This excitement had hardly subsided when it was revived by the appearance of another ship, and it became intense when the inhabitants saw a procession of twenty females, with veiled faces, proceeding arm in arm, and two by two, to the house of the Governor, who received them in state and provided them with suitable lodgings.  What did it mean?  The next morning, which was Sunday, the mystery was cleared by the officiating priest reading from the pulpit, after mass, and for the general information, the following communication from the minister to Bienville: 

“His majesty sends twenty girls to be married to the Canadians and to the other inhabitants of Mobile, in order to consolidate the colony.  All these girls are industrious and have received a pious and virtuous education.  You will take care to settle them in life as well as may be in your power, and to marry them to such men as are capable of providing them with a commodious home."...

Many were the gibes and high was the glee on that occasion; pointed were the jokes aimed at young Bienville on his being thus transformed into a matrimonial agent and pater familiae.  The intentions of the King, however, were faithfully executed, and more than one rough but honest Canadian boatman of the St. Lawrence and of the Mississippi closed his adventurous and erratic career and became a domestic and useful member of that little commonwealth, under the watchful influence of the dark-eyed maid of the Loire or of the Seine.

[1] From Gayarre’s “History of Louisiana” (1847).  La Salle’s expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi, when he took possession of the country in the name of the King of France, had taken place in 1682.  Louis XIV in 1689 sent out an expedition to colonize the lower Mississippi.  It comprized about two hundred men and was commanded by Sieur d’Therville.  Among his companions were two brothers, one of whom, Sieur de Bienville, was the real founder of New Orleans, and long served as Governor of Louisiana.  Gayarre describes the arrival and experiences of these brothers.

    Gayarre lived in New Orleans.  He began to practise law there in
    1880, and afterward served as reporter of the State Supreme Court. 
    He died in 1895.

OGLETHORPE IN GEORGIA

(1733)

BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS[1]

General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia, was among the few really good and great men that history tells us of.  We need to keep a close eye on the antics of history.  She places the laurels of fame in the hands of butchers, plunderers, and adventurers, and even assassins share her favors; so that, if we are going to enjoy the feast that history offers us, we must not inquire too closely into the characters of the men whom she makes heroes of.  We find, when we come to look into the matter, that but few of those who figured as the great men of the world have been entirely unselfish; and unselfishness is the test of a man who is really good and great.  Judged by this test, General Oglethorpe stands among the greatest men known to history....