Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-15
4 Curious Institution of the South
Left From the Old Slavery
Days.
Many Pure Young Women of Modesty
Refinement, Beauty and
Wealth Involved.
They Make Alliances and Live Quietly
With Men of Society. but
Do Not Marry.

Abraham Lincoln pen, and many of the
curious and social features which were a
part of and grew out of it are we'll nigh
forgotten. Besides slaves, which were
bought and sold, there was an intermedi-
ate class of people who have a peculiar
history about whom nothing has been said
or written. | allude to the place. women
and their children. The place. was al
most entirely confined to New Orleans.
The term comes from the French mean
ing placed, " and the places were wo
men of all shades of color, from the mul
alto to the octoroon, who could not be dis
tinguished from the whitest lady in
the land. Sometimes when a girl of this
grade offoIor was sold she became a
1t Is not, however, of the depraved class
that | wish to speak, but another
FAR MORE INTERESTING.
There has been always in New Orleans
peculiar society of persons of color, who
negro. 1t was known before the war as
the free people of color" and still retains
that name. In it were the descendants OF
place. women and the white men who
maintained them. Many of this class are
very rich; most of the women are hand
some, and the men and women are we'll
educated. These persons scorn the ordin-
airy negro or mulatto, for they themselves
have in their veins the bluest blood of the
city and state they live in, and, as the
white people will not associate with them,
they are a community by themselves
Very many persons in New Orleans, gen
orally American" Coy whom mean those
having no French blood on either side),
are utterly ignorant of the fact that
among the inhabitants Of that most pic
turesque of all American cities there is
A SOCIETY AS EXCLUSIVE
as that of the Austrian court, the most
aristocratic court in Europe, to which it
is almost impossible to gain admission,
which presents the coloreQ race IN a con-
dition and light that does not exist any
where else.
It's beginning was simple There came
to New Orleans 100 years ago persons
from all countries in Europe to buy and
sell cotton and other great southern staples
Some were from England, a few were
from France, more were from Holland,
Germany, and the Latin countries. They
came came out to America to make for
tune, and go back to their native land to
enjoy it. They had no home ties, for they
could bring none. They were young and
romantic. They saw the graceful, soft
eyed quadrooD. They could not marry
these women if they had wished to, for
it was against the law; but they could
set them free, and this they frequently
did.
THE CHILDREN BORN
of these alliances constitute this curious
society which still exists, and has existed
for a century. As the fathers of these
children were generally rich, the young
educated. The girls went to converts,
one or two of which maintained special
and, OF course, separate classes for these
sisters ever learned. When they left there
the mother prepared to range" her
daughter, just as in 1.-THE best society" the
fashionable mother prepares to make a
good marriage for her girl who is just
coming out. Remember-aud this is the
part most difficdlt to be comprehended by
northern tolks-these girls were as limo
cent and good as any girl can be. Their
mothers knew they could not be married
to white men
THE GIRL HERSELF
loathed the negro DIS much as the most
deicated-minded white woman possibly
could. She knew the relation her mother
held to her father, but que voulez
vous? She had never been taught
that anything about it was wrong;
the good nuns of the Ursulines
or other converts, let that alone, for it
would have been of no use. The mother
had her ambitions. as mothers have. no
matter what the colors of their SKINS may
be. In society it is the question of Iarg-
est fortune that most frequently stirs the
maternal healt. Who. therefore, can
blame the poor creature who has never
known any better state, and whose chief
religious sentiment was that she should
love her children and have them christen-
ed in the only church?
Who can blame her because she wishes
for her child what the fashionable white
mother so often desires for hers-a good
establishment? Therefore, after the young
octoroon has reached the proper age, and
has learned all that the good nuns
can teach her, her mother looks out
for a good home for Der, when she is pla-
Gee.
THIS PLACEE-ING
is a matter of great Importance to these
girls and their mothers, and. indeed, to
all their relatives. Twice a year very
select ball is given, which the place. wo-
men attend, and, of course, the eligible
girls. There TIE young girl sees about all
the desirable men i mean gentlemen,
men of the Hottest social rank - that are
in the society of the city. They see the
girls. The etiquette md department is
as courtly and stately here as at any gen.
tleman's house in New Orleans. At such
times the formal acquaintance Is made,
for these girls never remain one moment
alone with a man, saye their confessor.
perhaps, OF brothers, until they are place..
The mothers of these girls have an init
mate knowledge of the Inside" of New
Orleans life, so far as it concerns rich and
generally "eligible" young men of the
highest social rank, that would astonish a
Partisan chief of secret police. Where
they get this information goodness knows,
but they have it. At last the proper per-
son is selected, most frequently a rich
foreigner, for not many cre0les or Ameri-
cans nowadays desire Or care to enter in
to such relations, with their results, for
lifetime.
THE NAN AGREES
to give the girl an establishment and fits it
up, and she takes possession.
Here comes the most wonderful part of
it ALL | have never known a man to fail
in his promises to the woman. Whatever
he may do. or to whom he may lie, he
keeps his faith with the woman who is his |
place.. 1t is curious thing, but there are
reasons for it. No married woman could
more faithfully keep her marriage vows
than the place. woman keeps her faith.
They never break their pledges. Every