The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12
CREOLES OF NEW ORLEANS.
The Quaint and Curious People Whom
Cable Has Attempted to Picture.
Attendance Upon Creole Reception in the
Old French Quarter-Male EgOtists and
Beautiful Female FlirtS.
Written for the Indianapolis Journal.


to another, with nudge, in Coliseum car yes
| terday l looked in the direction of his nod, and
saw a shapely quadroon nurse enter the car with
her arms full of the lacy bundle that repre-
scented her charge. The mans mistake is pop
ular one. Only last week a fellow barbarian of
his, delivering himself rather publicly of
| similar remark on banQuette of
Lower Town, was promptly knocked
down by a fiery little Latin who heard
him. A Creole, strictly speaking, is a person
born in a colony of foreign percentages; but the
term is limited in Louisiana to people of French
| and Spanish descent. There is infinitely less
community among them than among their Amer
lean compatriots Every class is distinct, from
the black-eyed beggars. graceful in the rags
| that hide ready knife, to the belle of Mardl
| Gras, in whose delicate veins runs the blood of
all the Pontalbas. The idea of the typical Creole,
summed up in dusky beauty and questional ante
cedents could not be more erroneous They are
anything but people to lump and cover by
general description, having more of the individ-
ual flavor than most of the factors that result in
| that still somewhat crude product known as
American society. A poor, proud, passionate
race, battered by fortune, thrust against the
wall in the rush of this very inconsiderate nine
| teenth century. they still cling to the
habits and traditions of their altogether conven-
tional forefathers, still smile undauntedy in the
| face Of altered circumstances and live their gay
| little French lives out without pirouette the
| less. 1t CHANGED moonlight evening that
| Theophilus was minded to take me to a Creole
| reception and that l was likewise minded The
air was moist and heavy with the fragrance of
orange blossoms and very unsteady from some
enchanted Dy-way came the familiar strain of
the hand-orgau. New Orleans is the home of
organ grinders. They come North and the
climate demoralizes them. Their instruments
| succumb also, and become boxes of linked tor
| ture, long drawn out. But in this his Paradise,
| the music of the organ grinder is not only en-
| durable but dulcet and delightful. He fits in
| the gutter, and the banana Feelings and the
! balmy inactiOn Of the place would be incomplete
without him. His occupation is audable,
viable; and he contributes to the general effect
besides.
Down the narrow streets of the French
| quarter, rich i'll shadowy "reminiscences of the
revels Of a dead century, wandered Past
the Cathedral, massive and grand in the glory
| of the moonlight, thanked on each side by the
| queer old Cabildo law courts that witnessed the
dispensing of Spanish justice in the days
of the second cession. Just opposite lay
the old French market, asleep in the moonlight.
and beyond that the broad, bright belt of the
Mississippi. Presently we stopped before
ponderous gate with an iron arch upon Rue
Dauphine, and Theophilus pulled rusty old
arrangement that caused faint twinkle some
|
always ring at the gate for admission here but
the plan ohvates the necessity of dogs. To wait
| for a tardy servant on the banquette, with the
rain drops pattering cheerfully down the back of
your neck, the thermometer at co. does not
SAVIOR of hospitality; but it is infinitely to he
preferred to the suspicious sniffngs, growngs
or gapings of a canine guard. The gate swung
open, and l expected to a decrepid old
servitor with a lantern and an air of being the
last wreck of a magnificent past; but was dis
| appointed. A trim and smiling negress stood
behind it, and her lamp shone over a narrow
damp paved court, with ragged tgtree and
group Of palmettos at the end, and wisteria
! trailing everywhere We followed her up the
steep stairs and through muSty corridor, at the
end of which light, and music, and laughter
streamed through tapestried door We were
ushered in, and | made my first Creole acquant-
ance. The drawing room was well filled, but
among all the young ladies only was
blonde. They sat about in groups of two
or three, their tiny feet crossed and their arms
twined round each others absurd little waist in an
abandon of amorous friendship, exchanging
merry little French nothngs with Alphonse and
Adolph. who sat and laDguished in near proxim-
ity. They have a comical way OF extracting the
flattery which is nectar and ambrosia to their
dear little palates.
'Ah, my sweet Adele, l have most charm
ing compliment for you, from at once
handsome and distinguished. Can you ex-
| changes"
Adele knits her pretty bro VS. in an agony of
recoll ectOn. If she regale Marie Also the
longed for morsel will be hers if not; it will re-
main locked up in her confdant's memory until
she can 1t IS needless TO state that Adeles
constructive faculties come frequently to the
rescue the barter is effected, and ectasy ensues.
| 1t is very funny to watch the gradual backslid-
ing of the Northern young lady who has come to
New Orleans with view to improving her mind
| at the big kindergarten IN the City Park. From
her first promenade on Canal street she comes
IN all moisture and remuneration. She has seen
more powder in one afternoon than behind all
the foot-lights Of her frosty theatrical experience
And the high heels, and the tight lacing, and the
Incidence, and the all pervasve frivolity
of this irredeemably wicked old place fill several
| shocked letters home. In a week or so she dis
covers that in the matter of ''Duvet de cygne"
which is warranted not to injure the skin, you
knOw"-well, if it is really used only for GOODNESS
| she won't take it upon herself to decide. She
mops her glistening features through another
week Of indecision, and is finally observed to
convey to her apartment small square box, with
a courage Of APPROXIMATIONS" air that is very
beautiful to see She may have strength of
mind enough to decline to contract her waist,
| but her complexion is soon foury as any
| body's, and she takes her morning coffee in bed
| without a quam
You from the North, is it not?" said
| sparkling brunette to me. Then you disap-
| prove of us-yOu think US vain!'
ION the contrary, mademoiselle have been
| here three months. l admire you immensely"
No compliment is too broad for the eduanim-
! ity of these bellies demoiseles; but they are not
ready with their responses as their fair friends
| on the other side of Canal street
| you know perfectly we'll l adore youl" ex-
| claims a susceptible youth to a teasing f1rt.
Sure 'noughF she inquiries, with a saucy up
ward glance. Could anything be more demurey