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Show CAJUN COUNTRY— Fabulous §0 Offer The Land Where FIRST EDITION! LIMITED EDITION! Legends Live coinro ns » —was separated from her lover Gabriel, on the trek south. When she finally reached St. Martinville, then an Attakapas Indian trading post, Evangeline caught up with Gabriel. Then came the momentof truth under an oak tree. Gabriel confessed he had married another girl. The ancient oak, heavily veiled with moss as though in mourning, has been christened the Evangeline Oak. The haunting legend leads to Longfellow-Evangeline Memorial State Park, a scenic 175-acre tract of land for picnicking, camping, or swimming. H>re lived the real Gabriel, Louis Arcenaux, in what is now the Acadian House Museum. And, of course, there is a Gabriel Oak in the park. Gabriel definitely carried someone else over that threshold as his bride. His daughter, Cidalise Arcenaux, is buried in Lafayette’s St. John Cathedral cemetery. After the sentimental journey to St. Martinville, we like a change of pace and stop in Breaux Bridge, a picturesque town on the banks of the Teche, where crawfish is king and served royally. The pace quickens in the nearby small town of Happy Landing, when the community has a public fais-do-do dance. Old dancers, young dancers all call out in French, “Laissez les bon temps roulez!” which means “Let the good times roll!” For visitors who prefer big-city comforts but want their Cajun Country, too, it’s a good idea to stay in Lafayette, an excellent base for drives to off-the-beaten path Cajun communities. A swinging city, complete with airport, Lafayette struck oil, and Cajun customs have become enriched with sophistication. But Cajun cooking in the restaurants is simply delicious! Some of the specialties or gumbos (thick seafood or chicken “stews” with the distinctive flavor of powdered sassafras root), the crawfish étouffée (crawfish, vegetables and seasonings blended into a rich gravy and served over Louisiana rice), iambalaya (a wonderful mixture of anything—seafood, ham, vegetables, rice). From Lafayette, good roads lead to strongly Cajun Opelousas with its Jim Bowie Museum; Crowley and the famous rice fields; Loreauville and the Acadian Heritage Museum (a recreated village recapturing the Cajun past). About 25 miles south of Lafayeite, there’s a whole new scene in New Iberia, “Queen City of the Teche.” New Iberia can truly be called “hot stuff’—this is the hot pepper sauce center of America. At nearby Avery Island (which is not an island at all), the MclIlhenny family of Tabasco fame welcome visitors to their plant and Jungle Gardens. Unfortunately, local color is fading fast. The boucherie, a Cajun community social event when hogs are butchered is going out of style. But who will make the boudin, chaudin, and gratons? There are not so many authertic Cajun weddings, which lasted for days. There are fewer hunters, trappers, and fishermen. The patois also has lost some of its French purity. But the new French Heritage Committee has rushed to the rescue of the old traditions, and the natural beauty of the bayous will never change, nor the Beautiful People of Cajun Country, who greet guests with “bienvenue.” —FLORENCE LEMKOWITZ Pirogues cruise moss-hung bayous oo ho 4 Exquisite Great American Giant Art Prints 75 COLORFUL STEAM ERA—50¢ ea. Fabulously beautiful ink drawings of early steam locomotives by American artist Logan on heavy parchment paper ready to frame and hang. Unusual “wide” shape so good for home or office! Never offered publicly before.Limited edition,will not be sold through stores. 4 different prints, ideal for grouping in pairs or in a row. Each 26” wide, 9high. FREE Giant Antique Maral of 50 Rare American Steamboats and Locomotives is Coler (17” x 21”) on parchment stock Reguiar *10 value Family Weekly, February 14, 1971 25 YOURS FREE! WORLD ART GROUP, Studio 2-14 FVY Westport, Conn. 06880 Pleare rush me the 4 Great American Steam Engines for just 1.98 plus 25¢ pp ond hdlg. on money-back guaran: tee if not 100% satisfied. Alto include giant mural absolutely free. | enclose $__ City a Seate Zip Code ] SAVE! Order 2 sets off Great American Steom En gines for only $3 postpaid. (Seve $1.50.) You receive 2 giant murals ol set makes thrilling gift. y free. Extro |