mite Society of the M. E. Church South is the other latest one. Mrs. Sally Green is president; Mrs. Drusilla Daniels, vice-president; Mrs. Emma Meyer, secretary; Mrs. Emma B. Riddick, treasurer; the committee appointed to decide on the time and place of meeting is composed of Mrs. Florence Meyer, Mrs. Mary Moss, Mrs. Elizabeth Hansen, and Mrs. Elizabeth Schindler. The society will meet next week at the home of Dr. A. H. Moss.

The agents for the Echo, our weekly paper, have just been named. They are R. Lehman, of Mermentau; S.A. Fairchild at Niblett’s Bluff; S. P. Henry at Leesburg; V. Maignaud at Mermentau; G.W. Richardson at Sugartown; A. W. Gillespie at Grand Chenier; and J. P. Eddleman at Johnson’s Bayou.

John Miller has contracted to carry the mail tri-weekly from Lake Charles to Cameron for $4,090 a year; and J. B. Colegrove from Lake Charles to Sugartown, via Dry Creek, for $724 a year.

J. S Davidson is running a hack now from seven in the morning till six at night from and to the railroad depot. It's 25 cents a ride.

Messrs. J. P. Geary, T. Y. Gallespy and A. C. Pithon went to New Orleans this week.

L. Kaufman arrived from New Orleans Tuesday night with his fair bride. They were met at the railroad depot by the R. K. R. cornet band, which later called at their home and serenaded them. Mrs. Kaufman was formerly Miss Pauline Raas of New Orleans

The debate on woman suffrage at the meeting of the Lake Charles Literary Society was a great success. Dr. Gabe Kamm and M. M. Singleton had the affirmative and Judge G.A. Fornet and A. M. Mayo the negative. The affirmative won, but both sides put up splendid arguments. The judges were J. C. Munday, March McAlphin and M.D. Kearney. Two other numbers on the program were essays, one on “Simplicity” by Judge Fournet and one on “The Three Powers: Woman, the Press and the Pulpit” by Dr. Kamm.

The program has already been announced for the next meeting of the society. A. M. Mayo is to be the reader, and Dr. Kamm the essayist. The debate will be on the question, “Which Has Had the Greatest Influence on the World, the Pen or the Sword?” Judge Kearney and Hon. George H. Wells will be on the affirmative side, and Hon. J. P. Geary and M. M. Singleton, the negative.

We are indeed approaching civilization. The first organ grinder accompanied by his monkey has arrived. Of course, he has been the center of much attraction.

While I’m speaking of music we have a string band now. Prof. F. Hortig has organized it. Messrs. W. L. Hutchins, Briant Hutchins, Peter Brotherson and August Secendorf are members. With two brass bands, and a piano or organ in every home, a man with an organ and a monkey on the streets, the blind man with his wife and an accordion on the corner, and a French harp glued to the lips of every juvenile in town, Lake Charles will have no dearth of music this summer.

One of the nicest social events this spring, and one that has been more fun than any other, was the masquerade ball given at the court house under the auspices of the R. K. R. J. A. Kinder, C. M. Richard and Robert Landry were the committee in charge and they saw to it that everybody had a good time.

Jacob Ryan and Capt. T. Hansen are getting ready to establish a shingle mill in connection with their rice mill.

M. J. Rosteet had built a new fence around his premises and but in a new bridge in front of his store. Julius Frank, who has been doing business in Vermillionville for several years, has rented a store near the court house and will open next week with a large stock of general merchandise.

We have a new organization in town. It is the Ladies’ Mite Society of the M. E. Church, South. Mrs. Sally Green has been elected president, Mrs. Drusilla Daniels vice president, Mrs. Emma Meyer secretary, Mrs. Emma B. Riddick treasurer. The committee to decide on the time and place of meeting consists of Mrs. Florence Meyer, Mrs. Mary Rose, Mrs. Elizabeth Hansen and Mrs. Elizabeth Schindler. The first meeting will be held at the home Dr. A. H. Moss, the next at the home of E. L. Riddick, and the next at the home of Adolph Meyer. They promise us some interesting entertainment.

High waters are interfering with the train service to New Orleans. Miss Mollie Richardson, assistant principal of Sugartown Academy, is waiting here till she can get to the city.

Mrs. W. H. Haskell Sr. and Freddie George came in this morning after a three week’s visit to Captain G. C. Marshall’s at Leesburg. They were accompanied home by Mrs. Marshall.

It is spring house-cleaning and general fixing-up time in Lake Charles. C. Schindler has laid off his front yard into nice flower beds. Dr. A. H. Moss has had his house painted. George H. Wells and J. Chavanne have had their fences whitewashed. Captain J. W. Bryan has a new fence that is all ready for painting. G. A. Fournet has painted his house. A. R. Mitchell has had his law office on the court house square neatly white-washed. Verily, Lake Charles is dressing up. There are some new buildings, too. Mrs. Louis Leveque is erecting a building on the corner of the court house square. She will use it for a millinery shop. And Garland Dees is building a livery stable in the rear of Robert Landry’s store.

Monday, the Sisters Marianites of the Holy Cross, Lake Charles Academy for Young Ladies, held an exhibition. Max and Marie and Michael and I went and enjoyed the program very much. The pupils who were awarded prizes for merit were Irene Lyons, Octavia Hutchins, Julia Leveque, Blanche Fournet, Emma McCormick, Julia O’Brien, Georgia Munns, Katinka Ryan, Dora Krouse, Emma Ryan, Rosa Wilson, May Hutchins, Margaret Hutchins, Nellie O’Brien and Mary Krouse. Winners of prizes for their fancy work were: Claudia Barbe, Emma Winterhaler, Nettie Hansen, Henrietta Terasera and Lizzie Ferren. In the first English class the medal winners were: Julia Leveque, Irene Lyons and Octavia Hutchins. In the second English class: Clara Chavanne, Blanche Fournet, Salome Rothkamm, Louise Leveque, Julia Walker, Emma Ryan, Lizzie Ferren, Mary Hutchins, Ellen Guillory, Margaret Hutchins, Lorena Hutchins, Frances Blancar, Agnes Guillory, Margaret Sullivan, Mary Miller, Elma Rothkamm and Belle Ferren.

A very interesting dialogue on the program was the “Quarrel Among the Flowers.” E. Ryan was the rose; C. Barbe, the crocus; Mary Hutchins, the dahlia; N. Hansen, the sunflower; M.Miller, the pink; N. O’Brien, the water lily; Margaret Hutchins, the violet; and F. Blancar, the snowdrop. In the chorus of flowers B. Fournet was the pansy; L. Ferren, the heliotrope; J. Walker, the tulip; Lorena Hutchins, the lilac; E. Ohihousen, the hollyhock; E. Guillory, the rose geranium; B. Ferren, the lily of the valley; M. Krouse, the jasmine; E. Wincky, the oleander, O. Granger, the daisy; E. Dowling, the buttercup; and M. Sullivan, the bluebell.

All the schools of the country have closed for the summer vacation. Cadets J. W. Rosteet, Arthur Rosteet, Brent Richard and Willie Mayo have returned home.

Deputy Clerk A. M. Mayo, who has been spending some time at the Seaside Hotel in Cameron Parish, has come home, much improved in health.

Michael says there are about 30 schooners belonging to the Calcasieu fleet lying at the Pass or at the mouth of the lake, unable to move because the water is so low. Captain George Lock has built a beautiful new boat which he calls the “Geraldine.” He uses it nearly every day to make the trip from his home down to the mill of Lock, Moore & Co., down on Indian, or Prien Lake.

The Knights of Pythias are asking for help in building a fraternity hall. They want contributions of money or lumber or shingles. The committee soliciting is Robert Landry, Adolph Meyer and W. A. Knapp.

Henry Welch, from Welsh station, was here and C. P. Hampton, from Edgerly, and S. J. Meadows, from Meadows post office.

William Meyer has been re-elected as our mayor; James P. Geary, Robert Landry, J. B. Kirkman, B. H. Harmon and Dr. E. J. Lyons are the aldermen.

Autumn has come again. Mrs. J. Muller left last night for New Orleans to buy her new fall and winter millinery. Another sign of fall we have here is the fact that our young college men are leaving for another year at school. David Lyons left last night for college at Georgetown, Texas; Lee H. Moss, the son of Dr. A. H. Moss, has gone to Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va.; Willie Mayo and Brent Richard have gone back to school. The son of O. F. Lyons and the three young Vincents and Benoit Barbe have returned to L.S.U.

Marie and Max and Michael and I went to visit the sulphur mines last week. We went as far as the home of E. A. Perkins by train, then hired a hack to take us to the mines. A great many people are going to visit the mines now. A party of ladies and gentlemen started the other day to go all the way by hack. An axle broke and they were stranded for many hours. Now they are advising everybody to go by train.

L. V. Touchy and Albert Rosteet have just come home from a prospecting trip to Texas. They say they can find no place like Lake Charles.

Pupils of the Myrtle Kennedia Institute that have been promoted this fall are Miss A. Kearney, with an average of 90; Miss Irene Gee, Miss Laura Kearney, Miss Nannie Kirkman and Miss L. Powel, of the seventh grade, with an average of 85; Misses P. Stoddard, Rosie Moore, Ella Kirkman, Annie Schindler, C. Keener, and Agnes Schindler of the seventh grade with an average of 85; Miss I. Kearney, of the sixth grade, with a record of 80; Master E. Meyer, sixth grade, 80; Miss Annie Lyons, Miss Annie Green, Miss Sallie Grimaldi, Miss Babbett Platz, Miss Isel Langley, Master Hart Green, and Jack Kirkman of the sixth grade, with an average of 80.

This school is doing some splendid good work, fitting boys for college and preparing girls to become useful and accomplished ladies.

They are: L. C. Touchy, P.C.; W. A. Knapp, C.C.; W. D. Mearns, V. C.; M. M. Singleton, prelate; C. M. Richard, master of exchequer; Adolph Meyer, K. of R. and S.; H. J. Geary, M. of finance; M. Marx, inside guard; W. P. Thomas, outside guard; guard members, Leon Klotz, James A. Kinder and J. A. Ryan; representative to the Grand Lodge, W. A. Knapp, W. D. Mearns.

Lake Charles has reached another mile post in its history. We will soon have a telephone. “Think of it.” Wires and phones are being put up for the exchange of messages between the drug store on the corner of Ryan and Pujo Streets and A. Rigmaiden & Co.’s store at the railroad depot. Michael says it will cost ten cents to talk for five minutes. Wm. Meyer has acquired from the patentees of the telephone apparatus exclusive privileges in all of Calcasieu.

The roll of honor at the Myrtle Kennedia Institute this month includes Miss R. Moore, Miss N. Kirkman, P. Stoddard and C. Keener, from the seventh grade; Master P. Munday, Miss I. Langley, Miss L. Kearney, and Miss A. Lyons, Ralph Howard, Frank Howard, from the sixth grade; R. Helms, Johnnie Jessen, Charlie Kearney, Rosa Helms, Leon Cox from the fifth grade; Master M. Muller, Fred George, and Eddie Riddick, from the fourth grade.

I’ve talked over the telephone. Michael had me go to the drug store and then went to Rigmaiden’s and called me. His voice sounded so funny, coming into my ear from that queer little instrument. I could hear him just as plainly as though he had been in the room. Think of hearing anybody talk, that far away. Of course I’ve seen telephones before, a few times. They’ve been in use for the last ten years. But I never did talk over one before. I didn’t suppose I ever would. We’re so proud of Lake Charles because we have a line here, and Michael says we will soon have lots more. He says, some time, we will have a telephone in our house and Max and Marie will have one and then we can talk to them whenever we want to and they can talk to us. It’s most too wonderful to believe it can be true. William Meyer says he is going to extend the line to West Lake Charles. From there he says he will extend it to the firm of Moore, Perkins and Co., then on to Ayersville, to terminus of their railroad on Hickory Branch. That is a distance of 12 to 14 miles. Michael says if they can do that it will be a great help to them in their business.

S. O. Shattuck, a young man inexperienced in the art of legislature but of excellent attainments and energetic, is our representative-elect. He has already been placed on the education committee, and the committees on fish and fisheries and claims. Michael thinks he is a man who is going far and will do a great deal for our section of the state.

Frances Chavanne has opened an ice cream saloon in connection with his bakery. He serves ice cream three times a week, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Hall’s ice cream parlor is open three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. So in that way, we can have ice cream any day we want it, except Mondays and Fridays.

We have a new organization, the Auxiliary Educational Society of the parish, which is a branch of the Louisiana Educational Society. It’s going to have something to do with the schools, but I don’t know just what. J. W. Bryan is president, M. M. Singleton, secretary, and the members are F. A. Gallagher, G. A. Fournet, S. O. Shattuck, L. V. Touchy, S. D. Read, Rev. L. C. Kellis, J. W. Bryan, Henry Gieffers, M. M. Singleton, E. C. Hawkins and Julien Richard.

Michael and I have just returned from a delightful trip up into the pine woods. He had to go on business so I went along too. We went over the old Swearingen route, to the terminus on Hickory Branch of the Calcasieu and Vernon Railroad, where we were greeted by the agent, L. L. Singleton. We stayed all night with a family we know who live near there. We came back over the Erwin Perkins route. That is the best and shortest road. Michael says that it probably will be a part of the proposed direct route to Leesville. Then the cotton raised in the northern part of the parish will come over it to Lake Charles. Michael says that the police jury has been laying out a network of roads over the parish, just like a spider’s web. He says it would be a lot better if they didn’t have so many and concentrated on making a few really good ones. From all the reports, it seems that health, business and crops are not so good up in the woods.

A warning has been issued to everybody here not go into the water of the lake during the hot season. It’s dangerous and likely to cause sickness when it’s so hot.

A lot of people are having a good time vacationing. Augustus Mayo, our energetic deputy clerk of court, has just returned home from a visit to the Beach Hotel on the Gulf shore in Cameron Parish. He says he had a very pleasant time and profited greatly from the salt air. John H. Poe and his family have returned from the Beach Hotel, too. They say they are greatly refreshed by the sea breezes and enjoyed the kind of treatment they received at that popular resort.

Mrs. Wm Haskell has been away, too. She went to Leesville, in Vernon Parish, to visit friends and relatives.

Jos. Vincent came in this week to dispose of 200 pounds of wool from his herds on Hackberry Islands. Emilie Corbello has just sheared over 200 sheep and marked 150 lambs. His flocks have never been fed nor salted. Someone rides out and looks after them occasionally. They are as wild as deer but they yield from five to seven pounds of fine wool a year each.

S. L. Cary, of Jennings, says the land Uncle Samuel has left around there is being taken up rapidly. There is a colony of 150 Iowans established there now. A free school of 27 pupils has been organized since the first of April. The first meeting to organize a Sunday school was held Sunday. Mrs. Cary was elected superintendent; A. Blake, assistant superintendent; S. Simons, secretary; J. C. McMartin, treasurer; Mrs. H. F. Childs, organist.

Last night Michael was reading in the paper an announcement where the secretary of state said that the population of Calcasieu in 1840 was 1,349 white 236 free colored, and 482 slaves. In 1880 it was 9,924 white. In 1890, Michael said, we should have a population of 18,000, if we continued to grow in proportion to the way we have grown in the past four years. Those statistics must show that our land here is of real value.

Henry Meyer was showing a curiosity to his friends on the street today. It was a specimen of “silk grass.” The leaves, when cured and carded, produce a strong fiber resembling silk. Mr. Meyer believes this may be a discovery in which millions may be hidden, though it may be years before anything is done with it. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if a fabric that looks like silk could me made from plant life? It should be a lot cheaper then silk.

We have been having a great deal of delightful music. The Lake Charles brass band, led by C. M. Richard, has been doing a great deal of serenading at night. The band deserves much praise and is giving a great deal of pleasure.

The new school board consists of M. M. Singleton, president; John H. Poe, secretary; A. Rigmaiden, W. D. Mearns, J. McNeese, E. A. Perkins, J. J. Lyles, J. W. Bryan and Thomas Kleinpeter. The examining board is Mr. Mearns, Mr. Kleinpeter, Mr. McNeese and Mr. Poe.

Some of the merchants and business men of the city are offering $500 for the building of a public wharf. There is too much business now to depend on private wharves, they say, and a public one will cost $1000.

There are other things we need, too, such as a market house, a calaboose, some way to get water in case of fire, and a fence around the public square. The men are talking a lot about those things. Some day, perhaps, we will have them. They even talk of the day when we will have a street railway from the railroad depot to the lower corporation limits.

Edward L. Wells was admitted to the bar last Thursday by the Supreme Court at Shreveport. He is going into partnership with his father, George Wells, here.

M. Marx, of Klotz and Marx, has returned from New Orleans. He says he has bought the “daisiest” stock of goods that ever left the Crescent City for a country town.

Mr. Charley Barbe has just returned from Brookhaven, Miss. His two daughters and his niece, Evalina Pujo, went with him to enter Whitworth Female College.

Some from here are going to New Orleans to attend the Exposition. Thad Mayo, A. J. Perkins, Hon. William Meyer and J. W. Bryan and family are all there now.

Michael says he doesn’t know what is going to become of this country if conditions continue like they are. Right now here in Lake Charles we have more robberies and fights than were ever heard of before, it seems to us. Why, there have been four persons killed here recently, and drunken brawls in saloons. Most of the trouble is caused by drunkenness, of course. What a pity the money spent for whiskey can’t be used for our schools. We need it so badly there. Every day or two we hear of a fight, or somebody getting robbed, all because of whiskey.

We had a terrible fire last night which destroyed the new Watkins building. Everybody is talking about what a pity it is that we didn’t have fire forces sufficient to fight it. With that, the building would have been saved. It was practically completed, and it was the finest building in town. In general appearance, in exterior finish, in interior arrangement and in ornamentation, it would have been an honor in any city. It would grace any street. J. B. Watkins, who built it, is the president of the North American Land and Timber Company and the J. B. Watkins Banking Co. He is one of the many men who have been attracted here since the railroad was built. Mr. Watkins and his party of press guests arrived here for a visit last Wednesday on the 4 o’clock afternoon train. They walked through the street, visited that beautiful and costly new bank building on the corner of Broad and Hodges Streets, and then took boats down the Calcasieu to the scene of the North American Land and Timber Company’s dredging operations where plans are being made by Mr. Watkins to plant gigantic crops of rice, on to Leesburg. Mr. Watkins said they stopped frequently to see the immense shell bank monuments left by the Indians. They went to Orange and came back to Lake Charles by way of the Louisiana Western Railroad. There were a number of editorial lights, from Boston to San Francisco and from Chicago to New Orleans, in his party. Mr. Watkins was so proud of the new bank building and everybody expressed so much admiration for it. And then, last night, it had to burn. He says he will have it rebuilt at once.

We have a splendid public school this winter. Prof. J. H. Gardner and John McNeese have opened one in the lodge building. Mrs. Gardner has charge of the girls.

Max and Marie and Michael and I are going to New Orleans to see the exposition. We are as excited as children over the prospect. It will be one of the biggest trips Marie and I have ever had, so we have cause to be excited. I was 43 my last birthday and Marie was 42. Our husbands, Max and Michael, are 45 and 46 respectively. We can’t realize we are beginning to get old, but when we look around and think of how Lake Charles has grown up around us, and how much it has changed since the days when we were boys and girls, then we feel just a wee bit old. Our children would be married by this time, is we had had any. But to go back to the exposition. Many Lake Charles people have been down. Just lately Mrs. Green Hall and her four daughters went. J. W. Rosteet, C. M. McCormick, A. J. Perkins and lady, H. C. Drew, Col. A. R. Mitchell and family, Hon. Wm. Meyer and lady, and W. P. Thomas. Everybody who has been there says the Calcasieu exhibit is unexcelled by any other in the state.

Last Sunday a Sunday school was organized in West Lake Charles. A. M. Mayo was elected superintendent, E. H. Vordenbaumen, secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Annie Collins, C. D. Murray, Miss Belle Smart, Chester Goos and Mrs. S. C. Smart, the teachers. There were 38 members enrolled. The school will meet at 3:30 each Sunday afternoon.

Michael told me of a curiosity he saw yesterday. He said J. B. McMahon, of Merryville, showed it to him. Mr. McMahon was in town on business and he had with him a ten-cent silver coin with the date 1780 on it. He said it had been plowed up near Edgerly by a man named Robertson. Just think, it had probably been buried in that field for 100 years or more.

Great excitement has ushered in our Fourth. The Lake House Hotel burned last night, about 11 o’clock. Our heroic citizens fought valiantly with buckets and hand pumps. The fire engine came but there was not enough hose and water to save the building. They did well to save the court house, which caught. No one was hurt except Harry Geary. He received a painful and severe sprain of his ankle. He rushed upstairs to fight the flames and stayed too long, until all avenues of escape were cut off. He had to jump from the second story. It was lucky that he wasn’t injured more severely. Captain Green Hall, the proprietor, says the loss was $7000 and it was insured for only $2,000. That will not pay for the furniture.

The fire kept a lot of folks up all night. But today we have turned our attention away from the fire to our big fair, the first exhibition of the Southwestern Louisiana Horticultural Society. There were big crowds present. S. L. Cary made an address, showing just what can be done agriculturally in the parish.

We have a new military company that has been organized here, the Calcasieu Rifles. A. L. Reid is the captain; J. G. Fitzpatrick, the first lieutenant; Wm. Gayle, the second lieutenant; C. B. Richard, the first sergeant; Ed Eckart, second sergeant; C. H. Winterhaler, third sergeant; C. M. McCormick, fourth sergeant; Francis Chavanne, treasurer; Dr. J. W. Brown, secretary.

Mrs. Muller is having erected a new building, a large two-story double store, elaborately finished. It is to be the finest in town.

J. B. D’Armand, of Clinton, the father-in-law of Dr. W. A. Knapp, of the Peoples’ Drug Store, has purchased the property of W. D. Mearns, a store building and a residence, at the corner of Ryan and Pujo Streets, for $3000 cash. Michael says that is the most desirable piece of property in Lake Charles for any kind of business.

We are going to be better prepared to fight fires now. A hook and ladder company has been organized, with Mr. Touchy, the president; Solomon Bloch, the foreman; Leon Klotz, first assistant foreman; J. G. Fitzpatrick, second assistant foreman; John H. Poe, secretary; D. J. Leveque, treasurer. They will receive their hook and ladder truck in a few days.

There are a number of Calcasieuites rusticating in Vernon Parish this hot weather. G. M. Gossett, W. A. Kirkwood and Z. T. Craft and their families are all visiting relatives and friends there and are also hunting and fishing on the famous hunting grounds of the Kisatchie. H. C. Gill and J. H. Poe and their families have just returned from a ten days’ stay in the piney wood. Their headquarters were at Beckwith Springs, which, by the way, they say needs only a little advertisement to become a popular resort.

A lot of people here are getting ready to attend the peach, pear, grape and plum picnic which is to be held at Jennings, August 8, under the auspices of the Fruit Growers’ Association of Southwestern Louisiana.

