The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-30
NEW ORLEANS.
A Flattering Picture from Western
Correspondent.

A Flattering Picture from Western
Correspondent.
New Orleans Cor Cincinnati Commercially
THE CREoLES.
The Creoles of New Orleans and oil
Louisiana whatever right any save
Spaniards may originally have had to
the name), are all those native born
who can trace back their ancestry to
European immigrants or to European
| colonlsts OF the State, whether those
were English, Dutch, German, French,
Spanish, Italian, Greek, Portuguese,
Russian or Sicilian. But the term is
generally understood here as applying
to French residents, especially those
belonging to old French families, and
few others care to claim the name.
There Is, however, o very select and
cultivated circle Of citizens in New Or
leans who are especially proud of the
name, and who unite all possible effort
to make 1t an honor to those who bear
1t. In this Creole circle the French
element indeed prevails but the circle,
nevertheless, embraces Creole citizens
Sicilian, of Portuguese and English. of
Dutch and of Danish blood. They are
the learned, the cultivated, the infiuen-
tial element OF Louisiana society. The
last remnant of the Louisiana aristoc-
racy survives here, no longer splendid,
1t is true, with the simmer of wealth,
but yet maintaining Loyalty the old
adherence to chivalrous principle and
the polished culture Of the old French
oligarchy. Riches in these unfortunate
days fall to the portion of few, and
poverty does not exclude from this lit
tie cendcle. Its atmosphere Is Euro
pean; its tastes are governed by Eu-
ropean literature and the art culture Of
the Old World. Something of all that
was noble and true and brilliant in the
almost forgotten life of the dead South
lives here still. The literature, the art
lovers, the diletta,H, the thinkers of
that South are here gathered together.
They seldom appear in literature, be-
cause literature has been to them, as to
the gentlemen Of the mother country, q
source OF recreation, q means of Guilt
waiting taste and elegance Of expression {;
but there is perhaps wealth OF genius
and power Of talent among the Creole
population Of New Orleans such as may
not be found irf any other city of the
land.
THE WOMEN.
New Orleans has long been celebrated
for the beauty Of her women, and most
deservedly 80, l think. 1t is not, how
ever, their comeliness of feature that
especially impresses the stranger; it is
their grace it is that supple shapliness
which the French term sUeltesse. and
for which the English tongue has no
word. The opaline skin, the sun golden
hair of Northern beauty are seldom
visible here; it is the rich, dark beauty
OF the Spanish and French types that
one finds in New Orleans. A comedy
Creole woman's figure will often
ization of the Greek ideal of
grace-a statue by Lysippus animated
and garbed-a living Venus of flushed
bronze. This elegant. close embracing
costume now in fashion-the only mod
ern dress, surely, that Cytherea would
acknowledge well becoming u graceful
woman-is admirably adapted to such
figures. / have never seen the long
to be held up while walk
ing, 30 as to show q CLEAN Of snowy
linen so perfectly worn and perfectly
as by the ladies who prom
enade Canal street of a sunny after
noon. And their robes make the air
odorous as they pass, by the exquisite
perfume Of the South, the breath Of
orange flowers. [ cannot say L think
beauty Of feature q common gift of New
Orleans indeed, think it a rare one,
comparatively speaking; but when one
loes find it. he straightway dreams of
Titan and Veronese and Tintoretto.
SOUTHERN HOME.
The glory of New Orleans is in her
southern homes and gardens. [ cannot
10 justice to their beauty. The streets
broaden there; the side-paths are Dor
Tered with verdant sod as soft and
hick as velvet, and overshadowed with
nagnolias; the houses, mostly built in
Renaissance style, are uncovered in
trees and evergreen gar
lens, where statues and fountains
LEAN through thick shrubbery, cum
ingly trimmed into fantastic forms. |
orange and fig trees; bananas and |
aims; magnolias and myrtles; cy-
resses and cedars; broad leaved, mon
trous- Towering plants in antique urns
erbs with leaves shaped like ancient |
ireek sword blades, and edged with |
elbow; shrubs exotically luxuriant,
caring blossoms of curious form and |
quatorial briliancy Of color; and flow
RS so rich OF hue, so sweet, SO fragrant,
nat they vary the varied green with a
1ousand tints, and make the tepid air
dorous with drowsy perfume. And
on can walk through this paradise
our after hour, mile after mile; and
ne air only becomes yet more fragrant
nd the orange trees more heavily
eighted with golden fruit, and the
ardens more and more beautiful, as
on proceed southwardly.