Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-17
PLACE. CIRLSOF THE SOUTH,
A Curious Institution of the South
Left From The Old Slavery
Days
Many Pure Young Women Of hOdesty,
Refinement, Beauty and
Wealth Involved
They Make Alliances and Live Quietly
With Men Of Society. but
DO Not Marry.

r 1t has been twenty-seven years since the
slavery that gave to the south much OF its
wealth and power died at the stroke of
Abraham LincoIn's pen, and many of the
curious and social features which were a
/ part Of and grew out of it are well nigh
forgotten Besides slaves, which were
bought and sold, there was an iutermedi-
s ate class of people who have a peculiar
history about whom nothing has been said
or written. allude to the place. women
7 and their children The placee was al
most entirely confined to New Orleans,
: The term comes from the French mean
G ing placed, and the places were wo
6 men Of all shades Of color, from the mul
alto TO the octoro0n. who could not be dis
tinguished from the white-t lady IN
. the land Sometimes when girl of this
grade of color was sold she became a
} place.
2 II is not, however. Of the daprayed class
2 that ] wish to speak. but another
FAR LORE INTERESTING.
There has been always in New Orleans
peculiar society of persons of color who
we're not to be compared with the ordinary
negro. 1t was known before the war as
the free people of color. and still retains
that name. In il 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 well
educated. These persons scorn the ordin-
r 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, gem
orally Americans 10y whom mean those
having no French blood on either side1
are utterly ignorant OF the fact that
among The inhabitants of that most pc
; tuesque 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 cOlored 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 age persons
from all countries in Europe to buy and
+ sell cotton and other great southern staples
+ Some We're from England q few were
from France more We're from Holland
. Germany and the Latin countries They
. Ahilt fdAlt bUN 10 = lHfl tNd TO- lAtthf "a tDt
tune, and go back to their native land 20
enjoy it. They had no home ties for they
! could bring none They were Young aud
! romantic, They saw the graceful, soft
. eyed quadroop. They could not marry
! these women If they had wished to, for
, / il was against the law; but they could
set them free, and thu they frequently
, did.
r THE CHGLDEEN BORN
g of these alliances constitute this curious
society which still exists, and has existed
j for a century As the fathers of these
children were generally rich, the young
quadr0on or Octoroon children were well
. educated The girls wen, to converts,
{ one or two of when maintained spe ial
Il and, OF course, separate classes for these
+ girls and were taught all that their white
e sisters ever learned When they left there
= the mother prepared to range her
I daughter, Just as in the best society the
e fashionable mother prepares to make a
= good marriage for her girl who is just
/ coming out Remember aud this is the
part most dithcdt 20 be c0mprehended by
northern iolks-theSe girls were as limo
cent and good as any girl can be. Their
mothers knew they could not be married
: to wnitt men
THE GIRL HERSELF
loathed the negro as much as the most
ii de.icated-minded white woman possibly
{ could She knew the relation her mother
q held 10 her father, but que vOulez
f, yous? She had never been taught
I that ANYTHING about il was wrong:
the good nuns of the Jrsuines
n Or other converts, let that alone, for it
"a would have been of no use The mother
- had her ambitions rs mothers have, no
o. matter what the cOlOrs of their SKINS may
4 be- In society il is the question Of arg-
b est fortune that most frequently stirs the
L. maternal heart. Who. therefore, can
h blame the poor creature who has never
known any better state, and whose chief
n religious sentiment was that Sine should
# love her children aUd have them Christeu-
# ed in the only churchT
Who can blame her because She wishes
Is for her child what the fashionable white
y mother SO often desires for hers good
establishment Therefore, after the young
BE- octoroon has reached the proper age. and
~ has learned all that the good nuns
can teach her her mother looks out
for good home for Der. when she is pla-
Gee
TrIs PIACEE-ING
is matter Of great importance % these
e girls and their mothers and, indeed ID
iautheir relatives. Twice year q very
select ba Is given. which the paCee wo-
d men attend. and, If course. the eGgibl5
\. girls There tte young gir sees about All
the desirable men mean gentlemen
4 men ct the loftIest social rank that arr
In the society cf the city They SEES the
h girls THE etiquette and department i