, 1885-02-22
THE SOUTHERN GIRL.
A BREEZY LETTER FROM A LADY
VISITOR AT THE EXPOSITION.
The Losabls and Loving Girls Of tho
sunny south-sympathetie Atmos-
phere Of a Southern Home
Tho coiored People.

~ 'aA - = - az So - "@atA|N
From Is to 20 tine southern girl Is a joy to
the bsholdsr. A creamy complexion, with
sometimes, but not often, a faint flush of
pink underneath, soft eyes with a world OF
dreams in them, a rounded figure. tiny
hands and feet. and httenish ways, make il
no marvel f1nt the youth masculins OF New
Orleans is mostly married at p or %. A
girl Of 20 who has not received half q dozen
offers. at least, is socially n failure. Matri-
mony Is the grand, authorized aim. as pub
Hely recognized as the Louisiana lottery.
Girls are educated to marry. and TO detsst
the circumstance that compel them 10 earn
Il married." said a little lady To
ME the other day, discussing the
somewhat unfortunate position Of family af
fairs The Inference was plain. But thore
are girls, brave girls, whose pretty faces
may DO seen behind the counter OF almost
every large store In New Orleans, who,
while hating conformity with SLOPPY condi-
tions, have put their delicate shoulders to
the wheel of family adversely, and sweetly
contributed their mites TO the general IN
come. or the pI professional ambition that
fires their northern sisters they know moth
ing. They are innately and entirely do
nestle, loyabls and loving. asking only to be
shielded from the facts OF life, and permits
sion to unlimitedly pirouette.
A young lady may receive alone, and gem
orally does; may drive with a gentleman,
but may not accept his escort 50 the theatre,
concert or ball, without q chaperon; Sunday
evening is devoted to reception all over the
city: church in the morning Is the usual
limit to devotion; fire-crackers and brass
bands enliven the day, and anything can be
purchased, from carpets 10 caramels. The
girls sit In their pretty summer dresses upon
a III H. - - -
various admirers posing with admirable
elect In their Immediate vicinity. 1t Is all
very picturesque, very idyllic. There IL
much rhythmic laughter and distractins
coquetry, many graceful compliments ami
imperial edicts. To make hay while the sun
shines, Is a rule of conduct no less practical
than valuable t. these charming demoi-
s%elles, for their beauty is the beauty Of the
queenly magnolia-a touch of frost. a bruiss
OF fortune, and It is gone, withered, faded.
yellowed, a suggestion Of the past
The southern man, to all appearance, Is a
most chivalric individual. His stature is
not usually in proportion to the height OF
his aspirations or the breadth Of his percsp
lions; but what there Is of him tlngles with
appreciation of eminin loveliness. and de-
votion to feminine requirements. His coun-
tenance is sallow, hut fails to advertise the
awful ravages OF American dyspepsia that
walk abroad in so many Of Chicagos hurry
ing faces. His cigars are excellent and his
manners unimpeachable. Business men will
ask you to pay three prices for their goods
with a serenity unrippled, and a bland per-
sunsion that Is irresistible; but IL misfortune
makes you her creditor. they will rarely
lu IA their claims.
Southern home life Is essentially home
like. Tho alien finds himself in a sympa-
fh.ff~ afrnoanhar-, IN .uhf.h all hi b..lNt.~
genial impulses break into astonishing bloom,
and amaze him at the tropical result The
demonstrativenss of family connections Is
n little startling at first; but one soon recoz-
Mics that the quality is indigenous as the
chameleon. By the way, l made my first
acquaintance in that large and inter resting
family the other day. He was sitting witl
green composure upon a vine outside my
window; but when he saw me he took up a
brown position upon a branch. Whom l
made n futile endeavor to poke him with my
parasol. he looked at me with a ~satirical
| expression and smile1-he didi-but declined
to change his expression again l
should ave been surprised TO see
him frown, however, Louisianians are 50
agreeable. The coiored hand-maidens that
abound in your temporary home have re-
duced service to a suave, soft~footed, self
respectful science. Like the quaint strains
OF half forgotten music fall the familiar
phrases OF Uncle TOMS numerous relatives.
A good mnny-the phrases. not the relatives
have been adopted and pass current with
ordinary American.
n 'clar, it's mean TO- you to do me that
way, honey" cries the historical SalIie to
the tickling Adele. Could she make a more
distinctively Ethiopian remark
ats going to be mighty cold befo' MON
ing. l reckon, " says our hostess scanning this
thermometer, which regi-ters an Arctic
Temperature OF u 'irgress.- HGf coise. in
DeeemLer VT must expect right small
shanges."
In the kitchen, howe yer, we hear lofty
language.
-l'se done got quite q 'pinion O. dat young
pusson," says tho COOK OF the housemaid.
@She's so ~presumptious 10 her work"
@Let him take yors appetite, chile, adj
vises the newly ~tiu-typei Sambo. ut don't
hurt a bit"
Old fashions cling to old servants. Grand
mother Is still "ole miss, " her daughter AMis'
Rosa" and the young ladies respectively
missy" Nobody employs white servants
hero while colored ones are to be had.