Calcasieu Parish is making progress. E. F. Wasey, our efficient and obligating deputy assessor, announces that the valuation of the property in the parish is $3,018,570, an increase over last year of $268,070.

Sugartown is on a boom, so visitors from there say. Messrs. Dear and Co. are pushing their new gin to completion, for the cotton crop there is the largest ever raised in the parish. A brick kiln is being built so the people there can have brick chimneys. G. W. Richardson, they say, is getting his gin and grist mill ready for the season. Henry Iles will put a new fall stock of goods in his store. He also has a corn mill, a new mill and a gin. All the crops in that vicinity are splendid.

Col. W. H. Haskell has left for Boston, via Chicago and Niagara Falls. He will visit with his mother at Lowell and Mrs. Haskell’s mother at Newburyport, Mass. He will return by way of New Orleans to attend the exposition.

A. J. Perkins, Jr. has just returned from Georgetown, Texas, where he has been attending Southwestern University.

J. B. Watkins is putting up a telephone line from Lake Charles to Leesburg, 36 miles away. It will pass his rice farm and will be an important link in the systematic chain of Mr. Watkins’ extensive operations. He has a group of men working on fencing now and he will soon have fenced the largest pasture or ranch in the state.

It’s beginning to warm up a little after that terrible cold weather, the coldest this country has ever known within the memory of man. On the nights of Jan. 7 and 8 the thermometer went as low as 26 below zero. We thought we would freeze! The poor cattle and the poor orange trees! Hundreds of cattle have been found, frozen to death on the prairies. One man lost 400. We are afraid the orange trees have all been killed. They are not supposed to stand this kind of weather. They are almost sure to die. The leaves have curled up and dropped off. The children enjoyed the cold, at least the boys did. Pithon Coulee was a popular resort for the skaters. Oh yes, Lake Charles has been enjoying some real winter sports. But the pleasure of that certainly has not atoned for our losses which the cold weather thrust on us. The ice is melted now but a cold, drizzly rain has been falling. There’s a bad northeast wind. In fact, things are terribly uncomfortable still.

L. Kaufman, one of our wide-awake and enterprising citizens, has had a lamp put in front of his home and will have it lighted every night. J. E. Goodlett is also having a light put up in front of his home. We wish other would follow their example. It would help our town a lot.

A crowd of people have come home from New Orleans where they went to visit the exposition, and also Mardi Gras. Those who have just come back are Jerry O’Brien, Mrs. G. M. Dees, Miss Ella Kirkman, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stanton, W. P. Thomas, Miss Ella Thomas, F. G. Fitzpatrick, J. W. Bryan and family, A. M. Mayo and L. Kaufman.

Mr. Touchy, and a good many other people, have been busy the last few days cutting down the dead orange trees that were killed by the freeze in January. It is a sad sight, to see them cut and piled and burned. Mr. Touchy had such a large orchard.

A party including J. W. Bryan, W. M. Thompson, Dr. Wm. H. Kirkman, Capt. Green Hall, Thad Mayo, Jacob Ryan and Lady and Adolph Meyer left the ferry wharf yesterday bound for Sulphur Mines. When they came back they said that the second well bored there has reached a depth of 400 feet. There they struck petroleum oil in abundance. It is flowing rapidly out of the tube. The cap was blown off with considerable force. It is flowing 25 barrels a day. They said they saw a number of wild turkeys as they drove through the woods.

The Church of the Good Shepherd gave an interesting concert and tableaux the other night. The leading figures in it were Miss Minnie Knapp, Miss Evalina Pujo, Miss Maria Goos, Miss Lottie Mayo, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hutchins, Jos. Eckart and H. J. Ortmeyer.

All the churches of town joined in an interesting May Day picnic this year. A drove of cattle passed after dinner and scared the mothers and made the small boys wild with the hopes that there would be a stampede, but with that exception the day was a very happy, but quiet one.

There isn’t much doing in town now. Things are very dull and quiet. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Perkins have gone to Georgetown to visit their son, Allen Jefferson. This is his third year in school there. He has recently received a medal for having made the best progress in art, and also for having delivered the best oration, Mr. Perkins says.

A slaughter house is being erected to supply the market house with fresh meat. Prof. Thomson’s ice factory is helping out a lot in many ways.

S. L. Cary, of Jennings, passed through the other day. He was on his way to his old home in Iowa. He was taking with him some apricots, nectarines, figs, apples, peaches and berries in their green state to show the home folks how much farther advanced the season is here than up there. Also, he says, he expects to organize a party to come down here with a view of making a settlement. He thinks this is a wonderful country, and he is sure all his northern friends would like it too. Mr. Cary says that Messrs. Derouen and Andrus have a lively trade in Jennings, and that A. D. McFarlain has an excellent store, too.

There’s a lot of talk about some bearded wheat that J. M. Meterne has in the window of the Echo office. It was grown on his father’s farm seven miles north on the Calcasieu River. Northern men, accustomed to seeing good wheat, have examined it and have pronounced it to be splendid, with no sign of rust. They say wheat could be raised here.

Mrs. Leveque, our postmistress, is having a new building erected in Pujo Street, east of Mr. Knapp’s. It is to be used for a post office.

Albert Bell has returned from Galveston where he left his family for a summer vacation.

The Bagdad Sunday School has been reorganized. A. J. Kingrey is superintendent; P. P. Mahaffa, assistant; Robert Cavanaugh, secretary; Janie Cooper, treasurer; Mrs. E. Kingrey, Mrs. L. C. Smart, Mrs. N. C. Reagan, O. P. Mahaffa and D. Grout, teachers.

The most beautiful gray horse I think I have ever seen has just been sold by E. F. Wasey to a lady in Orange for $300. Mr. Wasey bought it from C. M. Richard for $200. I was sorry to see it leave Lake Charles.

The Young Men’ Christian Association held an interesting meeting in the Baptist Church the other night. Miss Cora Marsh acted as organist. Geo. H. Wells, Jr., read the scripture lesson and Capt. D. B. Gorham gave an address on “The Life of a Young Christian Viewed from Practical and Business Standpoints.”

We are getting ready to be fully protected against fire. There have been 6000 feet of piping ordered costing $3000. If the artesian well succeeds everything will be easy. If not the city will have to buy an engine that will cost another thousand. A tank is being built that will hold 60,000 or 80,000 gallons of water.

A lodge of the Knights of Honor has been organized at the Pythian Hall. B. W. Merrick is the past dictator; S. H. Clement, dictator; A. L. Reid, vice-dictator; E. H. Green, assistant dictator; E. F. Wasey, guide; A. M. Mayo, chaplain; C. M. Richard, reporter; E. H. Dees, financial reporter; E. J. Lyons, treasurer; John Brunett, guardian; J. S. Reid, sentinel; C. M. Richard, E. J. Lyons and A. M. Mayo, trustees.

Jennings Gill, the son of H. C. Gill, who has been visiting in the country at the home of G. M. Gossett, has had his arm broken by being thrown from a horse.

There was a terrible storm several days ago, down in Cameron Parish, which wiped out Sabine Pass and Johnson’s Bayou. There were 200 persons drowned. The wind blew hard here, but we had no idea there was being such a terrible storm so near us. Great waves were blown in, houses went over, and whole families perished. Lake Charles has done what it could to send help.

Judge S. D. Read and his daughter, Minnie, and son, Henry, are attending the Baptist association at Sugartown now.

A. P. Pujo has just been admitted to the bar, before the Supreme Court at Shreveport.

Master Clem D. Moss and Miss Ora L. Moss, son and daughter of Dr. A. H. Moss, have gone to Nashville where they will enter Vanderbilt University and the Nashville College for Young Ladies, respectively. Dr. Moss went with them on a prospecting tour. Lee Moss has gone to Lee University for a year of study.

Some of our Lake Charles homes are being renovated and rebuilt. Thos. Barnes is having his home in Ryan Street near Sylvan Academy made into a cozy little cottage. Mrs. Paul Pujo’s residence on the lake front is being rebuilt. E. J. Chavanne is erecting a building in Ryan Street adjoining Smith’s Furniture Store. The building will be occupied by Wm. Murray of Orange, as a hardware store. Rumor says we will soon have a sausage factory and a steam laundry.

We have had one wedding in town recently. Jos. W. Rosteet and Miss Grace LeBleu were married at the Catholic Church by Rev. Father Kelly on September 30.

There was another interesting Y. M. C. A. meeting the other night. There were 44 gentlemen and 40 ladies present and four new members were received. There was a selection by a quartet consisting of Miss Gussie Wells, Mrs. M. J. Crossman, Messrs. H. Ortmeyer and A. M. Mayo. An election of officers was held and A. M. Mayo was made president, Z. L. Everette, vice-president, Geo. H. Wells, Jr., secretary, and Grant Mutersbaugh, treasurer.

Cupid has been very busy in Lake Charles lately. Many of his arrows have gone home. There have been so many weddings within the last three or four months that it seems all our young people are getting married. Just recently Miss Marie A. Goos and J. Lockwood Williams were married at the home of the bride’s father, Captain Daniel Goos, Rev. A. P. Schofield officiating. Paul O. Moss and Miss Corrine Landry were married by Father Kelly the other day.

One of our March weddings was that of Elly H. Dees and Miss Lottie Mayo, daughter of Thad Mayo, which took place at the Methodist Church, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Joel T. Daves. Another was that of Augustus Kaough and Miss Henrietta Terrasera which occurred at the Catholic Church, Father Kelly officiating.

Other weddings which occurred during the late winter included the Moss-Sweeney and the Rosteet-LeBleu marriages. John A. Moss and Alice Sweeney were married in February and just a few days later Arthur Rosteet and Beatrice LeBleu were married. Dr. S. M. Read, son of Judge S. D. Read, was married earlier in the winter to May Vincent, the daughter of John Vincent.

I told Michael last night I didn’t know when Lake Charles had so many weddings in so short a time.

Herman Knapp, professor of agriculture in the Iowa State College, with his wife, is visiting his father, Prof. S. A. Knapp.

The new homes of D. J. Reid, Solomon Bloch, E. H. Dees, T. E. George and M. J. Rosteet are progressing nicely.

Lee Moss has returned home, having graduated from Lee University in Virginia. He will study medicine.

There has been another wedding in town. Wm. J. Gayle and Georgia Munns are married.

The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has held two interesting programs lately at the Methodist Church, the building being packed each time. Miss Minnie Knapp presided at the organ. There has been music by the orchestra, with W. L. Hutchins playing the violin, Miss Annie Hennington the bass violin, J. C. Gouldin the guitar, A. M. Mayo the cornet. At one of the meetings Joel T. Daves, Jr., gave a recitation The Drundard’s Dream. There were songs by Mrs. A. Bradley, May Bradley and Susie Wells, and an address by Captain D. B. Gorham. At the other meeting Mrs. Thos. Kleinpeter and Miss Noelle sang a duet. Four children, Belle Bradley, Julia Wells, Sheldon and Ben Toomer, all of whom are under the instruction of Miss A. Whittington who accompanied them on the guitar, sang Annie Laurie, and Mollie Marsh gave a recitation. A quartet composed of E. Dees, soloist, Geo. H. Wells, alto, John Eastman, tenor and A. M. Mayo, bass, sang. There were seven gentlemen who signed the pledge.

A Lake Charles Hoop and Stave Factory has been organized by Richard Gunn, J. G. Powell, D. M. Foster, T. J. Wakefield, Riley Moore and J. M. McCain.

Professor A. Thomson has been gone for two weeks prospecting for the best route for the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf railroad through Sabine, Vernon and other northern parishes. The Watkins syndicate, with Prof. Knapp and Prof. Thomson, is leaving nothing undone to encourage emigration here. They are selling lots, with the comfortable houses they have put up on them, for $200, payable on the installment plan. When the new railroad is built they intend to lay off and enclose with good fences 500 small farms of from five to ten acres each, two or three miles from Lake Charles.

W. A. Knapp has moved his large stock of drugs and medicines into the handsome new D’Armand building.

Rev. J. T. Daves had commenced the building for his high school for girls and boys. He expects to have it completed by the first Monday in September. There are already enough pupils promised to fill it.

The annual exhibition and distribution of prizes at the Young Ladies’ Academy, at the convent of Sisters Marianites of the Holy Cross has been held and all acquitted themselves nicely. Miss J. Leveque has the distinction of being the first graduate of the school.

A wedding which has claimed much interest in our little town is that of Andrew J. Reid and Miss Annie Hennington at the Methodist Church, with Rev. J. T. Daves officiating. The bride is a sister of Mrs. W. L. Hutchins. She is highly accomplished and is one of the sweetest and most lovable girls in town.

A. M. Mayo has gone into business for himself. He has started the Southern Real Estate and Investment Agency. Lands will be bought and sold, money loaned and claims collected. Mr. Mayo has just returned from New Orleans where he entered 2,400 acres of land. His office is over Knapp’s drug store. He is an honorable young man, a perfect gentleman, and deserves to succeed in a big way.

Another interest wedding to record - August M. Mayo and Miss Minnie Knapp are married. Rev. Daves officiated. The bride is the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Prof. and Mrs. S. A. Knapp. The professor came here three years ago for his health and was so well please that he invested and became a citizen and a booster. Gussie is a true Southerner, a native of Louisiana, a young man of fine business attainments. The bride is highly educated and cultured. It is the remark of everyone that they are “just suited;” besides, the wedding is a tie which binds the north and south together. I remember not long ago, at an Interstate Agricultural Convention here, Hon. Geo. Wells, in an address, advised his hearers to tie together by marriage the states represented here in Lake Charles. “Go home and bring your daughters down,” he said. Mr. Knapp brought his daughter from their former home in Iowa, and so one tie has been affected.

Mrs. Wasey and her daughter have arrived from the north to spend the winter with her son, E. F. Wasey. Also, Mrs. Julia Smart is here to spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. W. H. Haskell.

Williams’ Opera House was filled to capacity Tuesday night with the elite of the city to enjoy the concert prepared by Mrs. D.C. Calkins, musical instructress. George Law sang Money, a number which was well rendered and much applauded. Misses Nettie Kinder and Lavonia Rigmaiden played the Butterfly Polka. Evalina Pujo and a number of others appeared in a tableau, Joan d’Arc. The Crowning of the May Queen was another interest tableau. Nettie Hansen was the queen, Florence Black and Nellie Mayo the maids of honor, Gussie Wells, Laura Mayo, Pearl Williams, Hattie Kinder, Lavonia Rigmaiden and Jeanie Burnett were the attendants. All the girls looked lovely and they made a beautiful picture.

George Horridge and H. U. Eddy and their families left Saturday for their homes in Vinton, Iowa, after spending the winter here. They liked it here so well that they made some real estate investments and expect to come back next fall.

William Courtney is going to erect a residence on the hill across Pithon Coulee in Ryan Street. Jacob Ryan has just completed a neat cottage on Pithon Coulee near Clarence Street.

George N. Woolman, of Armour, Dakota, passed through town recently. He has purchased a good portion of the town site of Iowa. He is going back to Dakota to remain until October, when he expects to return here.

Our fire companies have reorganized again. A. P. Pujo is president of the Steam Fire Co. No. 1; L. Kaufman is vice-president; J. E. Runte, secretary; Jos. Eckart, assistant secretary; M. J. Rosteet, treasurer; Wm. H. Haskell, Jr., foreman; C. Reims, first assistant foreman; D. S. A. Harmon, second assistant foreman; J. P. Geary, chief engineer; A. Meyer, first assistant engineer; F. Livingston, second assistant engineer; T. Hansen, third assistant engineer.

E.W. Meyer is president of the Young American Fire Co., Henry Reimers is vice-president, D. M. Foster, Jr., is treasurer, Lyman Bryan is secretary, S. Langley is assistant secretary, J. R. Stoddard is foreman, W. B. Holmes is first assistant foreman, T. R. Beldon is second assistant foreman.

Our police force now consists of Jos. Daniel, Chief, Jacob Rigmaiden , S. W. Lyons, Cassius Touchy and L. B. Kirkman.

Our college students are about all home again. George and Fred Lock are home from St. Mary College, Kentucky; Andrew Gossett from Mt. Lebanon College, La.; Clement Moss from Nashville, Tenn.; Ora and Ida Moss and Jennie Marsh from Brookhaven, Miss.; Absie Mitchell and Eugenia Bryan from Baylor University, Waco, Tex.; Albert Escoubas from Soule Commercial College; Bradford Knapp from Iowa State Agricultural College; Joe Fournet from Tulane University; Willie Mayo from some college I’m not sure which. It would seem from that list that we are getting to be quite a college-going town.

Dr. A. H. Moss has moved to San Antonio for his health. Bertha, his daughter, has written back that they are well pleased with their new home.

Our new police jurors are: first ward, Emile Buller; second ward, D. D. Andrus; third ward, Adolph Meyer; fourth ward, Chas. Miller; fifth ward, Reese Perkins; sixth ward, Thomas J. Carroll; seventh ward, Levi A. Miller; eighth ward, J. A. Perkins.

The nicest thing we’ve had in town lately was the literary excursion on the steamer Hazel which the Ladies’ Aid of the Baptist Church gave. The proceeds were used for seats for the church. About 250 went and we all had the best time imaginable. Captain Wehrt and Engineer Lee Dick were watchful and cautious and the trip down the river was without mishap. After riding for 15 minutes we reached West Lake Charles and stopped there to take in more passengers. J. W. Bryan called the crowd to order when they were ready for the program to begin. Susie Wells played a march, and then she and Gussie played a duet, Beautiful Moonlight. Eugenia Bryan read an original essay, W.A.I.T. and Mr. Wells kept everybody laughing with his humorous recitation, Valuable Property. The music was in charge of Mrs. D. C. Calkins. Either addresses or recitation were given by Prof. S. A. Knapp, C. W. Patterson, A. P. Pujo, Joel T. Daves Jr., Lee H. Moss, George Head, and Miss Pearl Williams. There were delicious refreshments of ice cream and cake. I think I never ate so much in my life.

Mrs. Leveque, our postmistress, is making some improvements in the post office. Her son, Dannie, says that business has increased so much lately that they expect to have as many as 200 additional lock boxes soon.

Miss Estelle D’Armand has gone back to her home in Clinton after spending several months with her sister, Mrs. Knapp.

The Pelican Babcock Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, has elected new officers: Jas. A. Kinder, president; S. O. Shattuck, vice-president; Fred J. Reid, foreman; W. N. Elliott, first assistant foreman; Fred Shelman, second assistant foreman; Charles H. Winterhaler, secretary; William Sterling, assistant secretary; C. M. McCormick, treasurer; Louis Runte Steward, fire patrol; W. A. Knapp, captain; and Leon Viterbo, lieutenant.

Mrs. Della K. Bryan and Miss Rosa Allen have opened a school for girls and boys with two dollars per month as the tuition.

In spite of all the fire companies we have been organizing around here, the ice factory and the rice mill, the property of Prof. A. Thomson have burned. The hoop and stave factory went, too. The fire companies saved Drew’s mill. Prof. Thomson is now in the north.

Max and Marie and Michael and I went to see the missionary ship with which the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Baptist Church entertained the other night. The program was a very unique one. Curley Lyons gave the instructions for the building of the ship. Gussie Gill was the first plank, Charity. Pearlie Dees explained the building. The other planks were Walter Carter, Ora Magee, D. Harverson, Teddie Dees, Mable Magee, Annie Reid, Lizzie Blain, Ada Weeden, Susie Harvey, Laura Reid, Lallie Bryan, Mamie Carter, Annie Gill, Lavonia Rigmaiden, Jim Bryan, Pearl Munday. The masts were raised and George Wasey appeared in sailor costume and raised the flag. Jodie Everett, Preston Harveson and Bertie Cline assisted in the ceremony. Charles Cline named the ship The Morning Star. In a plea for the nations, Lee Bryan spoke for Japan, Bertie Cline for China, Mary Miller for India, Dollie Weeden for the North American Indians, Laura Reid for Mexico and Lillie Knapp for America. Abbie Dees called for the life boat which was filled with children. Mrs. Julie E. Haskell, Mrs. G. B. Rogers and Mrs. Annie Dees directed the pageant which everybody agreed was a great success.

One of the prettiest social events that has occurred in town lately was the informal reception which Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo gave for about 20 of their friends a short time ago. The house was prettily decorated and the tables were tastefully arranged for the refreshments which were delicious.

J. G. D’Armand, who has been the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Knapp, has gone home to Clinton. Mrs. Knapp went with him, as did her sister, who has been visiting her two daughters, Lillie and Ethel. Miss Estelle D’Armand and Dr. Knapp went as far as New Orleans with them.

The Presbyterians gave an interesting entertainment at Drew’s Hall the other night. Ben and Sheldon Toomer sang a song; Geo. Wells Jr. gave a recitation; A. M. Mayo sang a solo; Ernest Taylor, John Wentz, Josie Burnett and Helen Knapp sang a song entitled The Seasons.

Wedding bells have been ringing again. Rosalie Kirkman and L.C. Touchy were married in Houston on June 1. Several weeks ago Mollie Kingrey and Samuel Gilley were married at the home of J. J. Kingrey.

Charles Reiser of Prairie Du Chine, Wisconsin has arrived with his family and brings with him a new industry for Lake Charles. We hope many more manufactories will soon be added.

Leon Viterbo is now on his way to Europe to visit his parents of Constantinople.

We had a big Fourth this year. I am not entirely rested from it yet. We had a big street parade with the fire companies and everybody in it. There were bands and lots of music. There were addresses by S. O. Shattuck, Geo. Wells, A. P. Pujo and W. B. Ripley. At night there was a big ball at Williams’ Opera House. Ellen Fournet was made queen.

Michael told me last night about an old woman he has just heard about who is, I suppose, the oldest person in this section. She is Mrs. Edward Broussard and she lives on Lacassine Bayou. She is 115 years old. Her ninth child is 70. Mrs. Broussard is still strong and active and is doing ordinary housework.

Still more weddings! The most interesting ones lately include that of W. H. Managan and Miss Matilda East, which took place in the Baptist Church on October 2, Rev. George Frazar officiating, assisted by Rev. G. B. Rogers. Both of the contracting parties are lately from Newberry, Pa., and are now from West Lake Charles.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Perkins have just left for Georgetown, Texas, to attend the wedding of their son, A. J., Jr., and Miss Pearl Snyder.

George Law has returned from his trip to Europe and the Paris Exposition. He is the buyer and salesman for the Lock, Moore & Co.’s merchandise department. He stopped in New York to buy a full line of dry goods, hats, shoes, clothing, everything in the latest styles.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Kaufman have a baby son, born October 16. It was received into the Abrahamic Convent with a beautiful ceremony at the home a Sunday or so ago. The rite of initiation was performed by L. Heidingsfelder, of Houston, Tex. There were 30 gentleman and ladies present at the Kaufman’s new residence. There was a splendid repast, including choice wines. Everybody was called on for a toast.

