The morning news., 1888-07-26
THE LOUISIANA CREOLE.
The Representative OF an Era That is
Rapidly Passing Away.
From the Ne,p York Graphic.

Rapidly Passing Away.
From the Nep York Graphic.
The ancient creole abhorS change and
looks with disfavor upon anything contra
rysto the usual flow of events or customs
foreign to those of his forefatherS Even in
architecture the spirit asserts itself In the
American portion of New Orleans old land
marks have rapidly disappeared, and on
their sites new and elegant houses with
every modern appurtenance rear their
stately columns; but down in the old French
quarter there is marked difference Ihe
whole faubourg, with a few exceptions,
seems to have reached the point where evo-
| luton has ceased. The houses are singular
ly curious and angular; the owners look
with peculiar pride upon these grim, solemn
structures and cling affectionately TO them
| because of old associations and influences,
in their ewes considerations of far greater
| Importance than the DEGREES of modern
fashion. In house decoration this dlstlnc-
ton appears with greater nicety. Where
reparation or renovation becomes neces 'ary,
while scrupulously particular as to the
| quality of materials used IN embellshlng,
old tapestry is reha affiliated, so as to cor
respond with the ancient models frescoings
are renewed, with view of preserving, as
far as possible the original design.
In consequence of the growing social re-
| latlOns between American and French New
Orleans, the young creole, with enthuslas-
tic appreciation of the beautiful and novel,
| frequently suggests to pater famillas the
propriety of refurnishing or reconstructlng
the house in keeping with the aesthetic spirit
| of his more progressive neighbors, but all
such proposals are silenced by peremptory
refusal; to tear down those time-honored
structures or to allow those respected fur
| mis- ma tn foil ttriar tho anNtinnCnr1S ham
mer would be acts of dissertation upon which
the shades of departed ancestors would rise
| in judgment
The creole gentleman of the old regime
is a representative Of an era that is rapidly
passing away; a day in which honor was
held thing so dear, so sacred, that the
! least sarcastic jest was construed into an
insulting lmputation, for which an imme-
diate apology was demanded or a confuta-
ton, at the swords edge; day in which
the most distinguished courtesy and gallan-
| try was accorded woman; when, as an in
stance thereof, gentleman could not, with
| out the greatest breach of politeness, ask of
lady permission to light cigar in her
presence, much less raise his hat to her
upon casually meeting her in the street, with
out first throwing away the smoking weed,
even though it were a most expensive and
fragrant Havana to which match had but
a moment before been applied He is a
| true type of the men of the old school, in
which "noblesse oblige" was a gentleman's
creed.
Monsieur has been an expert duelist in his
| dav, and his "reminiscences of the Spanish
and Italian fencing schools are very enter
tanning. He has also been patron Of the
rod and gun, and knows every turn and
twist in the swamps and bayous around
New Orleans, has had an intimate acquain-
ance with the celebrated chasseurS del'an-
ciennes jours, and relates with zest his own
experience in search of becasine nAcanards
he will impress upon you his unerring skill
as a marksInan by telling how on one occa-
sion, when several birds lowered in the air,
he raised his gun and bang 'he had seen
but three and five came down" Age has
not diminished his admiration for the fair
sex. He is as courtly "a gallant and ready to
bestow stately compliment as in the
brightest flush of youthful gayety. He is
proud of his name, of the position Of trust
and honor he or the members of his family
have held in the community and his mis-
sion to foreign courts; but far and above all
this, he is proud of his French and Spanish
origin, and holds as his most precious pos
session long, narrow box which contains
the decorations and incontestible proofs OF
his noble ancestry.
The creole motheri No ordinary woman
is she, no vain seeker after fashionable no
toriety, no loud advocate of women's sup
posed rights, no aggressive competitor in
the ranks and callings of men, She is the
queen Of home-that is her supreme sphere,
her ideal realm, where love is her throne
and the attendant ministers purity and
truth. In the rearing Of her daughters the
beauty Of her life most asserts itself. From
the momeRt that the duties of matronhood
claim her attention she leaves the gay
world of which she has been such a bril-
liant ornament, and in the quiet seclusion
Of her own home devotes herself unreserv
edly to the training and education of heI
children, and when the eldest daughter is
of an age to enter society, for a second time
the mother appears upon the social stage
Time has but matured her girlish charm,
into the mellow glow of autumn, and as the
chaperone of her daughter, 10 belle creole
with her eyes of gypsy brightness, rich
clear complexion and face sparkling with
intelligence and vivacity, not once does
madame deem it prudent to dispense will
her mothers supervision until her carefully
guarded jewel is given to another's keepinl
at the bridal altar. Then the mother re
tires to her own fireslde, not again to figur,
in the world until a similar occasion re
quires it.