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THIS part of Louisiana is sugar' cane country, and in the harvest season, you can see laborers in the fields using both the age'old machete and modern machines.
Nineteen miles northwest of Pat' terson is Franklin, noted for its pic' turesque neatness and lovely over' hanging oaks. Settled in 1790, the town was named for Benjamin Frank' Hn, by his friend and former Pennsyl' vanian, Ginny Lewis.
Just above Franklin, is "Oaklawn Manor", the first of many old colonial homes open to the public. You approach the brick and stone mansion by an oaklined drive. Built in 1827 by United States Senator Alexander Porter, the building and estate are now owned by Captain Clyde Barbour, a former steambpat captain on the Teche. "Oaklawn Manor" is open year-'round and you may be taken through it for $1.00.
North of Franklin, at Baldwin, you have a choice of turning off U. 8. 90 for a leisurely eight-mile loop along Bayou Teche, or continuing on the more direct highway. Both routes bring you to Adeline and the town of Jean' erette, five miles further northwest.
Jeanerette, like its name, is a typical Louisiana'French town, with wooden cottages and large, flourishing gardens. A short side trip from here across Bayou Teche, will reward you with a visit to "Bayside", another handsome colonial mansion. "Bayside" was built in 1850 by Francis D. Richardson, classmate of Edgar Allan Poe.
Next stop is 12 miles westward at New Iberia, "Queen City of the Teche", named by early Spanish settlers for the Iberian Peninsula of
Spain. One of New Iberia's claims to fame is the fact that it is the only locality in the world producing all three condiments: salt, pepper and ■ sugar.
A favorite point of interest here is "The Shadows", at Main and Weeks Streets. Built of pinkish brick, ir 1830, by David Weeks, "The Shadows" has masonry columns anc unusual dormer attic windows. This imposing, much-photographed, planta^i ' tion home, is now owned by Weeki Hall, a descendant of the original builder. The rear of the mansion look out over Bayou Teche, and the forma . gardens are enclosed by bamboo.
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T NEW Iberia, turn off U. S
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90 and follow State High way ^25, nine miles to the quiet town St. Martinville. So many French Acadian exiles settled here, the cit] was once called "Le Petit Paris".
Back of the St. Martinville Churc is mossfestooned "Evangeline Oak'i The oak has been dubbed, "AmericajP'^ most photographed tree". This is tM tree, "a towering oak", described Longfellow's poem.
Set aside in 1934 as Louisiana first State Park, Longfellow-Evang( line State Park is one mile north ( St. Martinville. The entrance is marl ed by simple, white stone pillars. I the oak-filled area, the principal lan( mark is the restored home of Lou Arcenaux, the "Gabriel" of Lon fellow's poem. The building has beet turned into the Acadian Hou Museum and is worth seeing not on for its countless exhibits, but also f its interesting architecture. Typical its period, the Acadian House w built of hand-hewn cypress timber:
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