Naming homes is the style here now. Prof. and Mrs. S. A. Knapp have named their home the Three Pines. George Horridge has named his the Southland Home; H. H. Eddy announces that the name of their home is the Three Oaks. Wm. Loree has the Rose Cottage and L. W. Kinney Sunnyside, named for the home of Washington Irving. The Lorees have been here only two winters but they have 35 varieties of roses and 36 orange trees in the yard.

The Southland Home was recently thrown open for a lovely reception. Mrs. Horridge was assisted in entertaining by Miss Helen Knapp, naïve and charming in her pretty pink guimpe, and little Miss Maude Eddy, dainty in a pretty frock. The tables were beautiful, a study in crystal, porcelain and flowers, with plateaus in the center holding rose crystal bowls filled with magnolia buds. The guests were Messrs. and Mesdames Knapp, Hall, Gorham, Mayo, Eddy, Loree, Thomson, Van Dyke, Little, Kinney, Wentz and Vincent.

We have another school here now. Miss Ella Usher, who has been teaching in the Crowley College, has returned and will open the Glendale Institute, near Mr. Bel’s residence, again.

Mrs. G. H. Woolman is happy to have with her this winter her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hickman, of Nebraska.

W. E. Cline has just come home from a visit to his grandfather in Kansas. He says they were having blizzards, snow and cold there when he left. A lot of the people there, he said, are talking about coming south. They would want to come right away if they knew how the flowers are blooming down here, while it is so cold up there. The woods are full of honeysuckle and jasmine, and have been all month. Blackberry and dewberry vines, pear, peach, and orange trees are all in bloom.

Mrs. Annie Dees has gone to New Orleans with her son Abbie and her little daughter, Pearlie.

Some of the girls were in this afternoon and told me about another party they went to last night. Miss Alma Bailey gave a soiree dansante at her home on Lawrence and Ford Streets. The girls said they had the time of their lives. Della Neal was there, and Mr. and Mrs. A. U. Thomas, Nora Burnett, Callie Keener, Dr. and Mrs. Arnold, Misses Nixon, McKenzie, McCurley, Dupre, O’Brien, Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bailey, and Messrs. Gibbs, Loxley, Tierney, Lock, Archie Harris, Charley Curley, LeBlanc, B. Vincent, Charlie Bailey and Sim Foster.

This social whirl is becoming rather maddening. Mrs. Judge Gorham entertained the other day with a pleasant and informal tea in her pretty vine-clad home. Her young daughter and little son, Dannie, distinguished themselves by rendering their mamma very efficient services in helping her entertain. The guests were Mesdames Horridge, Eddy, Loree, Hall, Loxley, Knapp, Mayo, Wentz, Bloch, Thomson, Van Dyke and Williams.

I went with Michael down to John Clooney’s ship yard yesterday. Mr. Clooney and his assistants have just completed a schooner named the Maggie, owned and commanded by Capt. Fred Cordson. Mr. Clooney told us about the fine orange orchard he has. He says there are two other fine orchards on the way to Deesport belonging to James Hewes and B. McCain. It seems we are getting a start in orange trees again after the disastrous freeze several years ago.

Michael says he thinks we had better have a cistern built. G. Mutersbaugh had ordered 10,000 feet of the best cypress lumber which he expects to be used in building citterns. Another new family will soon move to town. W. H. Kirkwood has purchased property here and will soon move his family.

W. J. Chalkley, of San Antonio, who has been here for several days, has returned home.

Michael says he saw Ed Wells in town today. He is an attorney at Crowley now and he is here attending district court.

We had strawberries for supper tonight. Mr. M. Vincent picked 21 quarts on February 22. Yes, I can imagine how those people in the snow-bound, blizzardy north would like to come down here to live.

Cupid’s darts are still falling thick and fast. His last victims were Sam Smart, of Bagdad, and Amelia Vincent and Wm. N. Elliot and Laura Mayo.

We will have a new ice factory this summer. J. A. Landry and Co. will have one ready to open. Its daily output will be from six to seven tons.

We are all excited now about the possibility of having another railroad through Lake Charles. Michael went to the meeting, which all citizens were asked to attend, to consult with Wm. Anderson, chief engineer of the Gulf, Sabine and Kansas City railroad. Dan B. Gorham called the meeting to order. H.. Drew was made chairman and C. M. Richard, secretary. Prof. A. Thomson, Prof. S. A. Knapp and Capt. J. W. Bryan talked. The support of the town was pledged and S. A. Knapp, Capt. Bryan, Mr. Gorham, Lewis Panoyer and Hon. Jas. P. Geary were appointed on a committee to push the new road and bring it through our town.

Mr. and Mrs. George Horridge opened the Southland Home to the Presbyterian young people for a social the other night. Miss Della Neal read, in her usual interesting manner and very humorously, Bob Bundette’s story, The Brakeman at Church. Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Little gave a duet. Miss Thomas recited. She is an exceptionally fine elocutionist. Mrs. Buckingham and Mr. Little gave a comic duet.

Our latest wedding was that of Miss Laura Mayo, daughter of Thad Mayo, who was married March 5 to William N. Elliot, a young mechanic of the city.

W. M. Loree has returned to his home in Vinton, Iowa. His family will follow soon. They will return next winter and it is hoped they will soon make arrangements to stay.

The Presbyterians were entertained at the home of C. W. Little last Friday. Everybody had a pleasant chat and enjoyed the lively games. Miss Cooper played a piano solo; Louise gave a pretty song, sweetly sung. Maude Eddy gave a recitation. Mrs. Kinney gave a piano solo. Mrs. Dolby gave another solo, and Miss Cooper and Miss Little gave a piano duet.

There was a beautiful Easter service at the Episcopal Church. The choir consisted of Mrs. D. J. Reid, Miss May Gyles, Miss Sarah Gyles, Miss Lillie Winterhaler, Miss Sallie O’Brien and George Law.

Our post office has been moved to the Meyer building on Pujo Street. There will be more room there. The postmaster will soon increase the number of lock boxes to several hundred.

Our northern friends are all leaving us again. Mr. and Mrs. George Horridge, Herman Rock, Mrs. Loree and family and Mr. and Mrs. Eddy and their children have all left for Vinton, Iowa. They all promise to come back as soon as it begins to get cold up there, though.

Michael was reading in the paper last night that the board of county commissioners of Jackson County, Kansas, have petitioned congress, as a measure of relief to depressed industries in Kansas and other states, to make an appropriation to open up a harbor at Calcasieu Pass or somewhere else on the Gulf coast. Michael says the channel is now 16 feet deep and could easily be deepened to 25 feet. He says a suitable harbor could be constructed for $600,000. He says he believes it will be done some day. Then, with all that trade from the central states pouring through here, we are likely to grow into a city.

Mr. and Mrs. Thad Mayo have company. Their daughter and her husband, Rev. and Mrs. R. P. Howell, of Floyd, La., are visiting them.

We had ice cream for supper last night. I made it with some of the ice that the J. A. Landry Company manufactured in their very first freeze.

Mrs. S. O. Shattuck and Mrs. D. M. Foster are home again after a trip to Baton Rouge.

Sheriff D. J. Reid and family have come home from Texas. He says they had a terrible scare over there. Their little daughter was bitten by a copperhead snake but she is well again now.

Mrs. W. H. Cline and her daughter are visiting her son, Tom, at the homestead, ten miles from Lake Charles.

John Runte is here for a visit. He was formerly head clerk in D. Bloch’s store but he is now living in Holister, Texas.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo were made quite happy last Sunday, July 13. It’s a boy, of the regulation weight.

There has been a good deal of going and coming in our little town lately. E. F. Wasey has gone to his old home in Michigan for a visit. Now, that school is out, Capt. George Lock, of the Lock, Moore & Co., Ltd., and his wife and daughter, Letitia, have gone to Europe. Mrs. George H. Woolman left last week to visit her parents in Nebraska. Miss Zena Thomson, the daughter of Professor and Mrs. Thomson, left last night for Ann Arbor, Mich., to attend the state university there. She came in about a month ago for a short vacation after two years at school at Valparaiso, Ind. Mrs. J. A. Reid and little daughter, Maud, have come home from Hot Springs.

There has been some entertaining, lately, too. The Sisters Marianites of the Holy Cross gave an interesting entertainment at the close of the convent. Music and essays were given by Blanche Fournet, Letitia Lock, Louise Leveque, H. Fournet and D. Ryan.

A really charming party was given by Mr. and Mrs. Will Managan, of Westlake, a few nights ago, when they entertained with a church social. A lot of people went over in boats. The boats took everybody across for .10 each.

We have heard that Frank Siling has accepted an offer to go to Nichol and Tucker’s Mill to superintend the building of a large mill there.

Frank Shutts says he is busy drawing plans for cottages now. It looks as though we are going to have a lot of building going on soon.

Bradford Knapp, the son of Prof. S. A. Knapp, has left for Nashville, Tenn., where he will attend Vanderbilt University.

The Presbyterians gave an entertainment the other night. Messrs. Kinney, Little, Knapp and Williams formed a quartette. Master Ernest Taylor gave a cornet solo; Miss Tillie Breucher sang; Miss Frazer and Mr. Knapp gave a mandolin and guitar duet; Misses Knapp and Bradley sang a duet; Mattie Summers and Miss Della Neal gave recitations.

Dave and Ed Materne and their families have gone to the Pass on the mail boat to spend the week fishing.

Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Wasey and their children, Flossie and George, have returned from their northern summer vacation.

The Lake Charles College will open Oct. 1. There are 16 acres in the college grounds. Two new buildings have been added and there are several more to come. We are mighty proud of our college

Another of our young men has left to enter college. Stuart Thomson has gone to Valparaiso, Ind., to enter normal school.

Miss Della Neal of the American staff has gone to Baton Rouge to attend the press association. Jerry D. Cline, a compositor on the American staff, has gone to Leesburg to rest and recuperate for a few days. He holds a remarkable record for having been at his case for three years with only a few days’ absence.

Our public school is getting along nicely. It is thought the enrollment will reach 200 this year. Miss Louise Leveque is a new teacher recently employed.

George King, the son of Rev. C. A. King, has arrived with a carload of household goods. Prof. Knapp has erected a cottage on his rice farm of 400 acres and Mr. King will move into it. His family will arrive soon. He expects to bring down a carload of mules.

George Horridge and his family have arrived from Iowa to spend the winter here. The Lorees and the Ellises are coming, too. The Eddys will be here the first of December.

Capt. J. T. Cline has had quite an adventure with the mail boat. Near the lower end of the canal he struck some hidden piling and broke the shaft, leaving the boat helpless. He chartered a sail boat and came up, leaving Friday and reaching here Saturday morning.

Everybody is marveling over the fact that Mr. M. J. Rosteet has some ripe strawberries. He thinks he will have some for Christmas dinner.

Miss Emma Winterhaler and Mrs. Arthur Rosteet are back from a visit to New Orleans.

Runaways form our most common type of excitement these days. We have one every few days. Yesterday a horse, hitched to a sulky, ran into a telegraph post. The smash-up was complete. The runaways are usually down Ryan Street.

Last Saturday, Prof. and Mrs. Knapp threw open their spacious home in honor of their sons, Bradford and Arthur Knapp, the former from Vanderbilt and the latter from the State Agricultural College of Ames, Iowa, also honoring their nephew, Herman Evans, of Bloomington, Ill. Some of the girls were over here this morning and told me about it. They said the house was beautifully decorated. Mr. and Mrs. Pope were there, and Mr. and Mrs. Little. Most of the others were young, unmarried people. There was Alice Parry, Lucy Goodlett, Ida Marsh, Mabel and Ida King, Susie and Stella Bradley, Laura and Mabel Siling, Helen Knapp, Della Neal, Mamie Siling, Dr. Moss, Jerry Cline, Wm. Bradley, Wm. Mayo, Snowden Summers, Wm. Parry, Harry Neal, and the three honorees, Herman Evans, Bradford and Arthur Knapp.

The announcement has been made here that Miss Estelle D’Armand, who is the sister of Mrs. W. A. Knapp here and has often visited here, is to be married Jan. 7 to a man named A. C. Gordon, at her home at Clinton.

Jennings Gill has been in town during the Christmas holidays, visiting his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Gill. He is going to school at Mt. Lebanon.

Captain Daniel Goos celebrated his 73rd birthday not long ago, on March 23. The captain is the father of 18 children, of whom 10 are living. He was the first proprietor of the mill at Goosport and is now engaged in extensive rice farming. At his birthday party, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bel, Fred and Walter, their sons, Mrs. Lock, Mrs. Perkins and Mrs. Flanders were present.

The young men of our town have organized the Lakeside Recreation club. They say they are going to have lots of fun. They have a regular ritual. They initiate members, hold mock courts, have debates, readings, music and declamations. They have purchased lumber and are erecting a building near W. H. Cline’s residence. H. C. Drew gave valuable assistance to them in organizing. Homer Barr is president. The members are boys between 15 and 31 years of age. They say that the future orators and jurists of the country are going to get their inspiration there.

The public school has published a roll of honor for March for the pupils who have not been absent or tardy and who have a grade of 90 or more. In O. S. Dolby’s, the principal’s room, there are Mertie Ellis, Harry Price, Irene Dees, Jennie Goodlett; in Miss Crossman’s room Sammy Reid and Charles Bullock; in Mr. Vincent's room Toney Mitchell; Miss Jenkins’ Dinah Powell, Beulah Morris, Ruth Whitman, Stella McNeese, Lizzie Green, Edwin Gorham; Miss Leveque’s, Sarah Ray, Lily Kirkman, Julius Reiser, Richard Keener. Not absent or tardy, but a little below honorable mention were Jamie Ellis, Stella Bradley, Belle Bradley, Preston Harveson, Bertha Canton, Frank Hortig, Nicholas Bullock, Albert Price, Desire Langley, Joe Suttles, Mamie Kirkman, Flora Whitman, Roberta Stoddard, John Geary, Albert Gorham, Sebastian Gropper, Nellie Gaudeen, Otto Schindler, Preston Vincent, Philomena McCormick, Laura LeBleu, Werland Kirkman, and Josephine Fitzgerald. The enrollment in the public school now is 228, with a daily average of 186 present. The Triumph Lodge, I. O. G. T., is going to give a musical and literary entertainment soon. Ada Hollingsworth, of Shreveport, who is called the Nightingale of Louisiana, will be here to sing. Misses Siling, Upton, and Neal will recite and Sheldon and Ben Toomer will sing, and those names assure everybody the entertainment will be good.

Blanche Fournet, Judge Fournet’s daughter, has returned home from New Orleans.

L. Kaufman and David Reims have gone to visit their old home in the province of Alsace. They have been away for 19 years. Mr. Kaufman took his daughter, Bessie, and Mr. Reims his daughter, Rose, and son, Armond. They write that they have found conditions much changed. When they left, 19 years ago, they were subjects of Emperor Napoleon III, of France. The Franco-Prussian war has changed conditions entirely. Alsace is now a part of the dominion of William III of Germany. Mr. Kaufman left his business in the charge of W. J. Gayle. Mr. Reims left his in charge of Othello Jundel. Levi Ellender is keeping his market supplied with cattle.

About all I hear Max and Michael talk about these days is the lottery. The anti-lottery league of Lake Charles meets Thursday night in the court house.

Miss Della Neal canned two quarts of plums last Wednesday. She gathered them from a plum tree which she planted two years ago. She says she left enough on the tree to can two more quarts in a few days.

Mrs. Col. W. H. Haskell and Freddie George are planning to leave July 1 for Silver City, New Mexico.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo, Misses Josie Cooper, Jennie Marsh, Della Neal and Otis Marsh made up a merry crowd that went to Jennings Thursday morning to go to the Sunday school convention. Mrs. Mayo served as secretary. Mr. Mayo talked on Duties of Parents to the Sunday School. Mr. Mayo was made president for the coming year.

E. Barnett left last week for Salem, Oregon, where he plans to locate permanently. He and his brother, A. L. Barnett, have been in the photographic business here. A. L. will continue in Lake Charles.

Miss Nellie Cline is home after spending a week or two on the gulf coast in Cameron. She says she had a wonderful time sea-bathing and enjoying the refreshing gulf breezes. They say the fishing is splendid there now.

Vacationing is all the style here now. Prof. and Mrs. S. A. Knapp spent last week at Crown Point, up among the pines. The court house is nearly finished. It is 64 x 96 feet in size and is 40 feet high.

George Wasey, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Wasey, has come home from Galveston. He was there at the time of the storm and he says in going from one hotel to the other he lost his hat.

L. Kaufman has written from his old home, Gundershofen, and David Reims from his home, Rengendorf, in Alsace, that they are going to Paris and then will start home.

Della Neal and Zena Thomson have come home from several days in the country visiting Miss Hattie Fenton, near Fenton station, one of the new and booming town sites on the K. C. W. & G. railroad.

Mrs. Julia Muller has gone to New York, Philadelphia and other eastern cities to purchase her fall goods. She is going to enlarge her business so much she will have to fill the north room of the building formerly occupied by Phil Jacobs.

The young friends of Jerry Cline and Nathan Atherly gave them a party the other night, at the home of W. H. Cline. It was a farewell to the boys, who have been employed in the American office and who are going to Winnfield, Kan., to attend Southwest Kansas College. Jerry was a student there before he came here and is going to complete his course. They are both excellent boys, industrious and of careful habits. They will undoubtedly make a good mark in college. At the party were Misses Breucher, Parry, Mills, Jennie Marsh, Ida, Mabel and Edna King, Mamie, Laura and Emma Siling. Stella and Nettie Morton; Messrs. Parry, Wakefield, Trask, Morton, Harry Neal, Shaefer, and Mills. Everybody had a delightful time eating watermelon on the lawn.

Charlie Chavanne has come home. He has spent the past year in school at Lexington, Ky., perfecting himself in typewriting and shorthand.

We are having a great many entertainments again. The Bell Concert a few nights ago was very good. George Davidson recited The Liberty Bell. Della Neal recited The Bells of Shandon. The Creed of the Bells was given by Mrs. L. W. Kinney. Chiming Bells was sung by Maudie Reid and Annie Gill. Those Evening Bells was sung by Louise Wentz and Ernest Taylor, with a bell accompaniment played by Helen Knapp, Belle Bradley, Josie Burnett and Louise Wentz. At the close of the program the audience sang Gospel Bells.

Then the Willing Workers of the Baptist church gave a lawn at the Pageot home. Gussie Gill gave a piano selection. Mamie Siling recited How Jane Rang the Bell. Della Neal recited The Maiden Martyr. Clara and Sarah Davis gave a piano selection.

Miss Belle Kearney, the noted temperance lecturer we have all heard so much about, spoke at the M.E. Church South the other night and organized a young ladies’ W. C. T. U. Laura Siling is the president; Della Neal, the secretary; Mamie Dees, the treasurer; Mollie Gray, corresponding secretary; Mabel King, vice-president. Irene Upton, Alice Parry, Clara Davis, Lucia Goodlett, L. Jardell and Clara Hubbell have all joined. They will meet at the home of Mrs. S. A. Knapp on Tuesday.

A. M. Mayo has been appointed to represent Lake Charles at the Sioux City corn palace, which will start October 10. Mr. Mayo will take a nice exhibit from here.

The wedding of Marguerite Hutchins and Morgan D. Andrus at the Catholic Church yesterday morning was a very pretty one. The attendants were Lorena Hutchins, Walter Goos, Daisy Ryan, Walter Moeling, Blanche Fournet, and Davis Hutchins. Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Andrus, of Jennings, the father and mother of the groom, Benjamin Andrus, Mr. and Mrs. D. Derouen and Dr. and Mrs. E. M. Burke were all there to attend the wedding.

Marie and I went to a meeting the other day where the women of the town organized an anti-lottery league. Mrs. Thomas Kleinpeter is president; Mrs. Arthur Rosteet, vice-president; Miss Della Neal, secretary; Mrs. A. M. Mayo, treasurer. Mrs. Mayo, Mrs. Ware, Mrs. E. H. Gorham, Mollie Gray and Blanche Fournet have been appointed on a committee on resolutions.

Stuart Thomson has come home from school at Valparaiso, Ind. He is looking fine. Mr. and Mrs. George Horridge and their grandson, Herman Rock, have come back from Vinton, Iowa, to spend the winter.

Captain J. T. Cline says he has a lot of luck crowded into one week. He is looking very happy over it. He has a mate now for his voyage in life. She was Miss Mathilda Breucher. He also has a new fitted steamboat, the Ontario, to work, and he has received from the United States inspectors of steam vessels a license as pilot. What more could a man need to make him happy, Capt. Cline says.

A. M. Mayo has been bragging about his chickens. He has 60 large, beautiful black langshans that he says are the finest in the state. He says his little boy uses them for horses.

There has been another wedding that everybody in Lake Charles is much interested in. Newton E. North went to Bay City, Mich. some time ago. The new has come back that he has been married to Miss Minnie Sutherland, of that place. After a tour of the north they will come to make their home in Lake Charles, where the popular groom has many friends.

Mrs. Judge Gorham entertained the other day in honor of Prof. S. A. Knapp and family, A. M. Mayo and family, and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Knapp, of Ames, Iowa.

There was a merry sailing party on the lake last Tuesday in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Knapp.

Mr. Frank Roberts and his handsome young wife, of Vinton, Iowa, have come to Lake Charles to live and are located in Pujo Street in the home of L. W. Kinney.

Lake Charles’ social season is fairly opened now. Alice Parry entertained at her home on the lake front Tuesday with a sumptuous repast. Her guests were Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Cline, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Parry, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Robinson, Miss Shively, Della Neal, Lucy Goodlett, Jennie Goodlett, Stella Morton, Nettie Morton, A. L. Williams, Dr. I. H. Moss, Stuart Thomson, Jennings Gill and Willie Parry.

There was a reception at the Knapp home the other night in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Knapp. The guests were graciously received by the honor guests, the host and hostess and Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo. Choice refreshments were prepared and served with Mrs. Knapp’s well known ability and they were shown ample justice by the happy company.

One of the charming social events lately was the hop given at the home of Prof. K. C. McIver. Callie Keever was lovely in a new lavender ann’s veiling dress. The bride, Mrs. Andrus, looked very sweet there with her husband. Lorena Hutchins was beautiful as usual. Mrs. C. Harrison wore lavender moiré with diamonds. She was escorted by her husband in full evening dress suit. Mamie Dees and Mrs. Kinney Reid were lovely in black silk. Miss Joyner wore brown. Callie Ford was there and Ingelison Hollier and L. N. Preager. They danced till the wee hours and everybody was very happy.

A new bank will open for business about January 15. Its temporary quarters will be in the building now occupied by Prof. Knapp, Mr. Mayo and Mr. Wentz in Ryan Street, but they expect to erect a commodious and elegant building soon. S. A. Knapp is president. H. C. Drew, vice-president, Frank Roberts, cashier. The directors are J. W. Bryan, W. M. Perkins and Chas. Bunker. It will be called the Calcasieu Bank. Its capital stock will be $125,000 and that may be increased to $500,000. It will mark another step in the progress of our town. The Watkins bank was organized in 1884 and the First National in 1889 with a capital of $50,000.

