I'M GOING TO NAME HER AFTER MY WIFE!!

"I'm going to name her after my wife!" So said Monsieur C. C. Duson when he established a railroad head in Landry Parrish Louisiana. Eunice is an unassuming town. It became a bastion of good food and special music after being settled by Acadians, that mix of French-speaking Cajuns. The decedents of European French, Creoles from Haiti and Germans created a unique cultural mix of people, language, music and religious beliefs, but the ancient tradition of mardi gras came from the peasant classes of France.
We walked into the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center and watched an hour video of the local people of Eunice running the Mardi Gras. The costume above belonged to the ranger working that day. A local, he ran the Mardi Gras the first time at age 14. The whole town is gearing up for this special family/community event. The costume shops are humming and parents are sewing hats and painting masks. (The pictures that follow are taken of photos.)

Its roots in Saturnalia, the raucus crowds of Euopean countries would costume themselves so they were unidentifiable. They spoofed their royals by imitating the court jester, their tall hats, or the Bishops hat, even a particular face. Winter was the leanest time of year and if they were hungry, they would resort to begging even though ashamed to beg. The costumes prevented their neighbors from knowing who they were.

In Eunice, the men traditionally ride out on horse back. Now, with farms so far apart, some ride on wagons or trucks. The assigned Captain asks if the mardi gras' can approach. If yes, they charge and the farmer throws a chicken or two, or three. In a good year, maybe a small pig and some money. The farmer wants them gone and he throws the chicken away from his house as far as he can. The group chases the chickens until they are caught. The men may have imbibed before showing up at the farmers place and they reward him with a dance and song.

'This mardi gras holds up the chicken he caught.

A mardi gras dances on top of his horse.
Once gathered, the meat is brought back to town, where it is cooked in a giant gumbo for the whole community. Parades, song and dance, and feasting is part of the celebration. Adults and children of all ages join in the fun. For some young boys, it is a right-of-passage. According to our ranger, running the Mardi Gras is tough, you become a grown-up from running the Mardi Gras. The video makes that clear. This festival has been studied in depth.

We left the Acadian Center and visited the Eunice Museum, The Cajun Music Hall of Fame and a local radio station.


A cigar box banjo above and an unidentifiable stringed instrument below.
An old time German accordion, all part of the great musical tradition of Cajuns.
Initially, 32 Cajun musicians were honored in this historic Hall Of Fame. They now add two per year. People outside of Cajun Country don't necessarily recognize these unforgettable musicians who have contributed so much to this great,original music.
At work behind the window was the disk Jockey/ad hawker, from Station KBON 101.1 on your dial. The station plays mostly Cajun music, of course. The walls are filled with autographs and pictures of great musicians who've appeared on this station. We recognized Fats Domino, Little Ritchie and below, Doug Keershaw, the Ragin' Cajun among other notables. There is wall after wall of autographs and pictures.
What a great place to visit. This is only an inkling of what Eunice, Louisiana is like.

HISTORIC MATHENY FERRY

Ferries are common in the State of Washington, but Oregon has a few as well. We walked to, then rode the Matheny Ferry across the Willamette River located near Leo Perth's house while visiting him in Wheatland.
The ferry was switched from an old fashioned pulley type to diesel. Diesel got so expensive, they reverted to the pulley. Near the ferry an old landing is visible where the ferry once operated with live donkey's pulling the ferry across on a cable instead of the electric "donkey" now in operation.






This area was settled by Captain Matheny who named the town Atchison. It was once the suggested capitol of Oregon because of its great up-river access for shipping goods by barge and ferry to local communities. Eventually, deep harbors provided access to bigger vessels and the place was abandoned as a great capitol center. It was renamed appropriately, Wheatland, with acres and acres of wheat and other feed grasses, a major industry.
Matheny's home site remains, along with an ancient "old growth" tree in his front yard where with this plaque commemorates a pioneer Captain of Industry.






One thing about the current ferry, which runs continuously whenever traffic gathers. You can't depend on it to get to work. It stops during a power failure. It stops if the water is too high, or in excessive wind, or if the operator is sick. That hasn't changed since the old days. Its a lovely spot, though.