The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-30
LAFAYETTE, LA.
STRANGE TONGUE NOT ALWAYS IN A
STRANGE COUNTRY - CREOLE BALLS
TREATING THE GIRLs-GUMBO.

STRANGE COUNTRY = CREOLE. BALLS
TREATING THE GIRLs-GUMBO.
july nth, 1890.
Dear Democrat
Ifa strange language is only contempt
raneous with strange country then by
all manners of means, as they say in Ire
land, Pm an alicn-for all around me
here IN the parish of Lafayette, not more
than 80 miles from the cultivated Town
of Alexandria, naught but the musical
language of France is spoken.
had just alighted from the cars when
my ears wero saluted by the babbling of
the tongue that has obstinately prevailed
exiled Acadians of the North made their
homes in the wilds of what is now this
beautiful State. At the busy, bnstling
depot Of Lafayette, where all passenger
trains pause awhile for dinner, French"
and English" sometimes struggle for gu
periority; cries Of ''bon jour, Pierre,
comment ca vas" intermingled with
Chow are you, old boy-how's your
healthW etc.
Even now as write, situated in a love-
ly spot, not far removed from the parish
seat, across the fields comes the echo of
the salutations which invariably prevails
when the creole meets creole: 'Eh, la la
Dagensseau, comment ca va chez toi.!
bien p and the responsible never varied:
''Tout bien, Paul, merci; ct chez tois"
A very simple class of people are these
Creoles-simple rs regards the outside
world-but with certain native shrewd-
ness which is never fully brought to light
until a horsetrade is to be made, or sin
gle addition of land to be purchased, or
the settling of the account with the share
workers at the end Of the year.
Upon these important occasions the
agricultural Creole is seen at his best.
An undying love for the dance is his chief
characteristics; it is inherited, bred in the
bone. The younger people will ride or
drive distance of fifteen or more miles
merely for the pleasure of tho ball, and
retrace their way home in tho din, light
of early morning, nodding asleep on their
horses, or in their buggies. [ have been
told on very good authority that during
the iuternecine war the Creoles would be
in battle all day and when it was possible,
at the ball more than half the night
Such is their passion for terpsichorean
amusement.
The shrewdest of the Creoles knowing
this failing (D Of their friends cater to the
feeling by erecting ball rooms where at
stated periods the country side assemblies
Everything is delightfully."- informal at
these times both in town and country;
the swallow tail and the Prince Albert
are things almost unknown and the dec
al ntf I,O oh
it is not to be seen.
These ball room edifices are rarely more
than square frame structures perfectly
unadorned and unpaintcd, inside as we'll
rs outside; so that the lamp which de-
ponds from the centre of the ceiling sheds
its dim radiance upon everything uatu-
raj: wood, girls, men and boys.
But can't they dance! Tim Finnegan's
wake is nothing in comparison, and Fin
negan's wake bate Bannagher, and he, it
is truthfully recorded, bate the divil, so
there! wide Irish history.)
TO the rafting music Of a couple of fid-
dlers and generally an ACCORDION, the
horny handed and the soft and fair hand
ed move in company, laughing and chat
ting. Many an engagement is made at
these festivals-many an engagement is
made to be broken and made to be kept
the latter decidedly the least as the genu-
ire creole ''garcon" esteems it his duty
to make love to every girl whose acquain-
tance he has, and to make serious on
gagements without the remotest intention
on his part of fulfilling them. But it
may be presumed that the fair objects OF
this ludicrous kind of loye-making have
been taught by experience to pay nome
than passing attention to these butterfly
gallants, and so there is no need to
worry.
1t is an etfecting sight and one calcu-
lated to make an impression of an endu.
ring kind to behold at the conclusion OF
q waltz, quadrille or other dance, the
thirsty couples come charging down on
the solitary refreshment bureau tenanted
by solitary individual who, over a little
plain board counter, perhaps,;: fifteen
inches broad, dispenses the favorite bcv.
erage of mOlasses and water at 10 cents 8
glass, and makes profit of almost II
cents on the sale.
Or should you be present when the cal
so dear to the average Creole, masculine
or feminine, is echoed throughout the bal
room, in stentorian note, "Gumbo es1
fACL. Souh oul Dt 1876 Will SlCdU VII W
serving how each elbows his neighbor
Juggling his favorite girl along at the i'm
minent risk of leaving her behind ant
bringing only portion of her dress t.
the detectable spread which in magma
ton he fondly sees in another room.
| Plus. encore. JNo. P. MCGEE.
FooD FOR THoUGHr.-Conoluaine
g very logical article under the abov,
caption, the La. Review, a simon-pur'
democratic newspaper. has this to say
by way of warning:
Another complication is arising which
also suggests the exercise of moderatio,
and concession. That is the development
of the Farmers Alliances who, weary o
the bnrthens they are carrying, are NOV
ing with an earneStness that cannot b,
overlooked, to secure needful legislatio,
and representation in the public coun
ellis to which they are justly entitled b,
their numbers, their interests and thei
intelligence. This is no time far any
body to pursue rule or rum policy. Blu
on the contrary, reason should superced,
passion, and all attempts to ostracise mel
ON account of their opinions upon ques
ton or questions Of public policy. or t,
form factions or parties upon such issues
should promptly be put down by the goot
sense of the people to the end that white
unity, based upon liberation for conflict
ing views, may be secured, and whit,
government tremendously maintained il
the State. A little of that patriotism
which has not the retention or ObtentiOl
OF Office for it's objective points, will go 1
long way to bring about proper condi
ton of public affairs. The views of can