Michael went to a meeting of the citizens last night, at the court house. It was for the purpose of organizing a board of trade. Capt. Geo. Lock was to preside but he couldn’t be there so he wrote Mr. H. C. Drew to preside in his place. Prof. Knapp talked on the deep water problem. He said if we didn’t have deep water at Calcasieu Pass it was just because we wouldn’t try. Hon. S. O. Shattuck talked and so did W. H. Cline, who said that Kansas business men are looking to the Pass to give them an outlet to the gulf.

A pretty wedding recently was that of Walter Goos and Annie Green. It was held in the Baptist church at Westlake. There were about 100 people from Lake Charles there including a delegation of K. P.’s in full dress uniform.

Evalina Pujo staged a very interesting concert for the Episcopal church in the Williams' Opera House a few weeks ago. Mrs. Dolby sang The Queen of the Night; George Law sang Mine Again; Miss Winterhaler sang Dear Heart; a trio consisting of Mrs. Dolby, Miss Pujo and Miss Lock sang Summer Fancies; Mr. Sompayrac gave The Death Bridge of the Tay; Miss Lock sang When the Heart is Young; and George Law made the house roar with laughter at his Father O’Flynn. There was a dance after the concert.

Della Neal and Alice Parry went to Monroe not long ago to attend a meeting of the Y. W. O. T. U. and the W. C. T. U.

A merry party of 21 took a special train of two coaches for Alexandria the other day, to take part in the ceremony of dedicating the new Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf railroad. It has been completed now as far as Alexandria and joins the Queen City to the Gulf City. The Alexandria Board of Trade invited the Lake Charles delegation. Prof. Thomson, vice-president of the road, went, and Mrs. Watkins; Della Neal, niece of J. B. Watkins, who is the president; J. K. Lape, superintendent, John F. McCoy, traffic manager, T. L. Palmer of the Watkins Banking Co., and W. F. Palmer all went. The Lake Charles Board of Trade was represented by A. M. Mayo, who is the secretary, Capt. J. W. Bryan, D. B. Gorham, S. Kaufman, G. A. Fournet, C. Bunker, S. J. Fenton, J. H. Poe, E. F. Wasey, C. Miller, and D. Reims.

They left at eight o’clock in the morning and got to Alexandria at 1:30. A brass band met them. Della Neal drove the last spike. It was a golden one. Mr. Kennedy, the contractor for the road, christened the track and the engine by breaking a bottle of champagne. Judge Fournet responded to the address of welcome. Mr. Gorham spoke, too. After dinner, carriages were announced and everybody was given a ride over the city. Our folks got back to Lake Charles at 12:30 that night.

Master Alton Foster, the son of our popular postmaster, was given a birthday party last Wednesday. There were 75 young guests present.

The teachers for our public school year are Louise Leveque, Laura Siling, Susie Bradley, Myrtle McClelland, Miss M. Burt and Miss M. Jenkins.

So poverty stricken did A. M. Mayo look as he trudged along to the poverty party last Friday night pushing a baby buggy that someone said Mr. Mayo ought to be ashamed to allow such a specimen of humanity to accompany his wife through the streets, even if it was a little dark. We all had a lot of fun at the poverty party. The costumes looked like Mardi Gras.

The Presbyterians have had another entertainment. Each of 40 ladies was to earn one dollar, and them tell how she did it. So Mrs. L. W. Kinney wrote an original poem, How the Ladies Made Their Dollars, and Della Neal recited it. Another good number was a farce Leap Year, And Only Bachelor in Town. Harry Neal was the much besieged bachelor, Zena Thomson was a young widow, Della Neal was a fastidious young lady, Alice Parry was a model housekeeper and Josie Cooper was the village coquette.

Capt. D. B. Gorham has gone to Clinton to visit his mother. His little boy Eddie accompanied him.
Willie D. Mayo has gone into business for himself, selling sewing machines.

The young ladies of the Y. are planning to give a mush and milk social at the home of Mrs. R. Neibert on Aug. 10.

The Citizens’ band of Westlake gave a party to the young ladies the other night. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Landry chaperoned. The party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Leveque. The young people there included Louise and Marie Leveque, Blanche Fournet, Mamie Curley, Izel Langley, Renie Dees, Nettie Kinder, Helen Fournet, Marie Gallaugher, Eunice Jenkins, W. N. Curley, D. W. Ryan, L. Gilliespie, N. Escoubas, E. H. Green, E. M. Escoubas, J. E. Landry, D. A. Leveque, R. Krause, L. and J. Landry, E. Wehrt, J. J. Carroll and others. Mr. Leveque is the director of the band.

Last Friday was the proudest day in Lake Charles. The whole town devoted its best energies to honoring the discoverer of America. The school had a elaborate program in the morning. Marie and I went over to hear it. Rona Keener, Helen McCoy, Lizzie Blair, Dan Gorham and Alton Foster were some of the children who had patriotic recitations. Teddie Dees gave an essay on The Meaning of the Four Centuries, Maggie Hayes one on Improvements in Methods of Transportation and Nellie Cline one on America of Today. Geo. Wells gave an address on the Perseverance of Columbus and then Hon. D. B. Gorham presented the flag.

The Confederate Veterans has the best time of anybody. They decided they would hold their reunion on Columbus Day so the night before some of them went to camp at Perkins Grove. They fought the battles of the war all over again, around the camp fire that night. They came back to town Friday morning in time to be in the parade.

The parade was held after the exercises at the school. The 13 southern states were represented by girls riding on a beautiful float. Lillie Knapp was South Carolina; Myrtle McClelland, Georgia; Mamie Curley, Kentucky; Belle Bradley, Alabama; Ethel Knapp, Virginia; Lucie Goodlett, Tennessee; Noelie Kleinpeter, Florida; Gussie Gill, Arkansas; Maxie McClelland, Mississippi; Lillie Winterhaler, Texas; Stella Bradley, Louisiana; Alice Johnson, North Carolina and Grace Wells, Missouri. The girls all looked lovely in their attractive costumes.

One of the interesting floats represented Columbus and his crew. The old soldiers all marched in the parade. The bands all marched, too, and played, and the school children brought up the rear. It was a really good parade.

Some of the girls have been telling me about Mamie Siling’s party last night. They said Mamie Dees and Mamie Curley and the Jenkins girls, Emma and Maude, and Lillie Winterhaler and Callie Keener, Mary Richardson, Alice Curley, Irene Dees, Nettie Kinder, Clara Marshall and of course Laura and Emma Siling were there. The young men were Messrs. Monroe, Krause, Ferren, McCain, Mayo, Foster, Winterhaler, Dees, McIver, Neal, Morton, White, Hollier, McCormick and Dr. Pierce.

Della Neal has just come back from a long northern trip. She went to Lawrence, Kansas, Chicago, and on to Denver, where she went as a delegate to the W.C.T.U. convention. She is state superintendent of press work for that organization. This is the longest visitation Della has had since she has been working on the American staff. Hee services are invaluable to that paper, the staff authorities declare. In February she is going to be the recipient of another honor. She will be sent as a delegate from the parish to the World’s Fair at Chicago. Before she goes she will take some time to tour the western part of the parish to hold meetings and collect material to take with her. We feel that Della is going to see to it that we are well represented at Chicago.

To return to the W.C.T.U. The local chapter has selected new officers. Alice Parry is the president now, Clara M. Hubbell the corresponding secretary, Della Neal is the treasurer. The vice-presidents are Eunice Jenkins, Edith Collette, Mamie Dees, Leonora Loxley, Agnes Lawson, Josie Cooper. The editors are Della Neal and Laura Siling.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. Loree started down for their winter home here Monday. They will be joined at Chicago by their daughter, Mrs. Chas. Briggs, who will accompany them south.

Once more it is nearly Christmas. How quickly the year rolls around. John Rosteet, Jennings Gill and Andrew Gossett have returned from New Orleans, where they are going to school, to visit their parents during the holidays. Edmond Chavanne, a cadet at L.S.U., is here, too. Mrs. D. D. Moeling, Walter’s mother, is in town to spend the holidays with Mrs. A. J. Bel. Mrs. Adolph Meyer and Mrs. W. J. Gayle have left for Houston. Miss Judith Cruickshank, Goosport’s pretty school teacher, went to Alexandria.

The Christmas season is to be ushered in with a Grand Ball Tuesday night at the Phoenix Hall, given by the Lake Charles dancing club. The committees to be in charge have been announced. That one on arrangements consists of B. Corbello, W. H. Richardson, R. Wakefield, E. Ferren, and E. L. Wells; on invitations, W. G. Moeling, C. M. Richard, Dan Ryan, H. F. McLaurin, A. L. Williams, A. L. Dees, James McCormick, S. Hollier; on reception, Wm. Murray, W. A. Knapp, Jr., John L. Wasey, M. Marx, Preston Lyons; in charge of the floor, A. R. Mitchell, Jr., C. H. Winterhaler, W. R. Mayo, W. A. Shannon, Francis Chavanne, E. H. Dees, Tom Costello.

Oh yes, we’ve had a wedding lately. Dr. I. H. Moss was married to Miss Mattie Summers, of Omaha, Nebraska, on November 30. They will live here.

N. E. North has succeeded Geo. H. Woolman in the insurance business in Lake Charles. He has been giving out a lot of attractive blotters. Michael brought one home the other day. Mr. North has moved his office to that of A. P. Pujo.

E. F. Wasey, Secretary-treasurer of the Mount Hope Lumber Co., has returned home this week from a pleasure trip to Michigan.

Extensive improvements in the public school building was made during the holidays, in the way of new seats and things of that kind. There are 350 pupils enrolled, they say, with and average attendance of 300. There are only seven teachers. They say that isn’t enough, and that they need another building badly. They hope to have a building for the primary grades next year. We are real proud of the rapid progress our public school has made. These were on the honor roll at school the past month: Charles Bullock, Daniel Gorham, Josephine Osborne, Pearl Dees, Webster Welsh, May McPhee, Lelah Welsh, Edna Touchy, Mary Runte, Frank Touchy, Willie Beyer, Florence Kinney, Minnie Slawson, Stella McNeese, Minah Powell. Stella Mills, Jerusha Lyons, Edwin Gorham, Mabel Moses.

Mrs. A. Rosteet has just returned home from an extended visit in the northern states. She was accompanied home by Mrs. Sutherland, the mother of Mrs. N. E. North, who will remain during the winter.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Loree have arrived from Vinton, Iowa, to spend the winter with their son, Charles Loree.

The stockholders of the banks have held meetings and have elected their officers for the next year. At the First National Bank the officers are W. E. Ramsey, president; L. Kaufman, vice-president; A. L. Williams, cashier; Mr. Simpson, assistant cashier; the other directors are George Lock, A. W. Wehrt, A. J. Perkins and A. P. Pujo.

At the Calcasieu Bank S. A. Knapp is president; H. C. Drew, vice-president; Frank Roberts, cashier; the other directors being J. W. Bryan, S.F. Henry, Charles Bunker and William Perkins.

R. H. Nason, of Chesaning, Mich., has arrived in Lake Charles and will make his future home here. Mr. Nason plans to build several tenant houses here.

Miss Della Neal has gone to Welsh to see about the exhibit from there for the world’s fair. She says she is meeting with great success and that people are responding readily with material for the exhibit.

Dr. J. G. Martin is getting ready to move into the building that has been erected by H. H. Eddy.

Mardi Gras, and to New Orleans for the great day have gone Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Rosteet and daughter, Maggie, Mrs. William Lightly, Miss Alice Johnson, Misses Emma and Evalina McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. George Lange, Miss Nellie O’Brien, Miss Mamie Dees, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Pujo, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Loxley, and daughter, Miss Nora, Mrs. I. H. Moss, Mrs. A. Rosteet, J. G. Powell and family, Miss Ida Athens, Miss Judith Cruickshank, Miss Lollie Albertson, Mr. and Mrs. I. Goldberg, R. H. Nason and family, David Bloch and family, A. L. Williams, C. M. Richard, Frank Mix, A. J. Perkins, Dan Ryan, M. J. Mills, R. P. Forister, Henry Eckhart, J. T. Brooks, Harry Geary, S. O. Shattuck and daughter, Mrs. J. T. Wood, Mrs. Sim Foster, Mr. and Mrs. N. Solomon and Mr. and Mrs. S. Moch.

I think that must be all. There are a few of us still left in Lake Charles, though it does look, from that list, as though everybody has gone to New Orleans.

Miss Katie Neal, formerly of Lake Charles, now of Kansas, has arrived to spend the summer with her brother and sister, J. H. and Della Neal. Della will have to go to New Orleans soon to superintend the packing of the Calcasieu exhibit to be shipped to the fair.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo have gone to New Orleans to attend the seventh annual convention of the Louisiana State Sunday School association.

These are beautiful nights for boat-riding on the lake. Michael and I were walking down the lake front last night. Sidney Hollier, Hattie Kinder, Fred Knapp and Lillie Richard were down there, just ready to start out in a boat.

Lillie Richard is leaving soon for San Antonio. Nettie and Hattie Kinder gave a farewell party for her the other night. Their guests were Maggie Harrop, Minnie and Frankie McKenzie, Ida Kirkman, Renie Dees, Lena McCormick, Bettie Simon, Mollie and Nellie Costello, Hannah Woodman, Sidney Hollier, Louis Prager, A. L. Dees, H. Green, C. B. Perkins, T. N. and B. Costello, Edwin Ferren, Ed McCormick.

Another social feature among the young people the past week was a picnic on the banks of English Bayou. The group having a good time there were Blanche Fournet, A. R. Mitchell, Jr., Edwin Ferren, Lorena Hutchins, R. E. Williams, Mattie Albertson, D. M. Foster, Jr., Ida Athens, F. F. Chevis, Nettie Kinder, A. L. Dees and Ida Kirkman.

Mrs. Sarah Maiser and her two little sons, who have been visiting Capt. and Mrs. W. H. Haskell, have left for their home in Silver City, New Mexico.

Mrs. L. E. Lee and her son, W. E. Lee, and P. L. Monroe left Saturday for a visit to the plantation home of Mrs. Lee’s daughter, Mrs. C. P. Gibson, near Lake Arthur.

Last Sunday, after the morning service at the Episcopal church, Mr. Charles Bunker and Mrs. Mary Kirby Howard were married by Rev. J. N. Abou. Mr. Bunker is a leader lumberman and merchant here. They have left for a bridal tour of Chicago and some northern cities.

S.A. Knapp and A. M. Mayo have moved into their new offices in the Calcasieu bank building.

A guest in the city this week is Mrs. John E. Runte, of New Orleans, who is the guest of her son, John E. Runte.

Some of the very young ladies and gentlemen of Lake Charles have organized a social club and will meet once a week. They met this week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Kaufman. The ones present were Dora Muller, Theresa Hortig, May Riddick, Annie Albert, Josie Moch, Flossie Wasey, Marie Bel, May and Ludie Hall, Fannie and Rosie Wolf, Rona Keener, Annie Crowley, Rosa McCormick, Floy and Rosa Whitman, Carrie King, Ella Poe, Mabel Moses, Estelle and Carrie Frank, Claiborn Hansen, Maxie, Willie and Sidney Kaufman, Armor Reims, Willis McCormick, Robert King, Walter and Jake Meyer, Harry and Willie Poe, Ernest Bel, E. Albert, Jack Geary, Eddie Riddick, George Wasey, Theo Frank.

There seems to be a good many Lake Charlesites out of town now. Evalina Pujo has gone to Crescent City on a visit. Della Neal, Calcasieu’s lady representative at the Chicago World fair, has gone with her exhibit. There’s no doubt she will do us justice.

Jennings Gill and Philip Chavanne are going to take an early train Sunday morning for Vinton.

Our city council met Thursday night to appoint the usual standing committees, officer and policemen. The men who will be in charge of our little metropolis now are Dan A. Leveque, tax collector; Jas. G. Fournet, city attorney; J. C. Ford, city clerk; George H. Woolman, city treasurer; J. J. Lyons, Ed Spence, Chas. Rawling, George Miller, Jake Rigmaiden, police officers; John H. Poe, W. J. Gayle, H. B. Milligan, finance committee; Ed Ryan, A. B. McCain, H. B. Milligan, street and public improvement committee; H. B. Milligan, W. J. Gayle, A. B. McCain, water works; A. B. McCain, John H. Poe, W. J. Gayle, committee on electric lights; W. J. Gayle, H. B. Milligan and A. B. McCain on railroads.

M. J. Rosteet went to New Orleans to attend the commencement exercises of St. Isidores College. He was accompanied home by his son, John, who is a student there. Sim Marx, manager of the mercantile establishment of Mrs. J. Muller, and Miss Dora Muller, are also in New Orleans, attending the graduating exercises of Soule College, where Maurice Muller is graduating this year. I heard this morning that Mrs. A. W. Wehrt and her little daughter, Hazel, and Annie Ryan, of Westlake, have gone to Bay St. Louis, Miss., for the commencement exercises of St. Stanislaus College, where Eddie Wehrt is a student. Then there is F. Chavanne, who went to Baton Rouge to the L.S.U. commencement, and returned accompanied by his younger brother, Edmond, who is a cadet. Let me see - are there any other students coming home for vacation?

The biggest news that has happened recently is the marriage of Mr. Sim Marx and Mrs. J. Muller who were married in Galveston, at the Beach Hotel.

Prof. S. A. Knapp has left for New York en route to England where he will spend a month.

The leading German population of the town has formed the German Real Estate Association, Limited, with a capital stock of $10,000, for the purpose of buying, selling, leasing or renting real estate. The board of directors includes Peter Platz, president; Joseph Mathis, vice-president; Adolph Meyer, secretary; Rudolph Krause, treasurer; Henry Marks, August Secendorf, Jos. Eckart, Louis Dobbertine and David Reims being the other members.

Sheldon Toomer is now the typewriter and stenographer in the uptown office of the Lake Charles Rice Milling Co. And Philip Chavanne, one of our popular young business men, who has just spent a few days in Texas, is now back at his post of duty in Chavanne’s Shoe Store.

Captain and Mrs. W. H. Haskell and their grandson, Freddie George, have gone to Chicago to the world’s fair. Arthur Knapp and Herman Rock have just returned home from the fair.

N. E. North has been elected secretary and solicitor for the Lake Charles Homestead and Loan Association, P. O. Moss having resigned. W. E. Lee, an assistant in the auditor’s office of the K. C. Watkins and Gulf railroad went over the road Tuesday on business.

I’ve heard that Mrs. L. B. Gorham has gone to New Orleans. Paul A. Sompayrac, one of Lake Charles’ prominent attorneys, has left on a visit to Natchitoches. Miss Mary Gibson, of Washington, is a guest of her sister, Mrs. Deshotel, of Westlake.

Monday night a jolly crowd of young people met at the home of W. L. Hutchins, bent on a surprise party. They chose as the surprises Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Kleinpeter. They were affably received by the charming host and hostess and their daughter, Noelie, and niece, Miss Katie Baum. The evening was happily spent in dancing with an abundance of good music. Those present were Edward Ferren and Miss Blanche Lacombe; Sidney Hollier and Miss Idda Kirkman; Sheldon Toomer and Miss Nettie Kinder; A. Hollins and Miss Lorena Hutchins; Jas. McCormick and Miss Clara Woodman, and the chaperon, Capt. W. L. Hutchins.

A. F. Day and Miss Ella Cline, daughter of Mrs. L. Druary, were married in Welsh Thursday evening at the Presbyterian Church.

Fred Woolfley, Walter Moeling and Charles Fitzenreiter took advantage of the moonlight Sunday night and bought a round trip ticket and came from Westlake to visit friends of this side. G. T. Rock has returned from a northern trip. Everybody was glad to see Clem Moss and his sister, Bertha, who stopped for a short visit here on their way home from the fair. They live in San Antonio now.

Another surprise party was given the other night, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Kinder being the honorees this time. The crowd met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thad Mayo. Dancing was the order of the evening. The young ladies and young gentlemen there were Missis Jennie Goodlett, Renie Dees, Nettie and Hattie Kinder, Rosa Green, Lou Sobwing, Lena McCormick, Clara Woodman, Nellie Costello and Edwin Ferren, Sheldon Toomer, Ab Dees, Hart Green, Ed McCormick, Sidney Hollier, John Rosteet, Louis Prager and Tom Costello.

It has been found necessary to build an annex to the public school building; there are so many children to be accommodated. North Lake Charles is in desperate need of a school. To take care of the situation for the present, the old Daves school building in Broad Street has been rented and two teachers will be located there until the annex is completed.

J. H. Poe and A. M. Mayo have just returned from the Chicago fair. Miss Beatrice Rosteet has recently gone. She is probably about the last of our Chicago fair visitors.

Let me think - who from out of town has been in Lake Charles recently? Eddie Von Eye spent several days here last week. Lake Charles is his old home. He is now a telegraph editor in Lafayette. Misses Ada and Janie Smart, of Vernon, have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Gussie and Annie Gill.

Michael says that N.E. North has been elected director of the Lake Charles Homestead and Loan association.

Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Rock arrived in Lake Charles last week to make their future home here. Mr. Rock will go into the general hardware business.

A lot of tramps evidently marked Lake Charles as easy prey. But they were somewhat disappointed, for they were arrested Tuesday night and put to work on streets. They will probably give our town a wide berth after this.

Sim Marx has been elected dictator of the Reliance Lodge Knights of Honor. A. G. LaBesse is the vice dictator; Sam Kinder, the assistant dictator; Thos. Hansen, treasurer; C. L. Daniel, reporter; A. Rigmaiden, financial reporter; D. C. Taylor, chaplain; L. B. Kirkman, guide; M. Cantin, guard; H. Bendixon, sentinel; C. L. Daniel, A. G. LeBasse and Sam Kinder, trustees.

There’s a good deal of visiting out-of-town at present. E. F. Wasey has just returned home from an extended visit in Texas and New Mexico. P. A. Sompayrac, our prominent young attorney, is visiting his parents and other relatives in Natchitoches this week. Winston Overton, of the law firm of Read and Overton, has just returned from a visit during the holidays with relatives in Marksville, La.

Invitations have been issued to the wedding of Miss Minnie Young, sister of Clem and Cleg Young, to H.E. Segrist at the M.E. Church in Lake Arthur, to occur on Wednesday, Feb. 7. There’s to be another wedding, too. Rosa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Green, of Westlake, is to be married to Walter G. Moeling, one of Lake Charles’ most popular young gentleman, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the M.E. Church at Westlake.

The Knights of Honor, Reliance Lodge No. 3278 and Apollo Lodge No. 3751 had a pubic installation with a big crowd present, in the third story of the Calcasieu bank building. The officers of the Reliance Lodge are J. E. LaBasse, P. D.; Sim Marx, dictator; G. A. LeBesse, vice dictator; Sam Kinder, assistant dictator; A. Rigmaiden, financial reporter; C. L. Daniel, reporter; Thos. Hansen, treasurer; Sam Kirkman, guide; D.C. Taylor, chaplain, M. Cantin, inner guard; Henry Bendixon, outer guard; trustees, Sam Kinder, C. L. Daniel, G. A. LeBesse; grand representatives, W. A. Knapp, S. B. Clement.

