The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-02-08
The FRENCH CREol.ES.
somo of tho pecuiiaritl.- OF This simple
Minded p.opl.,

Minded People.
The French Crooles of the lower
class are hand-to-mouth class OF peo-
pie, purchasing the stick Of wood to-
day ard the handful OF herbs that arc
10 cook and season thoir poiage, filling
their small market baskets with In
numorable pinchcs OF this, that and
tho other, laying in IA few sous OF
sugar and coffee at n time. nnd-going
next day, for three hundred and sixty
five days In the year, and doing idon-
tically the same thing, In sncula
sHculorum. Dislike TO the nccumula
tion Of household goods. 90 well-storod
cellars and pantrics. 60 generous
abundance, 20 picturesque profusion,
90 tho essentials Of large-handed
hospitality even within the narrow
limits Of their neighbour ood acquaint-
anccs, an Rnt-like economy and abb
stemiousncss, curious juxtapoBltion
Of eternal solf-rcstraint and passion
for sensations, colOrs. sounds, pcr-
fumes, fantastic scnsualitics, an In
st.nct for microscopic mOncy-gctting
welded 90 an instinct that has filled
New Orleans with noble institutions
for the poor, the blind, the sick tho
world weary; passion for novels and
for splendid churches, n fond en-
durancc Of rigors of cold and hunger
for the brilliant cfllOrcsccnco of care
moprenant and carnival, a voluntary
exile from all laughter md JOY that
their feet may twinkle night cr two
on tho mirrorcd floors OF tho masquc
balls down in Chartres and Royal
streets; such arc the fragments Of
sweet and bitter herbs that 90 ~
make up part Of tho paradox Of Crcoic
character and communicate 20 IL m
indcGnabIo piquancy and strangcness
by their thick bars Of light and
shadow.
The chief charm of the character IL u
touching Rcntlcncss and bcnignity that
blends all other characteristics and per-
mcatcs the whole constitution Of the
native Creole. There Is something
elcgiac, tender, dreamy about the
race, remnant or recollection OF
earlier and better days an aroma Of
exile coming from old colonial times.
when 30 many cmiRratcd from the gay
fathorlaud 10 The tracklcss Wilderness
~ Louisiana. seeking their fortunes.
disappointment seems 90 have Inn
pressed itself ~ n trait Oi hcredity on
their spiritual make up; n brooding
languor has spread from the luxurious
climate through the limbs and consti-
tuition Of the immigrants. tho advent
urous spirit Of tho marvellous brothers
Bicnville. lbsrvile and Sauvallc, laid
under perpetual embargo by a Chinese
wall of swamp bayou md bogue, has
sunk into cu iOus psychological
numbnoss and content with surround
ipgs; geography exploration. litera-
ture. research. travel (bcyund the in
evitable transit 90 France once la
lifetime) are unknown luxuries 20 these
lotus-ea,ing folk. and In their way they
are as still In their sunny corner as the
sun-loving alligator that haunts their
streams.
The customs. games and sport. OF
these exiles arc foil oi "reminiscences
OF the fatherland. mingled with odd
accretions and aftergrowths. a aclinging
conservatism a pDetic susceptibility.
There arc songs and Christmas customs
suacking OF Gascony. Provence. Cham
pagne San Domingo, Franche-Conte.
such "a linger 10 Canada and form
touching links with the folk over the
va -. a Hs-riguo, 10 Au,reiois.