In the early part of the 20th century the Francophone character of the city was still much in evidence, with one 1902 report describing "one-fourth of the population of the city speaks French in ordinary daily intercourse, while another two-fourths is able to understand the language perfectly." As late as 1945, one still encountered elderly Creole women who spoke no English. The last major French language newspaper in New Orleans, "L'Abeille de la Nouvelle-Orléans", ceased publication on December 27, 1923, after ninety-six years; according to some sources "Le Courrier de la Nouvelle Orleans" continued until 1955.