In the Apollo Lodge the officers are S. O. Shattuck, P. D.; R. R. Brail, dictator; E. A. Boissat, assistant dictator; H. D. Drake, reporter; C. V. Jonte, treasurer; H. R. Green, financial reporter; J. D. J. Marcks, guide; O. H. Senechal, John Cruikshank, guardian; Jas. Leithead, sentinel; trustees, S. O. Shattuck, Leon Chavanne, Jas. A. Graye.

S. O. Shattuck read an interesting paper on the work of the lodge then presented J.E. LeBesse, the retiring dictator, with a handsome silver water pitcher. A. P. Pujo talked, in his usual cheering manner, on the work of the order. Refreshments were served then and dancing followed.

Miss Louise Leveque has gone to Moss Bluff to teach. Mrs. E. F. Wasey, with her son and daughter, Master George and Miss Flossie, have left for a month’s visit with relatives.

The crowd is off again to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. This year those going were Mrs. L. C. Evans, Miss Maud Jenkins, Mrs. C. H. Winterhaler, Dr. A. J. Perkins, Miss Daisy Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Moeling, T. E. George, R. J. Gunn, David Reims, and his two children, W. H. Haskell, Capt. A. W. Wehrt, Dan Ryan, James Collins, Philip Chavanne, Chas. Loree, W. H. Brown, and Chas. Clerc.

There is a loud-talking phonograph in town and everybody and his best girl is going to hear it. It is the talk of the town. A wonderful machine. I don’t how they get it to talk, like it does. It is proving very popular as a mode of entertainment.

We have a fine dancing school now, under the auspices of W. R Mayo. There are classes on Tuesday and Friday. Many children and some grown people are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive instruction in dancing.

The school has grown to such an extent that the school board has had to employ an extra teacher. There will probably have to be some new rooms built.

S. O. Shattuck has been elected to the exalted position of sentinel of the grand lodge Knights of Honor. Mr. Shattuck has many friends all over the state, as well as in this section.

Mrs. A. A. Wentz entertained with a delightful five o’clock tea Wednesday, her guest being Mesdames George Horridge, S. A. Knapp, Wm. Loree, A. Thompson, W. C. White, Parry Chester Payne, Henry Eddy, D. B. Gorham. After luncheon the guests were introduced to the mysteries of Creole cooking.

Billy Gayle appeared on the streets last Saturday afternoon wearing a happy smile and walking with a youthful step. He said he had, at his home, the prettiest little girl in the world.

There are 40 businesses men who are preparing to make a trip to Washington D. C. They are the Lake Charles members of the uniform rank of the K. P. They are drilling twice a week so as to make a good appearance in the parade. They will go by way of New Orleans where they will join others in the state. W. A. Knapp is major of the regiment; J. H. Waters is captain; Sim Marx, recorder; Adolph Meyer, treasurer; Rudolph Krause, guard; Chas. Winterhaler, sentinel; the executive committee will be S. O. Shattuck, Louis Hirsch, W. W. Day, D. R. Swift, Chas. Curley.

Our popular councilman, John H. Poe, the well known mill owner, was quietly married last week to Miss Emma Cooper. At least, the contracting parties expected it to be a quiet wedding but when they reached the Baptist Church they found it well filled with friends, orange blossoms and blush roses. The bride was very beautiful in a neatly-fitting traveling costume of mixed goods of dark grey, trimmed with green silk and iridescent beads, with veil and gloves to match, and with russet shoes. Her hat was green and grown. The bridal couple went west to spend a honeymoon.

Helen, the accomplished daughter of Prof. S. A. Knapp, had departed for Iowa where she will complete her education at the University of Cedar Rapids.

Our city is growing. A.M. Mayo and Bradford Knapp have drawn a plat of the Eddy-Horridge subdivision of the city which they are offering for sale in town lots.

Our May wedding seems to be that of Miss Lorena Hutchins and J.B. Walker, who were married Wednesday morning at nine o’clock. They left for a honeymoon in St. Louis and Cincinnati.

Mrs. Jacob Ryan and her daughter, Daisy, have left for a visit in Houston. Gussie Gill, a very talented young lady, has gone to Boston to enter a conservatory of music. Julia Gorham, the accomplished daughter of D. B. Gorham, has returned from New Orleans where she has been attending school, to spend the vacation with her parents. Katinka Ryan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Ryan, entertained a host of friends Wednesday evening. That’s about all the gossipy chat I know at present.

School has closed and there was an entertainment, as usual. John H. Poe, president of the school board, awarded the Poe medals for high marks to Dora Boyd, Florence Schindler, Bertha Knapp, Mabel Dees, Edna King, Stella Mills, Ella Boissat, Mollie Harrop, Anna Faucett, and Edgar Kaufman.

We have a Pleasure Park association now, which means that some day we will have a pleasure park, I hope. There have been 25 acres leased, near the sugar refinery, from the Watkins people. There is a 40 foot, one-half mile race track to be graded. The men are meeting with success in selling the bonds. They have already sold over $500 worth and contracts are being let now for erecting stands, buildings, and fences. John H. Poe is president; J. L. Peavy, vice-president; C. H. Winterhaler, secretary; Ben Collins, assistant secretary; D. W. Ryan, treasurer; Arad Thompson, general manager; the board of directors is composed of A. L. Williams, H. F. McLaurin, George H. Woolman, W. C. Wall, P. A. Sompayrac, Sim Marx, Stuart Thomson.

We nearly had an accident in Pujo Street the other day. Robert Swift and Calder Herring were riding in a buggy, which was overturned when their horse started to run away. The buggy smashed into an electric light pole. Mrs. Rosteet and four other ladies in a carriage saw the horse dragging the overturned buggy and jumped, as their own horse became frightened and ran down Pujo Street. Luckily there was no one hurt and little damage done.

There have been two June weddings. A. A. Fluitt and Miss Martha Williams and E. A. Oliver and Miss Dora Williams.

The entertainment of the month has mostly been furnished by the Academy of St. Charles and the parochial school of the Immaculate Conception, where annual commencement programs have been given. Marie Gallaugher was valedictorian this year. Helen Fournet gave a solo, “The Graduates’ Farewell.” Henry W. Miller was given a medal for conduct; Eugene Leveque for regular attendance; Wm. McCormick for arithmetic; Ivan H. Schwing for examinations; Francis V. Gallaugher for merit; Hattie Dees for regular attendance; Ernestine Ory, Hazel Wehrt, Bertha Schindler, for mathematics; Isidora Muller for mathematics; Marie Gallaugher and Helen Fournet for examinations; the crown of honor was given Marie Leveqie and Mattie Dees; the crown of Sagesse to Bessie Kaufman and Zelmere Schwing.

Our newly elected city solons have received their commissions. L. C. Dees has been honored with the office of chief of police at $65 a month. R. Harrison, Al Camel, Chas. Rawlings, Jacob Rigmaiden, and J. J. Lyons are the city’s maintainers of order at $60 a month. W. F. Perkins is the collector, D. M. Foster, Jr., is the city secretary at $25 a month. The really most important office, or the one on which the public health mostly depends, has been given to Dr. D. E. Lyons at $25 a month. Adolph Meyer has been chosen to dish out the city funds at the salary of $150 a year.

Our city was in holiday attire yesterday, with hundreds of visitors here. For the second time in its history Lake Charles celebrated the grand and glorious Fourth. At an early hour in the day the streets were crowded and the hotels and business houses full. There was a program in both Pleasure Park and Hoo Hoo Park. In the latter there were about 600 assembled to see the foot races and dashes, between Will Day and Louis Runte for a purse of $25. Day won. The Eureka band played. There were about 1500 persons in Pleasure Park. The Pendleton Concert band played. There were many prizes given. There was a Jennings bicycle drill and parade with 19 wheels and a chorus of 15 voices. Burl Woolman won the prize for the quarter mile bicycle race; Harry Neal and Lucius O’Bryan entered in a 50-yard foot race, in which Lucius won.

Sidney Hollier and Maurice Muller have gone on a health-seeking tour through the Lone Star state. Jennings Gill is home from school at Baton Rouge. Charles Loree has gone to join his wife in St. Louis on her return home from the north.

Our statistician has just told us the Calcasieu Parish has 150 schools; 7,058 children of educable age; that there are 5,800 enrolled in the schools, with an average attendance of 4,350; that the parish school tax is $15,000 supplemented by $5000 from Lake Charles and $700 from Jennings.

We welcome back to Lake Charles, to spend the winter with us, Mr. and Mrs. George Horridge, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Eddy, Miss Maude Eddy, Miss Helen Salisberry, Clarence Eddy, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Loree. They have spent the summer at Vinton, Iowa.

We have been having weddings lately. D. A. Kelly, of Vinton, and Miss Mabel King, of Lake Charles, were married recently. They will reside in Vinton. C. M. Richard and Miss Beatrice Rosteet were married at the home of Jos. W. Rosteet, two miles east of Lake Charles. They have gone to Chicago for the honeymoon. John R. Mouton of Jennings and Miss Hattie M. Graham were married at the Catholic church by Father Ven de Ven. And Charles C. Clerc, of New Iberia, and Miss Emma McCormick were also married at the church by the Father. They will live in New Iberia.

Battles are being waged each day in Lake Charles. The sport of the day is snowball fighting. Everybody has lots of fun. The men and boys out on Ryan Street have been playing with snowballs. We have had a regular blizzard. It began snowing on Wednesday night and continued till Friday morning. The snow, in many places, was from 16 inches to two feet in depth. It's the first snow many of the children here have ever seen. In fact, it's the first that has fallen to speak of since 1871. That was in April and the old timers are bringing to light all the old stories about it. This snow, though, has all others of Louisiana history far surpassed, it seems. Our Northern friends who are wintering here say they feel very much at home. And really, everybody seems to be enjoying it, the grownups just as much as the children. A man will be walking down the street when suddenly a ball will be thrown from somewhere, will smash against his hat, and scatter snow all over him. He usually takes it good naturedly, laughs, and sends one back in return. There are great days for Lake Charles.

Leon Sugar, of Monroe, has come to Lake Charles to make his home here and practice law. He is a gentleman, a scholar, a student, and a splendid lawyer.

A beautiful wedding was held at the Baptist church yesterday. Miss Clara Bell Davis and Phillip E. Chavanne were the contracting parties. The church made a lovely picture, decorated with evergreen and flowers. Rev. Alfred said the ceremony. Miss Gussie Gill presided at the organ, playing the wedding march. Miss Mabel Watters and Miss Aura McGee were the bridesmaids; A. S. Gossett and A. L. Dees, the groomsmen; Stuart Thompson, G. A. Levingston and S. L. Hollier, the ushers. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the home of the bride’s aunt, Mrs. J. M. Mason, in Hodges Street.

The Vinton colony enjoyed it fourth annual outing on Good Friday, April 12. They went down to Rose Bluff on the steamer Hazel, spent the day and enjoyed a fine basket dinner, near the home of Oliver Moss. An organization was effected with George Horridge being made president, Arad Thompson, treasurer, A. A. Wentz, secretary. The officers, together with Herman Rock and S. Arthur Knapp, will form an executive committee, which will plan for the next annual outing, on Good Friday, 1896. The crowd extended a vote for thanks to Captain A. W. Wehrt, master of the ship, for his kindness and courtesy during the trip.

The Vintonians are Messrs. and Mesdames George Horridge, J. W. Traer, W. M. Loree, S. A. Knapp, Arad Thompson, A. A. Wentz, G. T. Rock, H. Ross, N. D. Pope, H. H. Eddy, H. G. Eddy, J. C. Eddy, S. R. Harter and C. L. Loree, Mrs. M. A. Ankeny, Minnie Knapp Mayo, Miss Anna Ellis, Miss Helen Salisbury, Minnie Traer Bradley, Lou Hughes Kinney, Miss Marude Traer, Miss Maude Eddy, Cornelius Ellis, T. Cuyler Dunning, Frank Roberts, S. Arthur Knapp, Clarence Eddy, Lois Louise, Helen, Mark and Clifford Wentz, Herman Lawrence, George, Harold, Lizzie, Hazel, and the little Rocks, Rosa Loree, Charles Loree Harter and David Withrow Eddy. The Vintonians-in-law are Miss Libbie Pope, Mrs. Frank Roberts, Mr. Lou Hughes Kinney, Florence, Harbert and Anna Kinney, Mr. Minnie Knapp Mayo, Claude and Helen Mayo, Beth Bradley, Helen Bradley, Miss Minnie Kennedy and James Ware Gardiner. At least it rather looks at present as though those last two might be included in that list.

Among the guests who were invited on Friday’s outing were Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Neibert, who represented the press; Rev. and Mrs. C. W. Lyman, representing the church; Major Howard Ackerman and family, representing the army; Hon. D. B. Gorham and family, representing the state; B. C. Mills and family; Miss Alice Parry, Robert Hall and wife and Mrs. Kennedy.

There is a summer normal institute being held here. Attending from the city are Mollie Jenkins, Bell and Laura Kearney, Louise Wentz, Mamie and Emma Siling, Hattie Read, Maggie Harrop, Annie and Fannie Fawcett, Agnes Harp, Susie and Belle Bradley, Ruby Weber, Edna Terry, Jennie Brown, Lizzie Price, Lizzie Turner, Grace Reed, Lula McCracken, Estorge LeBlanc, Madeline Guithard, Maggie Hayes, Ruby Gray, Nellie Cline, Claudie Gardo, Florence and Virginia Godeau, Bertha Canton and Sallie Bentley.

The Lake Charles College has just held it commencement exercises. Graduating this year from the preparatory department were Annie Fawcett, D. B. Gorham, Jr., I. Alton Foster, Lula Hoag, of Jennings, Hattie Fenton, and Fenton and Flora Carroll of Merryville.

Ed Barnett has returned from Arizona. He will reopen his photograph studio here.

We are getting ready for a big Fourth of July celebration this year. It will be held at Pleasure Park. P.A. Sompayrac will have charge of the music; George Woolman of the printing; C. M. Richard and Chas. G. Hebert of the horse racing; Stuart Thomson of the military drill; Dan W. Ryan of rights and privileges; A. Meyer and George H. Woolman of the target shooting; the judges will be Arad Thompson, Dr. A. J. Perkins and John H. Poe. The Pleasure Park has a new set of officers: John H. Poe, president; Frank Beardsley, vice-president; Charles H. Winterhaler, secretary; A. Hollins, treasurer; Dan Ryan, business manager; while the board of directors will be A. L. Williams, S. Arthur Knapp, Charles G. Hebert, Paul A. Sompayrac, J. Stuart Thompson, W. J. Martin, W. J. Thompson, W. C. Wall, Adolph Meyer.

A congenial party went down to the seashore Wednesday morning on the mail boat. They will doubtless have a splendid time. The were Mrs. James A. Kinder, Mrs. Louis Hirsch, Mrs. Ed Ryan, Mrs. Walter Moeling, Misses Nettie, Hattie and Mollie Kinder, Maude Powel, Daisy Kinder, Nellie Costello, Jim Kinder, Jr.

There are some other vacationists who are out of town. There is a group camping near Sugartown. It includes District Clerk Gill and his family, W. A. Kirkwood and G. M. Gossett and their families. I don’t know much about it except that John Rymer and Miss Katinka Ryan went, and John Rosteet and Eula Ryan, and Dr. F. M. Gayle, Misses Ethel Robinson and Mamie Dees. We’ve heard they caught two deer and have the hides to prove it.

Miss Della Neal has left, over the Watkins road, for Lawrence, Kansas, to spend her vacation with relatives. Mrs. Charles Clerc has been visiting her parents but has returned home now, to New Iberia. Janie Smart has been the guest of her aunt, Mrs. G M. Gossett, and has returned to her home in Vernon Parish. Leon Viterbo, of Beaumont, has been in town. Master Eddie and Miss Stella Riddick have returned to their home in Houston after visiting relatives here. Ted Loxley is home from Mobile and makes one of the party of cyclists that roll over the shell road every evening. Albert Bel and his family left Thursday for the Pass. They were provided with a fine barge fitted up with every convenience and conveyed by the steamer, Ernest. R. H. Nason has returned from a visit to his old home at Saginaw, Mich. Mayme Siling has come home from a visit to Kinder. Sid Hollier left Wednesday for Hot Springs. Mrs. R. P. Howell, of Lake Arthur, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thad Mayo. Hon. D. S. Perkins, of Sulphur, was here on business the other day. Hon. D. B. Gorham is visiting his old home at Clinton. E. J. Fairchild, of Edgerly, has been in town. Herman Rock, at the Calcasieu bank, is spending his vacation at his old home at Vinton, Iowa. Mrs. John McCormick and her daughter, Mena, and granddaughters, Bertha and Florence Schindler, have returned from a visit to New Iberia.

Oh yes, and Mrs. Albert Bel and her sisters, Mrs. Flanders, Mrs. Bower, and Captain Goos are at White Sulphur Springs, Va.

One of the jolliest parties we’ve hear of recently was a stag one. The steamer Hazel took a crowd down to the Pass. There was Harry Waite and Frank Krouwinkler, John Poe, Walter Moeling, Louis Hirsch, F. E. Gearheardt, C. Mayo, P. Theaux, Sam Kaufman, Dr. F. M. Gayle, J. A. Kinder, Louis Prager, A. R. Mitchell, F. A. Toce, Ed Wehrt, T. F. George, C. B. Perkins, Fred Shellman, Maurice Muller, A. Bluestein, George Lange, J. B. Walker, John Harrop, Sol Reinaeur, Morgan Wall, Chas. Scott, Capt. and W. S. Whitman, R. W. Barton and J. S. Davidson. At Big Lake they said they let the seine down three or four times and go more fish than they could eat. At the jetties they put the seine down again. This time they caught two silver fish at least five feet long.

Lake Charles is enjoying this summer the presence of its sons and daughters who are away during the year attending school. Zena Thomson and Leonora and Teddie Loxley are home from Ann Arbor, Mich. Lottie and Barbara Powell are home from New Orleans and Charles and Edmund Chavanne are home from Baton Rouge.

“The hay ride par excellence of the season” - that’s what they say about Stella Martin and Will Holmes and Junice Sturdervant and Will Day and Josie Burnett and Anna Green.

I told Michael last night that, with all this vacationing going on, we would simply have to take one, but he is entirely too busy to get away now, and I won’t go by myself.

Harry Neal apparently is getting ready to start an alligator farm. He says he is going to set some eggs under a Plymouth Rock hen, and if they hatch successfully he is going to get out Charley Little’s old incubator that s lying under Jim Neibert’s barn. He thinks that in five years he can stock Lake Superior.

Superintendent of Roads Gossett has just completed the construction of a bridge 180 feet long, supplemented by a causeway 275 feet long, across Bayou Verdine, near Lockport.

The lot at the corner of Moss and Pine Streets is being graded. They say that George Lock is getting ready to erect a handsome residence there.

Maurice Rosenthal has a new camera and he is becoming a first class photographer, they say.

Mr. Rudolph Krause and Miss Alma Sherard were married Tuesday at the home of the bride’s parents, in Westlake. Mr. Krause is the popular bookkeeper at the Perkins & Miller mill and the fair bride is also very popular.

Guy Beatty, the business manager of the Daily Press, left Tuesday for a ten days’ trip to Chicago. The Press had availed itself of the services of Jerry Cline as a reporter of city news. Mr. Cline is a hustler and can pick up more news in the same length of time than any other man is the business.

Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wall, one of our recently married couples, have returned from their honeymoon trip and are staying at Hotel Howard. They say they are going to housekeeping soon. The bride was Miss Emma Winterhaler and they were married at the home of her brother, Chas. Winterhaler.

R. R. Stone, the son of W. D. Stone of this place, has accepted a position in Milligan-Martin Grocery Store. He is recently from Topeka, Kans.

Nettie Kinder opened a dancing school last Tuesday, in Market Hall. It meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the evening.

There’s been another wedding recently, too, that of Thos. N. Costello and Miss Emelie Reimers.

Our port, it seems, is a place. A. M. Mayo and his assistant, W.W. Cooper, have just issued some statistics on the volume of business of the port for the six months from Jan. 1 to June 1. There have been 121 vessels inward bound and 117 outward bound. There have been 3,056 sacks of rice shipped, 417 bales of cotton, 6,555, 530 feet of lumber, 645, 750 M shingles and 1,500,000 pounds of cotton seed shipped to Galveston.

A very beautiful wedding took place in the Catholic Church Wednesday, Nov. 6, when J. Stuart Thomson and Miss Marie Gallaugher were married. Father Ven de Ven officiated. The fair bride never looked more lovely and Mr. Thomson bore himself as should the proud possessor of such a treasure. The bridal party left on the 12:35 a. m. train. They will visit St. Louis, Kansas City and the Atlanta Exposition. Both the bride and the groom are among our most popular young people; they were married under the most happy auspices and have the best wishes of legions of friends. Mr. Thomson is the assistant casher of the Watkins bank.

Saturday night the magnolia Dramatic club is going to Orange to give a play they are ready to put on, The Beggar’s Petition. Those going are Capt. T. R. Reynolds, W. B. Hale, C. T. Jillson, Ben Collins, Chas. Taylor, John C. Rymer, Wm. Mayo, Geo. Davidson, Frank Gallaugher, Robt. O’Bryan, Mrs. T. S. Reynolds, A. S. Richard, Mrs. John E. Runte, Mrs. Louis Runte, Katinka Ryan, Rebertha O’Bryan, Ada Weeden, Della Hinman.

People are still getting married. Miss Virginia Goodlett, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Mrs. Annie Goodlett, was married to Mr. Frank Mornhinveg, of Opelousas, in the Episcopal Church. The ushers were Chas. Kearney, Chas. A. McCoy, A. L. Dees, Ben Beardsley. Gussie Gill was bridesmaid, Renie Dees was maid of honor, and Jennings Gill was best man.

James Brown and Mattie Anderson were also married recently in the Episcopal Church, by the Rev. Joseph H. Spearing. And Miss Lillie Richard and O. L. LeBlanc were married the other day at the Catholic Church.

Nettie Winterhaler has accepted a clerkship in the jewelry store of Otto Winterhaler.

The only wedding since Christmas that I know anything about is that of Miss Laura E. Bullock and Abraham J. Christman, who were married by Father Ven de Ven.

Michael found a copy of the New York Herald downtown somewhere. Everybody was talking about it, because it had a story in it about Lake Charles. It told about Mr. Palmer buying a strip of land along the south bank of English Bayou, three miles from town. It said that an old Creole told his that in the first part of the 19^th century, when there was no town here, only scattered ranches, and when most of the country was held by the Quelquesho and Choctaw Indians, the Calcasieu River and its tributaries were often a hiding place for Lafitte and his band of pirates. Once he was beyond the bar with his clipper-built schooner, he was beyond the reach of the average deep water cruisers. One time, though, when his pursuers did cross the bar, they chased him up the river. He sailed as far as English Bayou and there on the high banks, at the angle formed by the two streams, he buried $800,000 in gold. He went 200 yards farther up the Calcasieu and sank his vessel; then, with his men, he took to the dense swamps.

