Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-17
CREOLE GIRLS.
A Glimpse Of Home Life and So
eiaI Customs in the Crescent

"A
eiaI customs in the Crescent
city.
"Frere," of the Boston Globe, lady
whose letters have been at once agreea-
Bile, readable and veracious, in recent
letter, thus sketches few salient traits
of Creole society:
1t is very laughable to see the woes OF
those strangers who come here and get
/ ttiho. a cptree OF good houses in the French
quarter. They are formally presented
to piquant brunette at a ball, for ex-
ample, dance, walk and talk with her
for several hours under the guns Of a
stout mamma, in velvet and diamonds,
and find her thorough type Of the
French ieune file. She is stylish but
simply and inexpensively dressed, well
combed, wears no jewelry, and is always
bien chaussee, and gloved in perfection.
She fastens her eyes on the floor, looks
up occasionally like startled fawn,
SAYS 0ui, Monsieur" and Non, Mon
sieur," at long intervals, If very hard
pressed, risks few phrases about the
opera or the toilet, and asks to be taken
back to her mother alter every dance. 1t
is needless to say that this very girl is
brimful of life and fun, and if left to
herself would laugh and chatter as mer-
rily as her American cotemporaries, but
the conveances and bicn seances step In
and mould her manners.
Creole girls, once married, become
very attractive, gracious, agreeable, and
possessed of the sweet voice and gentle
manner which is one of heaven 5
best gifts to Women, and is ofteuer found
south than nostG Gf the Potomac, |
think. Where wOmen's rights and east
winds prevail, the voice of the turtle
dove is very apt to take harsher, bold
er note, very suitable for learned discus
sions Of John Stuart Mills theories, but
not likely to play on our hegrtstrlngs.
There is such subtle, indesoribable
charm in sweet voice, something so
smoothing, restful and charming in it,
that it is surprising that more attention
is pst paid to the noblest OF all instru,
menis, when thousands are lavished
yearly upon pianos, guitars, harps and
other minor inventions. uf course
reedy trills, sonorous vibrations, and
pure, musical tones are gifts from the
gods, but it might be impressed upon
American women that they are not ln-
carnate bassoons, tones might be low
cred, discords softened, and that abomi'
nation of desolation, the nasal element,
utterly Suppressed, Theirs is no mis-
taking q weIl-bred yoies, epq although
one may never be an Amatj or STadiya-
Yius one can at least decline TO remain
nennv whistle. Tn reyanche a girl
built on the GreelP model is quite rev.
elation to the average New forker. or
Philadelphian, and is very often. liked
by way of change, just as o glass OF
milk may be relisbsd after o long course
of abs1the.
Young Moneybags meets the fair
Amelia on Canal street the morning
after the ball, recognizes her in spite OF
a thick veil, and expects to be recog-
nized in his turn, but waits in vain, It
being the custom Gmong the Creoles for
the gentleman to hog fret in cases of the
kind. Usualley these embryo bieHd-
ships perish on the spot, but if chance
takes young NJ. below Canal street often
and throws him in Ameiia's set, he has
to act watch before the door of his
lips and SPEAK in the highest tefms of
everybody he meets, ga general princi-
ples' for he will find that every atleF
person gracing her receptions is sister
or brother, and Intermediate ones first
cousins. =,
More money, more eKlFaVagance and
an oyerGroWn society would destroy the
rational and delightful system OF
pleasant and familiar intercourse be.
tween congenial people WHICH sall
obtains here. The weekly gatherings
which make the young people ot
like one large family,
and forms such pleasant, lasting ties;
the little dinners, luncheons and pleas
urel parties which follow so closely on
each othsr s.heels. Almost every house
hold has a good supply OF amis dc la
maison; some have dined there every
Sunday for years, or on some week day
instead; others are in the habit OF drop
ping in for an hour or two, two or three
lines a week: others look in for a mo-
ment en- route TO their offices, or stop to
leave a hook or bouquet for the ladies'
or join the family in their evening cup
of chocolate. or rush in TO beat up re
oruits for the theater; in short, showing
Ia 6 thousand and one ways the coar-
tesies and sympathies which lie at the
root Of suck relations, aud vhich buster
and wealthiar communities neglect,
more's the pity for nothing in the way
of money grabbing superb establish
ments occupied by lonely, selfish peo-
pie, 90 costly entertainments given at
very Long Intervals, can supply for one
moment the place Of these homely joys,
ald the widespread synpathies which
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