654. Liberty in Louisiana Presentation

654. Today we post our presentation on Liberty in Louisiana at the 2025 Louisiana Studies Conference. Liberty in Louisiana by James Workman is the oldest known extant play about Louisiana. Workman wrote the play in 1803 with the goal of supporting the impending Louisiana Purchase. This was Workman’s sole venture in writing drama; he mostly wrote political essays. This time, he thought he could reach a wider audience with a play, but he still had a political objective. His goal was to demonstrate the superior legal system of the United States, which would free Louisiana from the tyranny of the Old World and replace it with the New World’s Republic of Freedom. Workman had a ready theme to use in his play — the Black Legend of Spanish Law. Spanish law was denigrated by other European countries.  Its Civil Law, modelled on old Roman Law, had the best reputation, but it was slow, secret, incredibly complex, and open to corruption. The Criminal Law was markedly worse in the popular imagination. It was not seen as ancient Roman but as excessively Medieval and barbaric. Spain used several forms of capital punishment, mutilation and other corporal punishments, and forced labor. Worst of all was Canon Law — the infamous Spanish Inquisition. The corrupt judge Don Bertoldo embodies this old, corrupt systems that the Americans end.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today!
   
2. This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Pisatuntema. Myths of the Louisiana Choctaw. "Hashok Okwa Hui’ga."
       There is a certain spirit that lives in marshy places — often along the edges of swamps. It is never seen during the day, only at night, and even then its heart is the only part visible. Its heart appears as a small ball of fire that may be seen moving about, a short distance above the surface of the water.
       At night, when a person is passing along a trail or going through the woods, and meets the Hashok Okwa Hui’ga he must immediately turn away and not look at it, otherwise he will certainly become lost and not arrive at his destination that night, but instead, travel in a circle.
       The name is derived from the three words: hashok, grass; okwa, water; hui’ga, drop. The two preceding tales refer to the ignis fatuus often seen along the swamps of St Tammany parish.
3. This week in Louisiana history. November 29, 2005. Tropical Storm Epsilon becoming the 26th named storm of the busiest hurricane season on record.
   
4. This week in New Orleans history. The fire with 6 deaths at the Rault Center marks November 29, 1972 as tragic day in New Orleans history. Legislation requiring sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings were prompted by this tragedy.
   
5. This week in Louisiana.
   Christmas in Roseland
   American Rose Center
   Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays throughout December
   8877 Jefferson Paige Rd
   Shreveport, LA 71119
   Contact Lani Bailey, 318-532-5125
   [e-mail]
   At the end of the year, the gardens are magically transformed into a winter wonderland of twinkling lights for Christmas in Roseland – our largest fundraiser of the year for the gardens.
         2025 will mark our 42nd year for Christmas in Roseland! We are open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday beginning November 28th through December 21st, 2025, with special Encore Nights continuing Dec. 22nd & 23rd, 2025.
         Be sure to visit Christmas in Roseland on Dec. 12th-14th for our Christmas Market. Vendors of beauti