On another time, a mile above this spot, the pirate found himself in a tight place with one of his vessels. On board he had heaps of costly jewelry, diamonds, rubies, pearls, taken from merchantmen on the high seas. Either because of a notion of his own, or because he did not have time to do otherwise, he filled one of his cannons with fabulous wealth, sealed it up, and threw it overboard.

The Calcasieu River, by the way, they say, got its name from the Quelquesho Indians. When the French came they changed it to Calcasieu which is about as near “Quelquesho” as they could get.

C. D. Moss has won the oratorical contest to decide who shall be valedictorian and salutatorian of the Tulane law class. He won first place with an address on the subject “The Question of the Hour.” He is the son of the late Dr. A. H. Moss. He was born in St. Landry and he studied at Washington and Lee and Vanderbilt.

A happy group of picnickers went our to Walnut Grove yesterday, chaperoned by Mrs. D. M. Foster and Mrs. A. H. Moss. In the group were Rona Keener, Bessie Hemphill, Stella McNeese, Mollie Kinder, Floy Moss, Annie Reid, Emma Moss, Pearl and Mabel Dees, Bertha Moss; Messrs. Teddie Dees, James Williams, Charles Shattuck, John Marshall, Wesley Welsh, Lanier Richardson, John Harrop, Willie Kaufman, Ed Williams, Ben and Alton Foster.

The Vinton colony enjoyed their annual outing of Moss Bluff on Good Friday. They went up to the picnic grounds on the Steamer Hazel and everybody reported a wonderful time.

They always elect officers at each of their annual meetings. Their nominating committee this year was G. T. Rock, Horace Eddy and Wm. M. Loree and they chose as their officers George Horridge, president; Arad Thompson, treasurer; A. A. Wentz, secretary. They, with Herman W. Rock and S. Arthur Knapp, will be the executive committee.

Our high school commencement is over again. How the years roll by. John H. Poe, president of the school board, gave the diplomas. The girls all looked so pretty. They always do. In the class were Bertha Ellen Canton, Hattie Eloise Dees, Laura Ellen Reid, Anna Faucett, Emma Louise Hammand, Fannie Faucett, May Frances Harrop, Gussie Geneva Gill, Bertha Harp, Lorena Krause, J. Alton Foster, Daniel Barlow Corham Jr., and James Alexander Williams.

A.M. Mayo was elected president of the state Sunday school association at the convention in New Orleans last week. He was also elected delegate to the international convention in Boston. So I suppose Mr. Mayo will be traveling to Boston soon.

We have some young lawyers in town. Clem D. Moss and J. Sheldon Toomer have just graduated in the Tulane law class and have returned home to practice law. Perry and Charlie Cline have passed their examinations and been licensed by the Supreme Court. They, too, are ready to settle at home to practice.

The summer migration has begun. Mr. and Mrs. George Horridge, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Loree, Miss Anna Withrow, Miss Freddie Fell and Master Charlie Harter all left Tuesday for Vinton to spend the summer.

The Excelsior Cycling club has re-organized, with D. C. Williamson as president; Charles Levy, vice president; Steve Delmouly, secretary; and Sol Reinauer, treasurer. Signs all point to the evidence that the streets and highways will be full of bicycles this summer.

A wedding of interest occurred recently when Miss Lydia A. Hamand, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Hamand, of Common Street, was married to Mr. E. T. Hubbell of Kansas City. The Rev. M. King performed the ceremony at he bride’s home. The young couple left on the 10:55 train for a bridal tour. They will make their home in Kansas City where Mr. Hubbell is associated in business.

There was another wedding last Thursday, this one in the Baptist Church. The elite of the city were there to see the Rev. E. T. Alfred, pastor of the church, and Miss Gussie Gill, daughter of H. C. Gill, our clerk of the district court, married. The Rev. J. C. F. Kyger officiated.

E. D. Miller has moved his law office from the courthouse building to the old Leveque building. It has been repaired and repainted, the walls nicely papered, and it is now one of the most comfortable offices in town.

Judge J. A. Kinder and Judge J. L. Wasey have qualified and have gotten down to hard labor. They are now prepared to either marry you or sell out of house and home on shortest notice.

Miss Evalina Pujo and Miss Theresa Hortig entertained in a memorable manner the officers, the sponsors, and maids of honor of the First Regiment at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Pujo Tuesday. And now the Pujo’s have gone to California for a month’s stay.

Julia Gorham has returned home from school at New Orleans. Zena Thomson has returned, having graduated from Michigan University, at Ann Arbor.

Judge G. A. Fournet, candidate for presidential elector for the Third congressional district, is a most zealous and influential advocate of the free and independent coinage of silver in this section of the state.

Uncle Charlie Miller is the president and is an ardent free silver man - free silver having been one of the principal topics of conversation recently - Rudolph Krause is the treasurer and W. H. Managan is the secretary. Both can talk white metal.

Lake Charles is busy getting ready to entertain the Louisiana Press Association which meets here next week. The committee in charge of agreement met last night to complete plans. The committee on finances is J. A. Bel, J. W. Bryan, C. M. McCormick, Frank Roberts, H. C. Drew, A. M. Mayo, S.A. Knapp, J. H. Neal, E. B. Miller, J. D. Cline; on reception , C.A. McCoy, H. C. Gill, Adolph Meyer, Dr. L. H. Moss, G. T. Rock, E. N. Hazzard, W. H. Lanz, W. E. Lee, W. L. Bradley, A. S. Gossett, J. B. Neibert, G. A. Fournet, Dr. A. J. Perkins, Chas. R. Cline, O. S. Dolby, Wm. Briggs; decoration, D. B. Gorham, D. R. Swift, Ed McCormick, Dr. A. N. Pierce, Sim Marx, Willis Webber, Ed Wehrt and Mesdames O. S. Dolby, J. E. Loxley, E. N. Hazzard, W. H. Lanz, J. H. Neal, E. A. Stubbs, C. M. Braden, Frank Roberts, J. B. Neibert, Horace Eddy, Misses Lillie Knapp, Nammie Hamand, May Bradley, Lee Bryan, Julia Gorham, Bertha Moss, Zena Thomson, Rena Dees, Lena McCormick, and Myrtle McClelland.

B. M. Talbot, of the Orange Foundry and Repair Co., spent the day in Lake Charles yesterday looking after business.

Maurice Muller left this week for Brushy Landing to fill a position as bookkeeper for Henry Kahn and Co.

G. T. Rock, the Pujo Street hardware dealer, was a visitor to the Crescent city several days ago.

The corner stone has been laid for the new Episcopal Church. George Wells wrote the history which was place in it. It contains some very interesting information. I remember it said that the area of Lake Charles is six square miles; that the first white settler was Charles Sallier, who settled on the southeastern shore of Lake Charles in 1808 and that he soon became known as “Mr. Charles.” In 1829, 400 United States soldiers established a garrison on the northeastern shore of the lake and remained there three years. In 1861 the town was incorporated as “Charleston.” In 1867 by an act of the state legislature it was incorporated as “Lake Charles." In June, 1886, ther was only one store here and it had $100 worth of merchandise. The only church was a small, unpainted building. In 1867 the population was 400. The railroad from New Orleans to Houston was complete in 1880 and the first passenger train passed through to Orange on March 26, 1880.

This month’s wedding was that of Andrew S. Gossett and Miss Mabel Waters, who were married at the Baptist Church by the Rev. T. G. Alfred. Mr. Gossett and his lovely bride went to New Orleans to spend their honeymoon.

Our high school has celebrated its midterm commencement. There were eight girls and one boy who received diplomas. The girls were very beautiful in their white organdy dresses, with white gloves and slippers. Burl Clement, the boy, was a credit to his beautiful companions. His duties during the term have been varied, being the only boy. But always he has been on hand, to do the bidding of each girl, gallantly. Cyrilla Braden read as essay on music. Nellie Cline, with her characteristic composure and grace, gave a humorous essay on “Eggs” with which she brought down the house. Rhona Keener gave “My Pantry” and Nerva Faucet read an essay on “Beginnings.” Ruby Gray gave one on “Blessing Flight.” Annie Reid’s subject was “Cloudbursts.” Louise Wentz read one on “Springtime of Life,” and Emma Moss, on “The Glass Bouquet.” Burl Clement’s subject was “Melody.” Judge Gorham talked to the class.

Charlotte MacLeod is going to read a paper tomorrow on Christian Endeavor history at the Christian Endeavor program at the Presbyterian Church.

Herman W. Rock and Miss Marion Frances Kennedy were married last Wednesday at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Inez Kennedy, in Kirby Street, with a large number of relatives and friends present. Mr. Rock and his lovely bride left for San Antonio on a bridal trip. There was a happy excursion on the lake Friday evening. Only one slight accident marred the occasion. Robert Stone, our promising young lawyer, fell in the lake while he and several other young men were attempting to clear the barge for dancing. He was assisted on deck and was soon dancing with the rest.

The Vinton colony enjoyed its sixth annual outing on Good Friday at Swearingen’s ferry. Besides the members there were about 120 invited guests. Fred Thompson, S. Arthur Knapp and A. A. Wentz were appointed to choose the officers for next year. They are H. H. Eddy, president; William M. Loree, treasurer; Herman W. Rock, secretary; with Frank Roberts and John T. Wentz to act with them in forming an executive committee.

The colony reported that since the fifth annual outing the following old friends from Vinton have visited Lake Charles: Rev. and Mrs. E. H. Avery and daughter, Mrs. Traer Vernon and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. David J. Ramage, Gov. B. R. Sherman, Cliff Nichols, Will Haines, Earle Boggs, John Haines, and Charles Smith. Rev. D. L. Hughes is with the colony again, after an absence of several years. Mr. Horridge, the last year’s president, presided at this meeting.

Maurice Muller is home for a week, from Brushy Landing, where he is keeping books for H. Cahn, Jr.

S. Reinauer has returned home from a visit to New Iberia. Ben Reinauer came with him.

Generally it is considered that pie plant won’t grow here. But R. H. Nason has a fine quality that was grown in his yard.

The fruit grower’s association has just elected S. A. Knapp, president; Frank Howard, vice president; C. D. Otis, secretary, with R. H. Nason and H. I. Ward forming and executive committee.

Capt. Thomas. Cline of the steamer tug “Ramos” said on the street yesterday that he gets a chance to look around our town so seldom that when he does everything seems new to him. “Why, I hardly know my wife anymore,” he said. “I start up the river one morning, maybe that night I am at the Pass, come back to the lake, remain just long enough to turn around and go back up or down the river - and so it is, week in and week out.” Which certainly speaks well for the lumber business of A. J. Bel & Co., Ltd.

The First M. E. Church will celebrate Children's Day Sunday. Miss Dolly Cline will give the introductory address. Mrs. Tillie Cline’s class of girls will give a motion song. Mrs. Ed Hazzard will give “The Young People’s Republic.” Miss Mayme Siling, Miss Birdie Cline, Fred Weber, Miss Emma Hammond, Edger Taylor, Miss Stella Mills, Miss Maggie Hamand and Miss Nellie Cline and Ed Watson will give assays.

Attorneys E. D. Miller and Joseph Moore crossed the lake to Westlake today. W. H. Lanz went to Jennings in the interest of the Lake Charles Carriage and Implement Co.

A hunting party, consisting of H. C. Gill, Sheriff A. L. Lyons, and Sam Shaddock went to Old Town yesterday in search of big game. They brought back a little squirrel.

Julia Gorham has returned home from Sophie Newcomb college, where she finished with the honor of being class poet.

One of the nicest entertainments we have had here lately was a camp fire on the lawn of Professor Thomson’s home in charge of Company G. The grounds were beautifully lighted with Japanese lanterns. The lawn was thronged with people. The beautiful costumes of the ladies, the blue coats of the boys of Company G, the bright uniforms of the band, the glamour of the firelight all blended into a picturesque scene. A series of tableaux was given. The first was “Reveille,” with Dan Gorham the star. The next was “Breakfast Call,” with Sergeant Rock, the chief cook, being the star performer. Next was “At Leisure,” showing some men playing cards, other writing letters home. Then there were drills. Mrs. A. A. Wentz was in charge of the serving of refreshments. She was assisted by Miss Louise Wentz, Miss Mollie Gray, Miss Ruby Gray, Miss Lizzie Crawford. There was dancing till morning. Zena Thomson was voted the most popular young lady and won the bicycle.

Superintendent McNeese says that all the teachers' salaries are being cut this year. Those who were receiving $45 will get $40, while similar cuts have been made with all others.

Mrs. A. M. Mayo and Mrs. A. E. Price, I have heard, are going to entertain their Sunday school classes of the Broad Street Methodist church with a rare treat. They are going to be invited to the home of Mrs. Mayo to listen to the new phonograph. Those new instruments are almost too wonderful to be real, but they are real, and the people of Lake Charles enjoy every opportunity they have of hearing them.

Mrs. H.F. Buck was pleasantly surprised last night by a group of her friends who came in to extend birthday greetings. Those there were Mr. and Mrs. Crosley, Mr. Weber, Mr. S. H. Buck and Miss Mayme and Emma Siling.

Mr. and Mrs. D. W. White have entertained at tea Mr. and Mrs. Sol Bloch, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Neal, Mrs. E. N. Hazzard, Howard Harmon and Arthur Hollins.

Mrs. D.A. Kelly and her sons have come over from Vinton to visit her parents, Rev. and Mrs. C.A. King.

I’ve just heard that T. A. Dees has bought for himself a wheel and is now ready to join the bikers.

Miss Charlotte MacLeod, of Welsh, has passed through en route to San Francisco as representative of the Christian Endeavor of Western Louisiana district. She will attend a convention there. She will stop over in Salt Lake City.

There is a teachers’ institute in session. Examinations in algebra, history and geography are being given today. Among those registered are Lula V. Hoag, of Jennings, Mayme Siling, of Lake Charles, Edna King of Lake Charles, W. H. Frazar of Merryville, Lola Hampton of Vinton, Annie Reid, Stella McNeese, Louise Wentz, Allie S. Curley, V. Curley, Laura Reid, Julia Gorham, B. Hawkins Carroll, J. Nichols, A. F. Windham, Mildred Shaddock, W. Abbot Gorham, Emma Hamand, Theo A. Dees, Gertrude Stewart, Mattie Sherard , W. K. Ford, Cora J. Miller, Leona Miller, Claudia E. Miller, Mamie Cagle, Dora Cagle, T. F. Hyatt, M. E. Frazar of Merryville, Maggie Hamand, Lizzie Price, Camelia Sweeney, Elmer Stewart, Mollie Harrop, Alice Shattuck, Ada Kingrey, Ella Newhouse, Ward Anderson.

These are beautiful moonlight nights and the bikers are making the most of them. Gertrude Beardsley, Lee Beardsley, Maude Hopkins, Ed Riddick, Alton Foster and Fred Weber all rode to the home of Fred Weber last night. Those who aren’t riding their wheels are enjoying sails on the lake. Ann Weber and Mayme Siling, Mrs. E. E. Barnett and Willis Webster enjoyed a sail in the Grace Cook last night.

A large crowd has gone down on the steamer Hazel for a three days’ outing on the beach. They took along fishing tackle and swimming and bathing suits. I don’t know just who all did go but I know of these: Laura and Annie Reid, Hannah Miller, Mrs. Moeling, Mrs. Miller, Louise Wentz and Mrs. Krause.

Ed Hazzard says he has a letter from his old home in Illinois saying that it has been so hot there that 50 horses have died from the heat.

There is a good deal of worry about our school. It is feared that the city school will not be able to start until January, but it is hoped that it can be opened in October. The charter question is a muddle. It is doubtful if the building is even inside of the city.

The annual meeting of the Epworth League of the First M. E. Church South was held the other night. A. M. Mayo was elected president; George D. Price, first vice president; Cora Newport, second vice president; C.B. Moss, third vice president; Emma McNeese, secretary; Geo. E. Newport, treasurer; Helen S. Harp, organist; and Nannie Suttles, librarian.

One of the most enjoyable events that has happened here recently was the presentation, by some of our best local talent, of the light opera, “The Little Tycoon,” at the opera house, with Arad Thompson directing. Miss Braden was bewitching, easy and graceful as “Violet”; Mrs. Simpson gave, with much expression, the part of “Dolly Dimple”; Mr. Paret was good as Gen. Knickerbocker; Mr. Law acted the part of Lord Dolphin as one to the manor born; Mr. Mayer could hold a job anywhere as a footman, judging by the way he played the part of “Montgomery”; Mr. Foster was good as the first officer and Mr. Riddick as the second officer. Singing in the chorus were Miss Pujo, Mrs. Braden, Mrs. Cline, Misses Riddick, Gertrude Beardsley, Hannah Miller, Haney Crawford, Ruby Gray, Messrs. North, Jerry Cline, Watson, Geo. Rock, Dees and Kleinpeter. All the girls were very beautiful in their Japanese costumes. The cast had been faithfully rehearsing for three weeks.

A party has just left for an outing on Big Lake, including Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Stubbs, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Lee, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Neal, Rev. and Mrs. C. W. Lyman and others.

E. Hammand had purchased of J.B. Neibert a 100 foot frontage on Pujo Street between the residences of Mr. Neibert and Doctor Watkins. Mr. Hamand will soon erect a handsome residence.

Miss Mamie Siling has gone to Kansas City for a visit. S. Newhouse left for Oberlin this morning looking for fine cattle for his meat market.

Miss Maggie Hamand, Miss Laure Keeny and Prof. B.S. Landes have returned from Ruston where they attended the Chautauqua. Mrs. Arad Thomson has left over the Watkins route for Vinton, Iowa. She will go to Clear Lake to stay two months. Andrew Gossett and family, Miss J. Collins and son, Drew, of Westlake, Miss Anna Gill, Jennings Gill, Ben Collins and Rena Dees have returned from Barnes Creek where they spent the past week camping. They tell many tales of seeing deer’s eyes shining in the dark, and other thrilling stories like that. Willis Weber has returned from Kansas City where he picked up a stock of groceries for his store. Mrs. B. H. Harmon and her son, Dan, left for Rayne this morning to visit friends there. Flossie Wasey has returned from Sour Lake, Texas, where she has been visiting. H. A. Watson has returned from Newton, Kans., where he was visiting old friends. Captain S. Arthur Knapp returned last night from New Iberia where he had been engaged mustering out a battery of artillery.

That’s about all the visiting around right now that I know anything about, except that Nellie Cline is visiting Daisy Baker today and Captain George Lock and Rudolph Krause came over from Westlake today.

Everybody here, and all over the country, I guess, is talking about the Klondike. Everybody seems to think that if they were only there they could pick up gold nuggets by the shipload. They say that all that keeps San Francisco from being depopulated is the lack of ships. The S. S. Portland expects to leave Alaska with $2,000,000 in gold, soon. They have asked the U. S. Navy for protection against pirates.

Miss Nettie Kingsbury is going to be the organist for Rev. R. P. Howell in a series of revival services to be held at Lacassine, Lake Arthur and Grand Lake.

There have been two bicycle accidents lately. Messrs. Hollins, Loomis, Hollier and Carlson made a trip to Big Lake yesterday on their wheels. Everything went beautifully until, on crossing Black bayou, Mr. Carlson’s wheel bucked and landed him in a small but deep puddle of mud and water. Getting out the best way he could he mounted and sped on his way. But the wheel had a contrary spell on it and when crossing a small bayou tossed him over into it, giving him a good ducking. After this Mr. Carlson got he upper hand of his machine and the remainder of the trip was made without accident. The boys returned last night, weary but happy. They made the trip in one hour and thirty minutes.

And then A. M. Mayo had to break a bone in his right hand while riding. He was on Common Street and was attempting to turn around near Mrs. Kennedy’s residence when he ran into a ditch and fell across the wheel. He is, however, able to be at work.

The little folks have enjoyed a party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Bolton, given in honor of their little daughter, Gussie. The little girls and boys there, enjoying the afternoon, were: May and Bertha Kirkwood, Edith Poe, Davela Ramsey, Bessie Barnes, May Davidson, Lucille Pierce, Willie Canton, Tom and Vergie Hosea, Zoe Corham, Bertha Bolton, Homer Kirkwood, Kyle Ramsey, Clarence and Leon Davidson, Charlie Lyons, Willie Gorham and Roscoe Bolton of Alexandria.

Company G had a lively business meeting this week, so I heard. Charlie Mitchell, Henry Reid, Willie Gauthier, Wesley Welsh, John Marshall and Homer Watson were sworn in as new members.

The organization of boys known as the Tenth Legion has a party at he home of D. B. Gorham yesterday. Dan made a splendid host, they say. His sister, Julie, assisted him in entertaining. The guests were Misses Richard of Opelousas, Smart of Leesburg, Hannah Miller of Westlake, Maud Eddy, Annie Reid, May Riddick, Bessie Hemphill, Mabel Magee, Emma Moss, Emma Olson, Maud Baker, Messrs. T. A. Dees, Geo. Rock, Robert O’Bryan, Fred George, Wesley Welsh, John Marshall, Chas. Mitchell, Selson Pickett, Gordon McCall, Elisha Clement, Bristow Hutchins, Ernest Bel, Ed Riddick, Chas. Bullock, J. A. Williams.

The latest accident from a bicycle is that of Maurice Rosenthal. He was going to Big Lake on his wheel when a chain came apart, throwing him to the ground. He had to come home on the steamer Hazel. There were 25 wheelmen who went down to Big Lake yesterday. Great crowds are going now to enjoy swimming.

We may have a fair this year. There was a meeting the other night to discuss this matter. A preliminary Organization was formed with Adolph Meyer acting as temporary chairman and C. M. Richard as secretary. Sim Marx, George Wells, J. P. Geary, Captain Wehrt, Wm. Murray, A. P. Pujo and Arad Thompson all made talks about it and expressed hopes for it. Judge S. D. Read, J. H. Spearing, Arad Thompson, A. P. Pujo, H. B. Milligan, A. V. Eastman, J. H. Gray, D. J. Mills, R. J. Carroll, L. Kaufman, Aladin Vincent, F. G. Lock and W. A. Vincent were made a committee on fair organization. R. H. Nason, J. E. Frazier, S.D. Read, C. M. Richard, L. Kaufman, Sol Bloch, H. B. Milligan, O. R. Moss, A. V. Eastman, Arad Thompson, J. H. Neal, and A. Thompson were asked to solicit funds. If they succeed, why then, I suppose we’ll have a fair.

An interesting ceremony took place a the home of Mr. and Mr. Sim Marx, in Ryan Street, when their little son, Adolph, was christened. Doctor Heidingsfelder, of Houston, officiated. Following the service an elegant banquet was participated in by the family and invited guests.

Frank Roberts, the cashier at the Calcasieu National Bank, is away on his vacation. He is now at Halesville, Tenn.

