The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-08-10
oLp UREoLs CUSTOMS.
New orleans Society stu Honors the Tra-
ditions of the old Kegimr.

NEW OrlCanS SOcieNy sun the
ditIons of the Old Regimr.
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 French and Spanish
regime, many of which hold good to-
day. The old French social law. which
divided people into three different
classes--the aristocrat. the bourgeois
and the canaille- hts to great extent
become dead letter.
The middle class is to-day an un-
important factor in society here. One
misses also that Ahdivision into cliques
and sets which exists elsewhere. In a
SOCIAL sense New Orleans is virtually
dual city. the dividing line between
Canal street. its principal thnroughfare.
Above this dwell the Americans. who
now predominant 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
NhStohiS tuC III IIt4t
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
tome of the city. and in no respect il
this more readily manifested than in
the universal observance of the chap
eron system. This system il closely
adhered to rs well in American as in
Creole circles. and the penalty of it,
disregard is scandal and gossip. and
perhaps. if the offense be sufficiently
serious. social ostracism.
Young ladies do not attend the
theater with gentleman without a
/ ehaperon. especially at night. unless
they be nearly related or betrothed.
| Under no circumstances is it possible
for a young girl 10 lunch or dine in n
be present. and few New Orleans girls
would enter snch u place except to at
tend lunch or dinner party 10 which II
number of guest' 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 Eigidly 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
rs seven O'Clock. and are expected tu
/ Withdraw not later than eleven o clock.
gnod 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
i 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, pienics. etc. form
/ no part of the social entertainments oi
/ New Orleans, though occasionally par
ties are formed tn visit the neighbour
ing plantations when the cane is being
/ converted into sugar In such eases
the host makes point of providing al
| least one, and often several. chaperons
Invitations TO balls, parties. or recep
tions are ALWAYS wortled to include the
ehaperons. and subscribers to the club
+ german or cotillion. of which at leasl
one is given during tho season. ar,
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 oi
the population the Asaerican custom
prevails, and the moment an acquaint.
ance merges himself into a suitor he i:
accorded greater freedom of communi
cation. y Press