Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
OLD CREOLE CUSTOMS.
"A orleans Society Still Honors the
Traditions of the Old Regime.


The social customs of New Orleans
differ widely from those of any other
city of the union, derived as they large
ly are from the usages and precedents
of the French and Spanish regime
many of which hold good to-day. The
old French social law, which divided
people into three classes-the aristo-
crat, the bourgeois, and the canaille-
has to a great extent become dead
letter.
The middle class is to-day an unim-
portapt factor in ,ciety here. One
misses also that subdivision into cliques
and sets which exists elsewhere. In a
social sense New Orleans is virtually
dual city. the dividing line being
Canal street,its principal thoroughfare.
Above this dwell the Americans, who
now predominant in the population.
Below it live the creoles, the descend
ants of naughty cavaliers and beau
ties who formed the courts of the
French and Spanish governors of the
provinces, and who still hold sacred
the stately manners, the stringent Gus
toms, and the prejudices of their ances-
tors. They, however, have for the
greater part suffered reverseS of for
tune. This prevents their active par
ticipation in society or the lavish mode
of entertainment to which they were
accustomed.
1t has not deprived them, however,
of certain influence over the social
tone of the city, and in no respect is
this more readily manifest than in the
universal observance of the chaperon
system. This system is closely adj
hered to as we'll in American as in ere
ole circles, and the penalty of its dis
regard is scandal and gossip, and per-
haps, if the offense be sufficiently seri-
Gus, social ostracism.
Young ladies do not attend the the
atre with a gentleman without q chap
eron, especially at night, unless they
be nearly related or betrothed. Under
no circumstances is it possible for a
young girl to lunch or dine in
a public restaurant unless a chap
eron be present, and few New Orleans
girls would enter such a nlace except
to attend a lunch or dinner party to
which 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 a 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 themost part con-
fined to Sunday evening, when gentle
men present themselves as early as z
o'clock, and are expected to withdraw
not later than II o'clock, good breed
ing, of course, requiring the first conner
to yield to his successor. Formal calls
are paid only on Sunday on the even
ing 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 Ameri-
cans the custom is observed only ac-
cording to the degree of intimacy be-
tween the parties. Excursions, pic
mic, ETC., form no part of the social en-
tertainments of New Orleans. though
occasionally parties are formed to visit
Ine nelSnDOFInS plantations Wnen the
cane is being converted into sugar. In
such cases the host makes a point of
providing at least one, and often sew
eral, chaperons. Invitations to balls,
parties, or receptions are always word
ed to include the chaperon, and sub
scribers to the club, german, or cotil-
lion, of which at least one is given
during the season, are furnished with
separate cards for the chaperons and
partners.
In matters Of courtship and marriage
the creoles follow the French plan and
the maternal supervision ends only
with signing of the nuptial registry.
Among the American portion of the
population the American custom pre-
walls, and the moment an acquaintance
merges himself into a sutton he is ac-
corded greater freedom of communi-
cation.