The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-25
IL fRENCH cREOLEs.
some OF the Peculiarities OF This simple
blinded People,

some OF the Peculiarities OF This simple
Minded People
The French creoles Of the lower class are :
hand 70 mouth class Of people, purchasing
the stick Of wood today and tie handful OF
herbs that are 20 cook and season their po-
tage. filing their small market baskets win
innumerable pinches Of this, that and the
other, laying IN few sous OF sugar aud cor.
fee al q time. and-going next day, ior 90
days IN the rear, and doing identicaly the
same thing. in sRcula ssscUlorum. Dislike 70
the accumulation Of household goods, 10 well
stored cellars and pantries, 10 generous
abundance, 70 picturesque pr0fusion' to tho
essentials of a large handed hospitality even
within the narrow limits Of their neighoor-
hood acouaintahces an ant like economy and
abstemicusness, a curious juStaposition of
eternal self restraint and passion Tor ssnsa-
tons. co!ors, sounds. perfumes, fantastic SEN
laItios. an inNinct Tor microscopic money
ostting welded 10 an instinct that has hlle1
New Orleans with noble Institutions for the
moor. the blind. tho sick, tho world weary a
p,ssion for novels aud for splendid Churches &
fond endurance OF rigors OF cold and munger
Ter tie brilliant afIiorescepce OF careme-
prenant and Carnival, a voluntary exile from
all laughter aud Joy that their feet may
twinkle q night o: TWO on the mlirored noo!s
of tie nasQue balls down in Charities and
ROYAL streets; such are the fragments u
sweet and bitter herbs that 60 70 make up
mart Of the paradox or creole character ana
communicate To IL an indefnable piquancy
and efraureness by their thick bars or light
and shadow.
Tho chief charm Of this character is q
tou,.ling geutloness and benignity that blencs
all other characteristics and permeates the
whole constitution Of the native creole. There
e something elegiac, tender, dreamy about
tho race. remnant or recollection OF earlier
add better DAYS, an aroma Of exilo coming
from Old colonial times, when 80 many emil
grated from the gay iatherland 70 tbs track
less wilderness Of louisiana seeking their
fortunes. Disappointment seems 70 have iui'
pressed ITSELF as trait Of beredlty on their
spiritual mako up; a broodlng laneuor has
spread from the luxurious climate through
the limbs and constitutions OF the imrni'
grants, the adventurous spirit OF the mar
Selous brothers Blenville, lberville and Sau-
vale. laid under perpetual embargo by
Chinese wall q swamp, bayou and bosUe,
has sunk into u curious psychological numb
ness and content with surroundings; geogra.
ply, exploration. literature, research, travel
beyond the inevitable transit 70 France once
tp a llfetimeD are unknown luxuries 70 these
lotus eating folk, and In their way they arc
"a etill IN their sunny corner Us the san
,ovin0 ALLIGATOR that haupts their streams.
Tbs customs, games and sports OF these
erIlss ara FUN Of "reminiscences Of the father
land mingled with odd accretions sas sf'sr-
growrbs, clinging conservatism, poetic
susceptibility. There are songs ana Christ
mas customs unackirg OF Gascony, f1oyenoe,
Champagne, San Domingo, FTAnchs- Comte,
,uch Is llnger u Canada and form touching
inks with the folk ovss ths ~ flames =
Hsgr5see n AuTpsola