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LIFE IN THOSE LOVABLE ‘ GAY NINETIES”
Bay St. Louis, like many other thousands of cities, towns and hamlets, throughout our beloved America, lived through that interesting and lovable period, affectionately known as the “Gay Nineties.” Entertainment, during those times, often consisted of simple family gatherings in the evening, to look at stereoscopes, lead, play the piano and group singing. Occasionally, there were benefit concerts, or dramatic sketches for charitable purposes, and masquerade dances called ’’dance soirees” were popular among the younger set of that time. Many of the more fortunate families owned yachts and launches and entertained their friends and families with delightful moonlight sailing parties. Card playing, especially for church benefits was another popular pastime, the favorite games being Hearts, Euchre, and 500, though the more fashionable set were beginning to learn to play auction bridge, which later became the most popular game. Card parties were frequently given and were always beautiful affairs, where no one played for money, but for
lovely prizes (usually cut glas? or Gipson Girl pictures.)
Of course, there were ■ other forms of amusement, popular among which were the oft-men-lioned (even today) moonlight hay-ridcs, mostly out to Brown’s Vineyard (always well-chaperoned) and ail-day picnics at Breath’s Farm on Jordan River. Bicycle riding, especially on tandems, was another extremely popular method of passing the time, and a shop renting bicycles at 25c per hour did a tremendous business. Parties and dances at the ever-popular Clifton Hotel pavilion were summertime attractions for visitors from New Orleans as well as the local young people. Hardly a home along the beautiful beach front, with its trees and gardens, was without a “summer house” or pavilion near the water’s edge, where members of the family and their friends would sit and chat enjoying the shade and cool breezes during the long, hot summer afternoons (they couldn’t just flip a switch and have air-conditioning then.).
At night, people by the hun-
dreds would wade up and down in the shallow water near the beach, looking for soft-shell crabs and flounders, by the light of kerosene torches, some carried fat pine burning in baskets carried at the end of a long pole or holder. (Today, mostly gasoline Coleman lanterns are used for light to do the same thing). Oysters were plentiful in those days, selling at 20c per 100 (Oh, for those good old days.) Sunday excursionists from New Orleans would return to their homes with several jars full of the delicious bivalves.
Popular songs of that era were “In the Good Old Summertime,” “Two Little Girls In Blue,” and ‘“After the Ball.” Several local bands were organized for the town’s entertainment, the more popular of which was known as the Eclipse Band. There were also several colored orchestras, which hired themselves out for public dances and other forms of entertainment. A predecessor to the present Bay-Waveland Yacht Club was formed and occupied the building which now houses the Star Theatre. Sailing was in its
heyday, and the annual Regatta, held during mid-summer, was an outstanding affair.
Every summer for over thirty-five years, the townspeople bought ice cream from the Manieri Ice Cream wagon, which was driven up and down the streets of the town and sold ice cream to practically every man, woman and child. The wagon was pulled by a familiar old horse with jingle bells around its neck.
The noise of these bells was music to the ears of the children, who waited patiently for their sound, which announced the arrival of the “Ice Cream Man.”
Anorther popular refreshment of that time was the “Nectar and cream soda” made at the deMontluzin Drug Store, where, on summer afternoons it was a cusr tomary sight to see carriages lined up for quite some distance, waiting to be served.
Of course, those were the good old days, as they say, when it seemed that life was just a “bed of roses,” but would we want to go back to those times?—‘give up high-powered automobiles, air-
planes, electric refrigerators, automatic washing machines and dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc.?—that’s the $64 dollar question, but we think the answer would be an emphatic NO.
KERN'S FIVE AND TEN CENT STORE STARTED BY LATE JOSEPH KERN Built Up Through The Years Into A Thriving Business
During the year, 1942, Joseph Kern with his wife and small son moved from New Orleans, La., to make their home in Bay St. Louis. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kern were trained in the field of salesmanship, Mr. Kern having been for years connected with the Lipton Tea Co., and Mrs. Kern with Dam-eron-Pierson Co., a (New Orleans Office Supply Firm.
They purchased the small Five and Ten Cent Merchandise Business from John Fasterling, and immediately began expanding.
Until his death in 1948, Mr. Kern managed the store which steadily increased and prospered under his experienced guidance.
After his death Mrs. Kern took over the reins and has been heading the business which continued to swell in volume. Renovations and enlargements of the building were made and increased merchandise stocked for the convenience of patrons. Over 700 different ttypes of merchandise are carried in this up-to-date business establishment, and include such items as notions, hardware, ready to wear, yard goods, stationery, toys, candy, kitchen ware, etc., to mention but a very few.
Joseph Kern, Jr., who was graduated from St. Stanislaus School and this year received a degree in Business Administration from Mississippi Southern College, in Hattiesburg, plans to assist his mother in the management of the business upon completion of his tour of duty with the Armed Forces.
This up-to-the-minute business has flourished with the development of the Gulf Coast, and many summer visitors and tourists find their way into the store where they are able to fill their needs of supplies for a pleasant summer vacation.
Mrs. Kern, an energetic lady who is never too busy with her own affairs to take an active part in the civic movements of the community, anticipates a continued growth in the business, and feels that as Bay St. Louis and Hancock County march toward new goals, her business will be marching along with them.
PREDICTION OF CONSTRUCTION INCREASE
Construction in Mississippi will continue to rise at an average rate of not less than ten per cent a year during the next decade according to predictions based upon a survey of factors. Construction contracts awarded in Mississippi during 1957 totaled $277,762,000.00 making 61 per cent above the 1955 total. The construction business, like most others, has its ups and downs, but there is confidence for an upward trend during the next decade.
PEARL RIVER VALLEY BEING STUDIED
An extensive survey of the Pearl River Valley has been started to learn about prehistoric inhabitants of the area for archives and history information. The project will be completed before the Pearl River Reservoir is finished since water will eventually eover the area when the 20-mile-long lake is formed.
•	Convenient, up-front controls
•	New high powered chassis — really pulls in the TV stations
•	Built-in antenna
For a limited time, you can buy next year’s TV set at a special low, pre-introductory price. Come in today and treat yourself to a sneak preview of G-E’s 1959 Ultra Vision TV.
Buy now for extra values!
BUFKIN’S
111 North Second St.