The Grenada gazette., 1888-06-30
OLD CREOLE CUSTOMS,



New Orisaas Society stia Hsxers tAs IN.
ditions Of the Old Regime.
The social customs Of. New Orleans
differ widely from those Of any other
city Of the Union, derived as they
largely are from the usuages and pre-
cedents Of the Nench and Spanish
regime. many oftwhich hold good to-
day. The old French social law, which
divided people into three different
classes-the aristocrat. the bourgeois
and the canaiTle- has to a great extent
become dead letter.
Tho middle class is to-day an un-
important factor in society here. Ono
misses also that subdivision into cliques
and sets which exists elsewhere. In .
social sense New Orleans is virtually
= dual city. the dividing line between
Canal street, its principal thoroughfare.
Above this dwell the Americans, who
now predominate in the population.
Below it live the Creoles, the descend
ants OF the naughty cavaliers and
beauties who formed the court of the
French and Spanish Governors Of the
province, and who still hold sacred
the stately manners, the stringent
customs and the prejudices Of theiran
cestors. They, however, have for the
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.
1t has not deprived them. however.
Of certain influence over the social
tone of the city, and in no respect is
this more readily manifested than in
the universal observance of the chap
'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 the
theater with q gentleman without
chaperon, especially at night, unless
they be nearly related or betrothed,
Under no circumstances is it possible
for young girl TO lunch or dine in a
public restaurant unless chaperon
be present, and few New Orleans girls
would enter such Il place except to at
tend 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 requiringa 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
as 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-
tions are always wordcd to include the
chaperons, and subscribers to the club,
german or cotilliOn, of which at least
one is given during the season, are
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 nuptal regis
try. Among the American portion of
the population the American custom
prevails. and the moment an acquaint-
ance merges himself into q sutor he is
accorded greater freedom Of commune