There’s another yellow fever scare in New Orleans. The board of health meets every day. There is one case in Beaumont and Texas is quarantined. Because of that the mills have had to close over there and there are 500 men out of work.

It has been months and months since I have touched this diary. The yellow fever got bad, there was lots of sickness, and of course, we were all rather frightened. I suppose we have to expect epidemics like that once in a while.

About the most interesting thing that has happened lately has been the annual Good Friday meeting of the Vinton colony. This year it was held at the home of J. H. Pack, on English Bayou. About 38 members of the colony and 16 invited guests were present. They came in carriages and on wheels, early in the day, enjoying themselves in various ways, some fishing, some boating, some pitching horse shoes or trying to and some just talking quietly. An elegant repast was served at noon and again in the evening, after which the colony was called to order by H. H. Eddy, president. The secretary, H. W. Rock, being detained at home on account of Miss Rock, A. A. Wentz acted as secretary. George Horridge, W. M. Loree and A. A. Wentz were appointed as a committee to recommend the names of officers for the ensuing year. H. H. Eddy was re-elected president, Wm. Loree, treasurer and A. A. Wentz, secretary.

In the past year, from 1897 to 1898, they reported that only a few visitors have been entertained. The Misses Williams were a short time during the winter and also Miss Myrtice Mathews. Many of the Vintonians went north during the summer and those who were left in Lake Charles had a hard time with the yellow fever. Everything was mighty quiet, as quarantine stopped all business. There was only one train in and out each day and actually, things to eat became scarce. An addition to the colony is the young miss at the home of Herman W. Rock, who is trying very hard to say “great-grandpa.”

I’ve been neglecting my diary again. One can get so busy. We have a new daily paper now. The Lake Charles Commercial, the Lake Charles Tribune and the American have all merged into the American Commercial Tribune, published by the Lake Charles Printing Co., which has been organized by Guy Beatty, proprietor of the Tribune, and C. M. McCormick, proprietor of the Commercial.

I noticed in a copy of the New Iberia Enterprise this morning, that Miss Mayme Siling, who has been teaching there in the fifth grade, has resigned and returned to her home in Lake Charles, where she will soon engage in a house keeping partnership. She bore away many pleasant mementoes of appreciation from her little pupils, who regret her departure, the paper adds.

Incidentally, it seems that W. P. Weber, the enterprising merchant, has purchased the Tom Cline property, on the corner of Bilbo and Mill Streets. He is going to make many improvements and when completed, the residence will be one of the largest and most handsome in the city.

Little Edna, the small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. King, broke her arm yesterday afternoon. She was playing on the front gallery with a group of children and a dog when she stumbled over the dog and fell. The little one is resting easily now.

A very pretty wedding occurred a few evenings ago at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Watson when they gave in marriage their daughter, Laura, to Mr. George S. Graham. Promptly at eight o’clock Miss Dora Muller began the wedding march. Mr. Homer A. Watson entered as best man and Miss Ida Chitwood as maid of honor. Then came the bride and groom, preceded by the flower girl, Helen Marx. Rev. J. G. Campbell, of the Simpson Church, in that easy, quiet, but impressive way of his, performed the ceremony. There was an elaborate wedding supper.

Miss Watson is a very popular and attractive young lady and will make a most excellent wife, possessing those qualities needed to make the ideal American home. Mr. Graham is a popular young business man with splendid prospects and hosts of friends. Guests at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. J. Guilds, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Chitwood, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. E. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Watson, Mrs. Sim Marx, Mrs. N. J. Snider, Mrs. M. Graham of Orange, Miss Nellie Costello, Miss Minnie Parent, Miss Edna King, Miss Dora Muller, Miss Ida Chitwood, Miss Helen Marx, Rev. J. G. Campbell, Ed Stubbs, P. Shields, H. A. Watson.

There was a most delightful Kris Kringle fete at Central School the outher night. There was an old fashioned spelling bee, with S. O. Shattuck the school master and S. H. Clements, W. H. Albertson, Jesse Edmonston, Dr. A. J. Perkins, Judge G. H. Wells, D. M. Foster, F. Shutts, Dr. J. G. Martin, and J. W. McKeen as the pupils. There were booths where toys and Christmas gifts were offered for sale. The gross receipts were $425.

The Southside School had an interesting program, too, with a tree, a stately pine, all loaded with pop corn and presents. There were song and recitations and a pageant. “At the Court of King Winter,” with Corinna Manelle, Hattie Wynn, Fritz Miller, Lillie Shattuck, Mattie Shattuck, Bennie Farquhar and Andrew Manelle the children taking part. Miss Emma Hamand the teacher, was presented with a beautiful manicure and toilet set.

Dr. G. W. Remage of Jennings had the house on his farm, south of Jennings, destroyed by fire the other night. The loss amounted to several hundred dollars.

A number of the young men of Southside entertained a number of their friends in a most royal manner last evening at the home of L. P. Pavia, in South Hodges Street. The guests, I have heard, were Misses Blanche and Marceline Goudeau, May Garraway, Mamie and Roxie Farrall, Georgia and Ula Ryan, Ellen Pithon, Annie Coldwater, Minerva Dolby, Lillie O’Bryan, Maude Wetherill, Iva Richards, Messrs. Abel West, Charles Mitchell, Oryl Schwing, Tony Wetherill, Estorage LeBlanc, Maxie Kaufman, Alonzo LeBlanc, Ogden Wetherill, Robert O’Bryan, Edward McCormick. They played games and had a great time and paid the young man many compliments on the excellent way in which he entertains.

The Lake Charles Carriage and Implement Co., H. W. Lanz, proprietor, is opening a branch store at Crowley. W. E. Patterson, late of the Deering Harvester Co., with headquarters here, is going over as manager of the Crowley branch.

It seems very much like summer. Strawberries are in bloom and peach buds are all ready to burst. C. D. Otis made his second shipment of lettuce to New Orleans last night. He sent six baskets.

Miss Mayme L. Siling and W. P. Weber were married at the Simpson Methodist Church last night.

Charles Kimball has been elected president of the high school literary society. Louis Fournet is the first vice president; Dollie Cline is second vice president; Millie Kinder is secretary; Mrs. Wilmore is sergeant at arms; Miss Wamsley is critic. The senior class has organized a reading circle. Mr. Gayle is the director; Miss Stella McNeese is president; Ben Foster is vice president; Mollie Kinder is secretary.

Judge S. D. Read celebrated his 64^th birthday the other day by entertaining the members of the bar with a banquet, they say, with oysters on the half shell, roast turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and quail on toast. D. B. Gorham proposed a health to Judge Read; Attorney A. P. Pujo, in an excellent speech, congratulated Judge Read on his long record of public service, and presented him with a beautiful ebony walking stick with a gold head. Attorney P.A. Sompayrac, on behalf of Clerk Gill and Sheriff Lyons, gave him a fine silk umbrella with a horn handle, mounted with silver. Happy speeches were made by R. L. Belden, Thos. Kleinpeter, H. C. Gill, Clement Moss, C.A. McCoy, Jos. Moore, Doctor Martin, Judge Williams, District Attorney A. R. Mitchell, who toasted the silent partners, “our wives and sweethearts.” John H. Poe toasted the school interests. Judge Wells announced that everybody would “take sugar in theirs,” and Attorney Sugar made a splendid reply to this sally. Captain Gorham brought the evening to a close with a toast to members of the press. Present were: Judge Read, Judge Wells, Attorneys A. R. Mitchell, W. F. Schwing, J. G. Fournet, C. A. McCoy, C.D. Moss, D. B. Gorham, Jerry Cline, R. L. Belden, E. D. Miller, Jos. Moore, Robert Stone, Charles Cline, J. W. Bryan, Leon Sugar, R. P. O'Brien, W. H. Cline, E. L. Wells, S. P. Sompayrac, W. H. Overton, Judge Williams, Napoleon Kleinpeter, Messrs. A. L. Lyons, H. C. Gill, Felix Perkins, Columbus Pitre, Hardy Morgan Andrus, J. H. Poe, Dr. J. G. Martin, Price and Simmons.

With eight deer to show as the trophies of a successful hunt J. A. Lyons, D. J. Landry, A. E. Lyons of Crowley, A. Richard and L. E. Spence have come back from the Bottoms where they had, they said, a great time.

Miss Stella McNeese, of the senior class of the high school, has been awarded a silver medal for the best original poem given at an open session at the literary society the other day.

Rehearsals are under way for The Princess Bonnie. Michael and I went in to listen the other night while they practiced. I believe it’s going to be one of the best shows given here in some time.

Sheldon Toomer plays the part of “Shrimps.” It is a very difficult part but his conception of it is almost perfect. James Leveque is Tarpaulin; M. P. Paret is Roy Sterling; M. G. Davies is Admiral Pomposo; Edgar N. Collins is Count Falsette; E. F. Gayle is Salvadore; Robert Stone is Lieutenant Fusee; Nettie Kinder, who has a very sweet voice of great volume, is Kittie Clover and Lucy Bates is Bonnie. Members of the chorus are Annie Albertson, Blanche Hughes, Susie Bradley, Stella Bigford, Nellie Cline, Maude Eddy, Julia Gorham, Clara Jacobs, Roma Keener, Ida Kirkman, Stella Stone, Maude Reid, Stella Riddick, Sudie Reynolds, Zena Thomson, Annie Winthrow, Messrs. E.W. L. Hartman, Walter Meyer, Louis Prager, George Rock, O. L. Simmons, Robert Stone, J. S. Smith, George Taylor, D. C. Williamson, Mark Wentz, J. N. Yeager, James Davidson, Ben Foster, Arthur Gayle, Abbot Gorham, Fred Weber, Julius Jacob, Oswald McNeese, Lanier Richardson, David Levingston, Charles Kimball, Robert King.

There is an orchestra that has been made for the occasion but it is so good that it is certainly hoped it will be a permanent affair. It consists of first violins, C. W. Barns, W. R. Jordan; second violins, A. J. Kuttner, Louis Bell; clarinet, A. D. Spooner; cornet, C. H. Winterhaler, R. Sims; trombone, C. H Kalter; bass, Henry Reitz; taps, L. Runte; piano, Miss Ella Plonsky.

Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Gill and Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Gossett were entertained last night at the home of W. A. Kirkwood, in the Boulevard.

Prof. S.A. Knapp, who went to Asia and the Orient some months ago as confidential agent for Secretary Wilson of the department of agriculture has reached San Francisco on his way home. His mission was to gather seeds of stable agricultural crops for sowing in southern states and also to promote export trade of the United States along certain lines. He writes home that he found the rice seed of Japan the best. He is bringing several new fruits and plants with him that will be tried out here.

For two days this week we have had everything the weather man could bring us in the way of winter except skating on the lake. We have had cold rain, sleet, snow, ice, howling north winds, treacherous sidewalks, snowballs and frostbites. There has been 100 feet of shore ice around the lake, a thing almost unheard of here. Long-discarded heavy wraps have been taken out and pressed into service again. The mercury has gone lower and stayed there longer than often happens here. The northern folks who have recently arrived here have shivered and growled just as though, at that, it wasn’t warmer than they have known before, in winter. Strong men looked at the thermometer and hurried to get a cup of hot coffee; others read of the soldiers suffering from the heat in the Philippines and became ardent expansionists. Sunday the churches were empty, the streets desolate. Streams about town were covered with glistening ice; yards were full of romping young people, enjoying the iced breeze. The ground was white with a 12-hour sleet, frozen hard. The thermometer here stood at 9 degrees above zero but some at other towns in this vicinity stood at 6 degrees above. At Galveston it was 7 above. In fact, the weather was freezing, or more, for three days.

This cold spell was much more severe, and lasted longer, than did that of 1886. It is believed the Satsuma orange trees in Jennings are not hurt but oranges of other varieties are.

The Lake Charles lodge of the National Fraternity of Phil-Penn has elected officers. W. A., Knapp, Sr., is guardian; Paul Sullivan is vice guardian; M. L. Kraemer, past guardian; Leon Chavanne, accountant and cashier; Mark A. Anderson, page; Grant Mutersbaugh, doorkeeper; H. L. Reese, outside watchman; Guy Beatty, master of ceremonies; Dr. J. G. Martin and Dr. T. H. Watkins, medical examiners.

Professor Knapp has been spending the week with his family here on his way from San Francisco to Washington to report on his trip to Asia.

We have been having a lot of excitement lately, caused by runaways. Grant Mutersbaugh has reputation of having ponies that pull the hardest and run away the oftenest of any in town. He had a wagon loaded with 1200 feet of lumber the other day. The ponies broke the tugs, pulled him from the seat and ran away. Mr. Mutersbaugh says he does not care to give an encore to that performance so he has bought some chain harness.

G. M. Gossett’s horse, hitched in front of the courthouse, ran down Ryan Street the other day. It’s a wonder some one wasn’t hurt. The horse was caught at Broad Street by A. Levy and Francis Chavanne.

Professor S.A. Knapp is giving a series of lectures now on his trip to the Orient.

A cow was seen going into a doctor’s office in Ryan Street yesterday. Probably she had malaria. Merchants are having a hard time keeping the cows out of their stores. Strange to say, they are never seen going into a butcher shops.

The Vinton colony held their annual Good Friday meeting this year at Spanish Point, going down on the steamer Hazel. Wm. M. Loree was made president for the coming year; H. Rosea, treasurer; A. A. Wentz, secretary. These, with J.C. Eddy and C. L. Loree from the executive committee. Vintonians who have spent the winter here and who were guests at the annual outing were Mrs. Hewes and her daughter, Blanche; Miss Lottie Mathews and Rev. D. L. Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Traer, who have been away for about a year, are back again. They say that anyone who once drinks of the waters of the Calcasieu, then roams away, is sure to come back again. Others who, it was reported to the assembly, have visited here from Vinton during the year are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burger, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Jones, Miss Maude Phillips, Clyde Hill and Rev. J. S. Denning.

They reported that, in the Spanish American war, the colony contributed the services of Major S. Arthur Knapp, Lieutenant George Rock, Bugler John T. Wentz, and Corporal Mark D. Wentz. After having withstood the attacks of the patriotic and fascinating young ladies of New Orleans and Mobile, they returned just in time to aid Lake Charles in warding off the yellow fever.

They told, too, how the United States government, recognizing Professor Knapp’s ability, chose him as special agent to visit the Empire of Japan with a view to ascertain what was grown in that country that would be a benefit to this.

A pretty wedding was solemnized the other day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Guild in Watkins Boulevard when their daughter, Ethel, was married to T. Mack Dietz. The young couple stood in a floral bower of roses, arranged in the bow window in the parlor. Rev. L. A. Dale of the Christian Church administered the vows of matrimony. The bride was gowned in white mull and carried bride’s roses.

The high school reading circle met last night at the home of H. C. Gill. They discussed Ruskin’s Sesame and Lilies, played games, and sang high school songs. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bryan, H. C. Gill, Misses Bertha Dumas, McGee, Annie Gill, Mayme Dees, Gorham, Spearing, Floy Marah, Pearl Dees, Mabel Dees, Nellye Hudson, Belle Hudson, Georgia Levingston, Lizzie Green, Stella McNeese, Bertha Canton, Mollie Kinder, Messrs. Gayle, Foster, Ed Williams, Lanier Richardson, Julius Jacobs, Robert King, Hugh Green, David Levingston, Oswald McNeese.

A. M. Mayo is leaving for Atlanta to attend the International Sunday School convention. He has accepted a position as state worker and will assume his new duties immediately on his return from Atlanta.

Mr. and Mrs. George T. Rock celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary Saturday evening, April 20, at the Rock home in Pujo Street. The house was beautifully decorated with flowers, the gallery made bright with colored lights. A band furnished lovely music. They were married in Vinton, Iowa. They have eight children. There were many guests present. Misses Libbie Pope, Inez Kennedy, Flossie Wasey and Elizabeth Rock served luncheon.

Edna King, the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Cyrus A. King, was married the other night to Wm. Payne Dunn, of Crowley. Only the relatives were present at the ceremony which was performed by the bride’s father.

Commencements are over again. At the Lake Charles College there was an interesting program. Miss Howard gave a piano number; Metz Smart gave an essay on epic poetry; Inez Kennedy gave a recitation; Della Moss gave an essay on England’s Debt to Alfred the Great.

The high school graduates gave a program at the opera house Friday night. John H. Poe presented the diplomas. It was the largest class in the history of the school and consisted of George Ingles Davidson, Pear Ethel Dees, Benjamin Melius Foster, Anna Louise Gill, Edwin Lombard Gorham, Elizabeth Taylor Green, May Estelle Kinder, Robert King, Georgia Elizabeth Livingston, Stella Annie McNeese, Nina Rose Miller, Lillian Agnes O’Bryan, Emma Anna Olson, Elizabeth Taylor Rock, James Harvey Settles, Fred Scott Weber, And Webster Welsh.

The Alumni association held a meeting at which David Levingston of the class of ’98, president of the association, presided. Alton Foster welcomed the class of ’99 into the association. David Levingston, with charcoal and clever couplets, gave original sketches of the future of members of the class.

Hundreds of people attended the receptions and exhibitions that were held in the various rooms of Central School. The little people of the first and second grades with their teachers, Misses Hamand, Sherard and Garrison, exhibited their bright mats and cards. In Miss MacLeod’s room the children did some splendid number work. The fourth grade received their guests in Miss Harrop’s room.

As a part of the closing exercises the high school cadets, wearing their white trousers and scarlet coats and blue caps drilled. Miss Mollie Kinder, the sponsor of the company, stepped forward and presented the boys with a United States flag, the gift of the girls of the school. She told the boys how proud the school is of them. Captain Robert King received the flag and passed it to Willie Gorham, who carried it. The maids of honor are Mabel Dees, Floy Marsh, Florence Wolf, and Lilia Gray. There are 32 boys in the company and the officers are Robert King, captain; Ben Foster, first lieutenant; Fred Weber, second lieutenant; Ed Williams, first sergeant; Julius Jacobs, second sergeant; Clyde Ranley, fourth sergeant; Fred Cannelle, fifth sergeant. After the drill the boys were given a reception by Misses Hamand, Sherard and Garrison.

South Ryan school celebrated the closing with a play day festival, with the teacher, Miss Emma Hamand and some of the patrons taking the children to a grove near the school and enjoying a picnic dinner. Then there was a program at night, with an instrumental solo by Miss Nellie Hazzard, of Monticello, Ill. There were recitations by Nora McCain, Effie McCain, Andrew Manelle, Lille and Mattie Shattuck. Hon. W. H. Cline, being president, expressed thanks to Miss Hamand for the successful work of the year.

Dr. John G. Martin left several days ago to Galveston, where he was going to sail for New York and from there to Dublin to visit his mother. A. Hollins is going to sail for Liverpool on the Teutonic, leaving New York June 14.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roberts and their baby have gone to Cameron where they will spend several days enjoying the gulf breezes.

Attorney Jerry Cline is engaged in looking up land titles at Danville, Arkansas, and he may be away from home for several months.

R. H. Nason has moved into the handsome new residence that has just been completed at the corner of Moss and Mill streets.

Michael says that First Sergeant H. H. Hoag, of Co. K, Hood’s Immunes, has been promoted the second lieutenancy. He lives in Jennings but everybody here knows him.

The ladies of the Review club have just held their annual meeting. Mrs. A. M. Mayo was elected president; Mrs. Chester Brown, vice president; Mrs. G. G. Bauer, secretary; Mrs. L. W. Kinney, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Ed Hazzard, treasurer; Mrs. Vincent, librarian.

With the blast of the fire whistle at 8:30 last night our town was transformed into a city. The whistle announced that the last word had been written in the book of ordinances in recording the amendments to the town charter. At that time the city limits were expanded and the laws as provided in the amended charter went into effect. A proclamation was issued today and the town government has been merged into the city government. The final act took place in the city hall at a session of the town council when Clerk J. W. Bryan wrote the last words and the names were signed. It is a day of rejoicing. Lake Charles is a city!

The home of the Misses Knapp, in Cole Street, was the scene of a pretty party the other night when they entertained for Miss Lottie Kramer, of West Union, Iowa, who is the guest of her brother, Dr. M. L. Kraemer. Miss Mae Riddick gave several songs; Misses Dumas and Wasey gave piano solos; Miss Wasey and J. S. Smith were successful in the guessing contest while Fred Weber received the consolation prize. Those present were Misses Annie Reid, Lottie Kraemer; May Riddick, Braden, Fuqua Wasey, Dumas and Dees; Messrs. Hollins, J. S. Smith, Riddick, Alton Foster, Dr. Watson, Joseph Moore, Fred Weber, Philip Chavanne.

Michael said he saw Levi Rollins in town today. He had come in from Big Marsh to buy supplies.

Prof. S. A. Knapp and Major Arthur Knapp left the City of Mexico day before yesterday and it is expected they will arrive home tonight or tomorrow.

Charlotte MacLeod, who has been teaching in the public schools here, has gone to her home in Jennings. Ed Stubbs and Homer Watson have returned from an outing on the banks of English Bayou. E. F. Gayle, an instructor in the high school, will leave on Wednesday for his home in Pointe Coupee parish. He will spend the summer in New York and Boston. And J. T. Cline of Mermentau is the guest of his parents, Attorney and Mrs. W. H. Cline.

A small party of young people went hay riding through town yesterday afternoon and spread their luncheon on the banks of the lake, out at Shell Beach. They were chaperoned by Mrs. W. J. Gayle and Mrs. Felix Perkins. Those in the party were Missis Riddick, Green, Battaile, and Braden and Messrs. Ed Riddick, Green, Walter Meyer, Alton Foster and Tede Dees.

Summer schools are about ready to start. Mollie Knider, Stella McNeese and Lillian O’Brien, of the recently graduated class, have been recommended as teachers to the directors of the school board. They, and Abbot Gorham who will graduate next year will probably teach in the rural districts during the summer term which begins June 12. Stella McNeese will teach in DeRidder.

A gay party of young people took their lunch basket and went on a hay wagon to the lake front yesterday. Mrs. W. J. Gayle and Mrs. Felix Perkins chaperoned. Misses Riddick, Battaile, Braden and Green and Messrs. Green, Ed Riddick, Walter Meyer, Alton Foster and T. A. Dees enjoyed the picnic.

Philip Chavanne is going to Dublin, Indiana, to spend a short vacation with friends. M. P. Paret, of Kansas City, has been here, visiting Capt. Geo. Lock, of Lockport. W. E. Lee, auditor of the Watkins railroad, made a trip up the road yesterday. J. W. Gordon has gone back to his home in Alexandria. He has been visiting his son, S. W. Gordon. W. P. Weber is having water pipes put down leading into his yard on Lawrence and Bilbo Streets. M. D. Andrus and J. A. Bel have put down a community pipe supplying their homes.

Dr. C. W. Loomis came up from his farm today. He has just started a pumping plant supplying his 100 acres of rice.

Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Nason have gone to Saginaw, Mich., where Mrs. Nason is going to remain for a time. Mrs. Herman Rock has gone to Vinton, Iowa, to spend the summer months. S. L. Cary of Jennings has gone north for a visit. Dora Muller, Carrie Reinauer, Sol and Ben Reinauer will leave this evening for Grand Lake. W. P. Weber and Geo. King of the Palace Grocery Co., went to Crowley today on a business trip.

Mollie Kinder spent the week at home from her school at Watermelon Bay. “The crowd” surprised her by all coming in and each one doing his or her specialty by way of entertainment. These were present: Annie Gill, Bessie Hemphill, Pearl and Mabel Dees, Nell and Belle Hudson, Katie Harrop, Katie Green, D. Gorham, Joe Williams, Ed Gorham, Webster Welsh, Oswald McNeese, Harvey Suttles, Willie Kaufman, Robert King, Ben Foster, Tony Wetherill and Mark Wentz.

And by the way, John and Mark Wentz had a narrow escape the other day. They had started from the ferry wharf in their sailing boat “Thelma,” going toward Westlake. The breeze was stiff. A gust of wind came up. It caused a dust storm in town and it tipped the boy’s boat over. John went into the water. Mark clung to the side of the boat and got only one foot wet. The boat was blown against some logs at Bel’s mill and another boat went out and picked up the young men. Their craft was towed in yesterday, just a little damaged.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roberts have gone to Borne, Texas, for a visit. L. L. Alston has returned from Jennings where he has been working on the Mayville canal. Sheriff A. L. Lyons has returned from a trip into Cameron where he helped his father brand 250 calves, at their place at Green Gove.

There was a lot of excitement here last night. We thought the town had been attacked by the Philippinos. There were shots and shouts along Pujo Street. White robed figures were seen running about. All the bolder citizens came out with guns. Frank Roberts’ yard seemed to be the center of the disturbance. N. D. Pope’s dog was found doing a dance on the porch there. It was found that a hungry alligator had tried to make a meal of the dog. The alligator - a good sized one too - was finally rope and fastened in the gutter, to be kept till morning. It was probably trying to cut across town to get to water. If this thing keeps up picaninnies and dogs will have to be kept indoors.

Miss Dora Muller gave a dancing party last night in compliment to her brother, Maurice, and others who are going on journeys. They were Misses Mamie Jacobs, Carrie Reinauer, Nora Hoffman, Rosa Samuel, Ida Samuel, Josie Craft, Blanche Gradwohl, Alice Albert of New Orleans, Messrs. Sol Reinauer, A. Kaufman, Louis Reinauer, Syl Solomon, Moise Marks, J. Landauer and Ben Solomon.

Sol Reinauer is the member of the firm who has been elected to go to the sweltering north to buy goods. Louis will remain at home to attend to business and enjoy the good gulf breezes.

Father Cramers has arrived from New Orleans. He is the guest of Father Ven de Ven. After a visit here he will leave for Cameron where he will assume the duties of that parish and the missions.

Guests who are being entertained on the Bel house boat party with Mr. And Mrs. A. J. Bel as host and hostess are Marie Bel, Maggie Goos, Emma Moss, Floy Moss, Walter Moeling, George Law, Ernest Bel, E. A. Chavanne, John Wentz, Hugh Green. The house boat, “Marie,” with the tug “Ramos” and a barge loaded with good things to eat left the Bel wharf for the trip to Grand Lake and the gulf.

Rev. R. P. Howell came up from the Lake Arthur camp grounds. He says they have been much improved since last year. New buildings have been erected and the old ones whitewashed and the roads leading to the camp have been improved. A cottage has been built to accommodate 75 ladies while there is a tent for men. It is expected that 3,000 persons will attend the camp meeting.

Mrs. M. P. Paret and little son, of Kansas City, are visiting Capt. and Mrs. Geo. Lock, at Lockport. Judge J. A. Kinder and Misses Nettie and Mollie Kinder will leave this evening for Grand Lake to spend Sunday with the other members of the family. J. W. Moore of Oberlin and Attorney Jos. Moore of this city have returned from visit a son and a brother at Laredo turned from a visit with a son and a brother at Laredo, Texas. Stuart Thomson has come in from a trip through the northern part of the state. Dr. John C. Martin arrived in New York yesterday from Dublin. He is expected home soon. Mrs. W. E. Lee is returning from a month’s visit in Chicago. Mr. Lee went to Kansas City to meet her.

A merry crowd of young people enjoyed a tallyho ride around town the other night. They drove to Shell Beach and ate supper. In the crowd Dora Muller, Clara Jacobs, Josie Krast, Mamie Jacobs, Ida Samuels, Tina Jacobs, Rosa Samuels, Nora Hoffman, Blanch Gradwohl, L. Landauer, Maurice Muller, Louis Reinauer, A. Kaufman, Syd Solomon and Julius Hoffman.

Dr. M. L. Kraemer has moved into the new cottage which he has had built on the lots he recently purchased.

Miss Mamie Dees gave a party the other night in honor of the Misses Copper of Alexandria and Misses Georgia and Emily Hufe, of St. Louis, who are the guests of Nona Vivien Fuqua. Those at he party, besides the honor guests and the Fuqua girls were: S. B. LaRue, J. A. Trotti, J. S. Smith, Alton Foster, T. A. Dees, Charles Cooper and D. M. Foster, Jr.

Somebody here has had a letter from Sol Reinauer, mailed at Key West. He said that the party of Lake Charles people who left here a week ago for New York are enjoying the trip.

Alton Foster has given up his position at he assessor’s office and resumed his place in the office of the Lake Charles rice mill.

A jolly crowd of young men had a merry time at a bachelor supper at the Waldorf Café the other night. T. A. Dees and J. Alton Foster were the hosts. Those present were A. S Bryan, Walter Meyer, Ed Riddick, C. E. Crume, F. C. Watson, Barbe, Dees and Foster.

Mrs. Geo. Locke has just gotten home from Kansas City where she has visited her daughter, Mrs. M. P. Paret.

Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Fournet gave a delightful party the other night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Moss, in honor of the birthday anniversary of Mrs. Pearl Moss. The grounds were lighted with Japanese lanterns. Those there were Demmie, Camile and Nora Schwing, Norma Goudeau, Hazel Wehrt, Bertha Schindler, Elsie Schmidt, Anna and Winnie Fuqua, Jerusha Lyons, Theresa Hortig, Marie, Belle and Claudia Barbe, Frank Gallaugher, Oryl and Ivan Schwing and Oscar Landry.

“Muller’s Big Store" is the name on the side of a new spic and span delivery wagon which is being driven about town now. Muller’s is the first dry goods store in town to operate its own quick service delivery.

Guy Beatty has returned from a three weeks’ visit with parents and friends at Delhaven, Ill.

Arthur Holland has spent he summer at this old home in England and is visiting Scotland. He has written that he will sail for New York in a few days, and then return to Lake Charles September 22, 1899.

Acting on suggestions obtained from similar association in the north, Miss Charlotte MacLeod, teacher of the third grade, has interested the mothers and children in her grade in an association which will bring them into closer relations with the teacher. A number of the ladies interested met at the school house yesterday afternoon. Mr. Shaffer, the principal, addressed them and pointed out the advantages. Miss MacLeod was elected president; Mrs. L. W. Kinney, vice president; Mrs. Charles Jardine, secretary; Mrs. H. W. Lanz, treasurer.

The high school literary society has been reorganized for the year. Lanier Richardson has been elected president; Sadie Sale, vice president; Flossie Wasey, secretary; D. Zena Thomson, critic; Oscar Landry, sergeant at arms.

New hands crack the whip and guide the mule cars around the curves on the line of the Lake Charles street railway. In other words, there is a strike in town. Lake Charles can put her thumbs in her vest holes and hold up her head among other great cities. The brand of real city is a street car strike and we have one. Strange hands pound the mules today. But cars manage to keep up the schedule.

The pupils of the St. Charles Academy gave a splendid concert the other night. Hazel Wehrt and Carmen Alberte gave an instrumental duet. Misses G. Landry, L. Schindler, Vivian Gill, A. M. Hutchins, F. Schindler and N. Fitzenreiter presented The World as They See It. Alice, Where Art Thou? and Home Sweet Home were played by a trio, with Hazel Wehrt playing the violin; Annie Crowley, the mandolin; and Master Tom O’Bryan, the violin. Tom sang “Call Me Colonel.” Father Ven de Ven read the best reports for the school. Ollie Glasspool and Lydia Shinndler had the best for the third and fourth grades. Pearl Moss and Philomena McCormick had the best for the 5^th and 6^th grades. Tom O’Bryan and Willie Russel had the best for the boys. Misses V. Moss and Mathilde Rhorer where mentioned for having won honors, too.

Fish at the Pass had better hunt deep water had birds fly high for next week a house boat is starting for the Pass in the tow of a tug. On board will be John L. Wasey, Wm. Murray, Fred Landry, Tom Bird, Frank Markle and Charles Pierson.

After a long season of quiet the social world has started the whirl again. The Calcasieu Hall was thrown open to a large number of fair ladies and brave men who danced the hours away. Carriages rolled up to the door as late as 10 o’clock. Those dancing were Misses Albertson, Thomson, Reeves, Nettie and Hattie Kinder, Lizzie Green, Mollie Harrop, Clara Jacobs, Mamie Jacobs, Reynolds, Mary Hall, Stella Riddick, May Riddick, Eddy, Emma Moss, Gertrude Geardsley, Magee, Reid, LeBleu, Peters, Howard, Messrs. Tyler, Jacobs, Reinauer, Gayle, Hollier, Yeager, Stone, Green, Bel, Simmons, T. L. Rock, Capt. O’Bryan, Preager, Hollins, Swift, Smith, Chaison, Watson, Eddy, C. D. Moss, Gray, Steldley, Hartmann, Taylor, Gardner, Kearney, Collins and Simpson of Lockport.

The high school gave an interesting open program the other night. Misses Jacob and Wasey gave a piano duet; Nettie Williams gave an essay. There was a debate on the question, “Resolved, that the United States Will Decay as Did Other Nations of Antiquity,” with Andrew Caldwell and Abbott Gorham arguing the affirmative and Oswald McNeese and Edgar Williams the negative. Miss Sale gave a recitation: Miss Richards, Messrs. Ramsey and Scott gave dialogues. Louis Fournet read a paper. Misses Dees, Hudson, Moss and Weber and Messrs. Gorham, Jacobs, McNeese and Weber sang in a double quartet.

A night school is beginning at Central. Chas. Shaffer is the principal. Sheldon Toomer will teach stenography and typewriting and commercial law and Edwin F. Gayle will teach English.

Mrs. A.E. Price and Miss Emma Hamand will teach in the new school room which is being fitted up in Pujo Street.

G. M. Gossett went out on the S. P. this morning to set the “Mermentau" in working order. He expects to visit the Watkins camp tomorrow.

Dr. A. N. Pierce has leased the place he recently purchased south of town. He will plant the place in pecans and English walnuts.

About 30 little friends surprised Willie Gorham last night at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Gorham

Mr. and Mrs. George Connelly of Bockville, Ind., will arrive the last of the month to make their home here. Mrs. Connelly is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Watson and when they arrive all the Watson children will be residents of this city.

There are 16 gentlemen who have signed as members of a whist club. W. O. Wall is president; John L. Wasey, secretary; C. P. Brown, treasurer. The committee to arrange for a room and furnishings is C. P. Brown, C. A. McCoy, W. H. Albertson; to draft rules and bylaws, Philip Jacobs, Winston Overton, Paul A. Sompayrac.

The high school literary society had a good program the other night. They had a mock trial in which Ben Perkins was the criminal, charged with shooting tame ducks and selling them for wild ones. Abbott Gorham was the judge. Charles Shaddock was the sheriff. Louis Fournet was the clerk. The attorneys were Kyle Ramsey, Oscar Landry, Bryan Dietz and James Fournet. The jury sworn in included the Misses Dees, Mollie Harrop, Emma Moss, Delia Moss, Sadie Sale, Messrs. Rock, Charles Kimball, Benjamin Harrop, Julius Jacobs, Bud Foster, Ed Taylor, Tede Dees. The result was that the jury agreed to disagree. The girls were all in favor of acquittal, for Ben is very popular. Kate Harrop gave a recitation and Floy Marsh read a paper.

The Lake Charles football team will go to Crowley to play on Thanksgiving Day. The Lake Charles team will be chosen from the following: Jennings Gill, Drew Collins, James Gardiner, Chas. Chavanne, Percy Brown, George Wasey, Ernest Bell and P. D. LeBleu.

A crowd of young people called at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Graye, in Hodges St., a few nights ago. They made their presence known by exceedingly loud noises. The host met them and invited them in and a pleasant evening was spent by all. Mr. and Mrs. Graye have recently returned from their wedding trip and this was the first opportunity their friends have had to wish them happiness.

The Misses Knapp entertained a small party at their home last night in honor of Miss Catherine Meyer of San Antonio. Miss Annie Reid and Attorney Joseph Moore were the successful guessers in a cake contest. Everybody had lots of in the cake walk.

Which reminds me that cards are out for the wedding of Miss Nellie Costello and Homer A. Watson, to take place at the residence of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Costello, Dec. 20 at 7:30.

Another happy social event of our town was that given by Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Lee, who entertained a company of ladies and gentlemen at their home on the boulevard, in honor of Mrs. Hodges, of Chicago, Mrs. Lee’s sister. Four tables were surrounded by euchre players, most of them members of the Reel club. C. H. Winterhaler won the gentlemen’s prize. Mrs. Monroe and Wm. Murray won the consolation. After the games the guests danced the reel. The hostesses served a tempting luncheon.

Winter gardens are doing nicely. C. D. Otis has just shipped an order to Kansas City.

Hon. John H. Poe, president of the parish school board, received a commission this morning as a member of the state board of education from the third congressional district. He was asked by Governor Foster some days ago if he would accept. The appointment is not only an honor to a tireless worker for the public schools, but a compliment to Calcasieu parish.

And by the way, the senate has approved the appointment of Geo. H. Woolman as postmaster.

The Enterprise club has held a very successful fair, with lots of pretty things to sell. Flossie Wasey sold dolls and there are many little girls in town who will be made happy Christmas morning by a beautiful doll, nicely dressed. The evening's sale opened with a social function. Lenora Jacobs and Flossie Wasey gave a duet, Miss Braden sang two songs and Miss Jacobs gave a piano solo. The total receipts of the fair amounted to $160.

The Watson-Costello wedding was a pretty affair. The young couple, Nellie Costello and Homer Watson, came down the stairway and took their places before Father Ven de Ven who, after repeating the service, pronounced them husband and wife. The bride and groom were unattended. After congratulations the wedding supper was served. The house was beautiful with white Japanese roses, moss and vines, with bride’s roses on the bride’s table.

A small group of high school students and graduates invited themselves to a party at Miss Zena Thomson’s home the other evening. Assisted by Miss Thomson and Miss Charlotte MacLeod, they had a good time playing games and telling stories. Those there were Marie Bel, Belle Hudson, Nell Hudson, Katie Harrop, Ann Hennesey, Laura Gayle, Floy Marsh, Delia Moss, Mamie Farrel, Mabel Dees, Mollie Kinder; Messrs. Oswald McNeese, Geo. Davidson, Ed Taylor, Ed Williams, Max Kaufman, Robert King, Tony Wetherill, Ernest Bel, Lanier Richardson, Charles Kimball.

Dr. and Mrs. A. N. Pierce are getting settled in their new home in Broad Street. It is very beautiful.

Mrs. O. K. Lake entertained the choir of the Simpson Church on its regular practice night last week.

Albert Parent has left Ardmore, Indian Territory, where he will work on the surveying crew under Frank Shutts. Prof. E. F. Gayle has returned from Shreveport where he was one of the speakers at the state meeting of school teachers. Mrs. G. W. Remage, of Jennings, was in town yesterday.

The New Year was greeted here by a merry, informal party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Bel last Saturday night, in response to invitations given by Misses Marie Bel, Emma Moss and Lizzie Green. The raw, drizzly evening called into service all the carriages in the city and loads of young people whose spirits seemed to be in inverse proportions to the weather were deposited at the Bel gate. The guests were received by the hostess, assisted by Mrs. Bel, Mrs. Walter Goos and Mrs. Walter Moeling. The music of the waltz opened the dance and the large dining room was filled with dancers until midnight. Those who did not care to dance played cards.

I. Reinauer has admitted his two sons, Sol and Louis, to partnership. The firm is now I. Reinauer and sons.

Miss Gertrude Beardsley has gone to Jennings where she has assumed a position in the schools. Auditor W. E. Lee of the Watkins road has left for St. Louis on a business trip.

The jolly crowd of high school seniors and their friends met at the home of Miss Zena Thomson last night and enjoyed an old fashioned taffy pulling. Present were: Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer, Pearl Dees, Stella McNeese, Delia Moss, Inez Kennedy, May Williams, Nell Hudson, Bessie Weaver, Oswald McNeese, Robert King, Lanier Richardson, Ed Williams, David Levingston and Ben Perkins.

Michael and I are going to the opera house tonight to see the Passion Play presented by the animated picture machine. It is said to be a fine representation.

Hon. E. D. Miller has been up to DeRidder. There has been so much rain he says the roads are terrible. The pubic school opened up there last month with 160 pupils.

About 25 members of the Enterprise club were present at this month’s meeting, held at the Simpson Methodist Church. The literary part of the program included the reading by Mrs. E. N. Hazzard of a selection from the Saturday Evening Post on “Sanitary Science.” Plans were discussed for aiding in the raising of the school tax.

Mrs. N. E. North had a lovely card party at her home yesterday afternoon. Several games of pedro were enjoyed. A delicious luncheon was spread on a table that was decorated with spring flowers, violets and iris. Miss Dora Muller entertained a dozen young people at her home last night. Miss Carrie Reinauer won every game in the whist contest. Maurice Muller won the booby.

The children of the public schools enjoyed a holiday on Washington’s Birthday after a program at Central School. The little people from the South Ryan Street School came in with their teacher, Miss Mattie Sherard, also Miss Mamand’s little people from the Pujo Street School. Kyle Ramsey read on article on Washington’s superb physical strength. Miss Margaret Hamand told of a trip to Mt. Vernon and of the work the Ladies’ association has done to preserve the place. Lanier Richardson read the well known rules of conduct laid down by Washington. E. F. Gayle delivered an address on the life and character of Washington.

The high school is publishing a bi-weekly paper, The High School Record. Lake Charles is proud of the fact that her high school is the first in the state to have a regular paper of its own. O. S. McNeese is editor. Abbott Groham, E. T. Galyle, Miss Henry Ellis and Ed Williams are assistants. Lanier Richardson is business manager, assisted by Kyle Rams and Tony Sale.

Miss Gertrude Beardsley, who is teaching in Jennings, spent the last week-end at home.

Michael and I went to see the fine music box that J. Singer Smith has ordered for John Downes. It is the finest that has ever come to this city. It has an elegant case and the whole affair is provided with a stand.

Stella McNeese told me this morning about a jolly party the Epworth Leaguers of the Broad Street Methodist Church enjoyed last night. They had a literary salad and Stella succeeded in getting the most lettuce leaves and the flavor. I don’t know just what that means but it was all in the game. Bertha Harp, Inez Meyer, Emma Gayle, Delia Moss, Belle Hudson, and Oswald McNeese were all there. The party was at the home of Mrs. Frank Gunn.

The Enterprise club is busy trying to get citizens in the mood for raising finances for the schools. An open, mass meeting was called the other night. John H. Poe talked and the glee clubs sang. And we learned that a new building and five new teachers are needed in second ward. The high school enrollment has increased from 72 to 149 and conditions there are very crowded.

The Enterprise club gave a nice Washington’s Birthday party, with a musical program, and with everybody dressed in costumes.

Michael and I went to the high school literary society program Friday night. It was an open session. The program was splendid. Bertha Kirkwood gave a piano solo. Andrew Caldwell gave, in good voice and very impressively, an oration on the life of Andrew Jackson. Frank Shattuck sang a comical song. Dollie Cline gave a reading, which was enjoyed as her readings always are. Emma Gale and Inez Meyer gave a piano duet. Blanche DeMar, Waveland Kirkwood, Raymond Rock, Oscar Landry, Roxy Farrell were all in a dialogue. Katie Green read some “Letters From Washington’s Life.” Frank Shattuck and Clarence Davidson sang a duet. Oswald McNeese presided.

Dora Muller entertained a dozed or so young people the other night. The greater part of the evening was spent in a whist contest. Miss Carrie Reinauer and A. Moch won the high prizes. Maurice Muller was determined to win something, so he took the booby.

We have a new family in town. Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Holloman have moved here from Alexandria. They are looking for a house now. Mrs. Holloman is staying with her sister Mrs. Barnett. Mr. Holloman is a commercial traveler.

We’re having a lot of shows lately. Thomas Jefferson and his brothers, Jos. Jr. and William, sons of the famous Joe Jefferson, were here with “Rip Van Winkle.” The boys have started out for themselves, with their father’s consent. “Lady Ursula” is coming soon. Herman the Magician is billed and there was a minstrel show, too, with Lew Tracy, Carroll Johnson, Fred Warren, Wm. H. West and others. They sang “Asleep on the Deep,” “Blue and the Gray,” and other good songs.

Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Krause and their children left Sunday for Galveston to accompany Mr. Krause’s sister, Miss Anna, that far on her way home to the old country. She sailed Tuesday on the German steamship “Halle” for Bremen, Germany. From there she will finish her trip by rail to her old home in Libau, Russia.

The hens of the parish are gradually being relived of the duty of raising families. Mrs. A. Piper is the latest to purchase an incubator. She has one that will hold 200 eggs. What are we coming to anyway?

Jennings Gill and his friends left this evening in a wagon on a hunting expedition along the river.

Father Cramers, of Cameron, came in last night by mail boat to visit Father Ven de Ven.

Dr. C. W. Loomis has come home from a trip to Orange. Attorney A. P. Pujo has gone to New Orleans. J. Stuart Thomson has gone to New Orleans. Frank Roberts, cashier of the Calcasieu National Bank, has gone to Jennings on business. Attorneys Winston Overton and Paul A. Sompayrac have gone to New Orleans. Attorney Chas Cline was in town from Jennings yesterday. Mrs. W. E. Lee has returned from a visit to the Jennings fair. W. P. Weber went to Jennings today. A. Arthur of Jennings was here last night. Attorney C. A. McCoy is in Jennings today. Dr. T. H. Watkins went down to Grand Lake last night. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Metzger of Bon Ami and Prosper Verrett of Lacassine were in town yesterday.

And that is just about all that’s happened around our town lately. Oh yes, there is one other thing. The First National Bank is going to erect a new building on the corner of Ryan and Divsion Streets. It’s going to be a very handsome building, they say.

Leaves from the Diary of Louise is copied directly from the Lake Charles American Press. The source of each diary entry is listed for reference.

Diary Entry	Press Issue
January 3, 1859	August 17, 1925
October 29, 1859	August 17, 1925
February 25, 1860	August 22, 1925
August 12, 1860