The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-07
NfW48REEANS CRE0LES.
Graphic Pictures Of the Good Old
Times They We're Wont
to Enjoy.
Many Prosperous Creole Zen in
Various Lines Of Trade
and Business.
Changes Brought About Because Of. and
Since the War-IntermarryinE
with tho W ites.

Standing before this old mansion on St.
Louis street, once the home of wealthy
Creole family, one realizes what changes
the years have wrought. Though now the
great double doors of the court yard are
battered and devoid of paint there was
time when in opening, they afforded en-
chanting glinpsss to the passer by-vistas
of green, flowers in prodigal profusion
bordering the tagged pavements tropic-
al plants in tubs waving their broad leaves
with a rustling whisper; and fountain
that caught Thousand rainbows in its
leaping spray, falling again into the marble
basin with cool and pleasant sound.
With the closing of those doors you shut
out the vulgar noise and hurry of the busy
world. Within the mansion, a broad hall
led to the double parlors, furnished in
mahogany, in the massive style
which suited best those lofty and
spacious apartments. The polished
floors were reminiscent of fair France, and
the drawn shutters kept out the glare of the
full to the eye. There was kind of stately
simplicity observable in the adornment of
these rooms-nne pictures, statuary and
UIoAASs WcAG tACIes Uut uOuc Vi VIC 1lUucK VI
bric-a-brac and cheap prettiness, supera-
bundant cushions and draperies, which are
SO marked feature of the modern drawing
room. The same severe elegance prevailed
in all the furnishings of this old-time resi-
dence.
In the second story Of the wing which ran
out at the back of the house We're the COM
Portable quarters of the slaves, and it may
be mentioned in passing that fifteen serv-
ants to attend upon family of two or three
was rather the rule than the exception. Be-
low was the culinary domain, shining with
neatness, and no less daintily cared for than
the parlors.
This was the town house of q rich Creole,
who spent the gay season in New Orleans,
repairing whom the heated term set in, to
his great sugar plantation in st. James
parish: or if madame and the little ones
needed a breath of sea air, to Last Island,
then 4 highly fashionable summer resort.
Very gay, indeed. was that gay season,
with horse races, lively regattas upon the
Bayou St. John, balls and parties and
other social diversions, and it may
be believed that that temple OF
on Orleans street. was crowded on fash
ionable nights to its utmost capacity.
Hospitality was both duty and pleas
ure in those days. Each family kept up a
running fire of entertainments and among
neiRhbOrs there were many minor festiyi
ties of a more informal character. The
stranger within their gates was made roy
ally welcome. Every thing was on lavish
scale; "open house, was the rule; aud i,
vas nothing uncommon for q large family
of course aided by their numerous guests
to consume a cask of ciaret in a week.
There was so little social intercourse be-
tween the Creoes and Americans that il
could net be said to count"
there were certain customs and ira
ditions faithfully followed b. the bes
Creole families. The daughters of til,
house we're sent TO convent schools. where
it must be owned. they learned little excep
okabroilsEy and graceful depostmsut tn,