Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-08-17
OLD cHEols CUSTOMS.
New Orleans socIAty SIN u
aitions of the Ola t..-,. o ~

-.
fahs soci~ty still Honors thu r..
m, "''"ns Of the Old Regime.
me social customs Of New Orla.r.
olier widely from those of anv o,h".
cry Of the Union. derived as thev
largely are from the usuages and nr.
eedents of the French and Sn.r;st,
regime. many Of which hold good ~.
gay. The old French social law Will
divided people into three d;geran,
ciasses--the aristocrat. the bouroso;s
anu The canailie- has to a great ertent
become dead letter. e"''"'
The middle class Is TODAY an mn
important factor in society here On.
misses also that abdvision into c,;onas
ana sets which exists elsewhere. In q
social sense New Orleans is virtual,v
q dual city. the dividing line between
canal street. its principal thorouobfars
Above this dwell the Americans who
now predominant in the population
Deiow 1t live the Creoles, the descend.
anus OF the naughty cavaliers and
beauties who formed the court of tha
french and Spanish Governors Of the
province, and who still hold sacred
'he stately manners. the stringent
customs and the prejudices of their an
cestors. They. however. have for tho
greater part suffered reverses of for.
tune. This prevents their active partici.
patton in society or the lavish mode Of
entertainment to which they were
accustomed.
IL mas not deprived them. however.
OF certain influence over the social
tone OF the city. and in no respect /.
TINS more readily manifested than in
the universal observance of the chan
eron system. This system is closely
adhered to as well in American as IN
Creole circles. and the penalty of its
disregard is scandal and gossip, and
perhaps, if the offense be sufficiently
serious. social ostracism.
Young ladies do not attend tn.
theater with gentleman without
chaperon, especially at night, unless
they be nearly related or betrothed
ohder no circumstances is it possible
Tor young girl 10 lunch OF dine in a
public restaurant unless a chaperon
he present, and few New Orleans girls
would enter such IA place except to at
tend a lunch or dinner party to which a
number OF guests were hidden and
where one or more chaperons were
present.
AS regards horseback exercise, in
which New Orleans girls indulge but
rarely, the rule requiring chaperon is
much less rigidly enforced, but upon
driving without the matronly protec-
ton there is virtually an absolute pro-
hibition.
Social calls are for the most part
confined to Sunday evening. when
gentlemen present themselves as early
us seven o'clock, and are expected to
withdraw not later than eleven o'clock,
good breeding, of course, requiring the
first conner to yield to his successor
Formal calls are paid only on Sunday
or on the evening of the hostess
special reception days, and do not here
much exceed half an hour
In Creole circles the mother of the
young lady receiving the caller is in
variably present, but among Americans
the custom is observed only according
to the degree of intimacy between the
parties. Excursions. picnics, etc, form
no part of the social entertainments of
New Orleans, though occasionally par
ties are formed to visit the neighbor-
ing plantations when the cane is being
converted into sugar. In such cases
the host makes point of providing at
least one, and often several, chaperons.
Invitations TO balls, parties. or recep-
tons are ALWAYS worded to include the
chaperons, and subscribers to the club,
german or cotllion, of which at least
one is given during the season, arc
furnished with separate cards for chap
erons and partners.
In matters of courtship and marriage
the Creoles follow the French plan and
the maternal supervision ends only
with the signing of the nuptial regis
try. Among the American portion of
the population the Alaerican custom
prevails, and the moment an acquaint-
ance merges himself into sutton he is
accorded greater freedom of commune
cation. T. Press