Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-29
MARTINIQUE TYPES.
SOCIETY IN ST. PIERRE AS IT AP-
PEARS SUNDAY MORNING.
GAY GRISETTES IN EBONY AT
NIGHT.

French-Creole Aristocracy i'll Partisan
Early Matin Service-A Beauty
Show on Parade-The Lazy Land of
Josephine.
In this French Island tMartinique.
the birthplace Of the Empress Jose
phinel Sunday is not only Il universal
fete day, but the Gveliest business day
of the week. Then the shops and mar
kets. saloons and music-halls are at
their best. The church is crowded in
the morning. aud balls and the opera
the order Of the evening. But first OF
all the duties of the religion, accord
ing to the lights of the people, are relig-
iously attended to. Rains or excessive
neat do not thin the congregation, as
too often in Protestant communities.
Nobody in any walk of life neglects
the early matin service or later mass,
or twilight veSperS; and in the Sanct-
uarics, where ladies and their black
stone floor, it is plain to SEE that each
has come to worship the Lord in the
beauty of holiness" rather than to be
seen Of men. Young ladies from the
converts and their brothers from the
mOnaSteries, orphans from the asy-
lums, and soldiers from the barracks,
each order in a separate body, are
marshaled into church by their respect
i've leaders, and everybody is dressed
in the best and brightest that he or she
can afford.
Outside the cathedral some female
vendors of cakes and bOnbOns have
pitched their benches under the trees,
and offer for sale an assortment OF
goodies not procurable on week days
These women wear each a mans straw
hat, clean white chemise, short black
skirt, showing bare feet and ankles
and innumerable strings of glass beads
upon the neck and arms.
! They drive brisk trade in the morn,
ing as the breakfastless people return
from their prayers; and after mass
when the sun gets around and the
church square is temporarily deserted
the cake-wOmen cover their Sanctitied
edibles with ragged blankets, that look
as if they had seen unwashed service
since time out of mind, and stretch
themselves in the shade to smoke and
gossip until the vesper hour brings
more customers.
t On Sunday afternoon fine military
band plays in the Savanna, the parade
ground Of the Batterie d. Esnoty. and
thither the populace flock en- masse
Sitting on bench in the shade of a
tamarind tree we watch the passing
show. In the matter of horses and
carriages Central Park or Rotten Row
would certainly outvie this Martinique
corso but in brilliancy of coloring
picturesque effect. and evident enjoy
ment of the people, the latter must
carry off the palm. Here comes a
handsome carriage filled with French
creole ladies of high degree, whose
beautiful faces, charming vivacity OF
! manner, and costumes of the latest
Partisan fashion are the admiration OF
all beholders. They are fair represent
atiYes of the wealth and aristocra cy
of the island and are escorted and at
tended by train of male relatives and
gallantS.
/ The Equipages.
Fine modern carriages and blooded
horses are rare enough in st. Pierre to
attract universal attention, to say
nothing Of the beauty they are carry
ing. Cuban volantes and family
coaches of antique pattern are much
more commonly used, even by the
highest class of society, and wretched
looking facres drawn by mule teams
are numerous.
/ This crowd of black, brown, yellow
tan, and cream colored folk form a
very interesting study. There are
many lovely faces among them outside
the aristocracy of pure French blood
1t is particularly noticeable that the
''cOlored" creOleS of French extraction
that is, the mingling of French and
negro blood-are much handsomer and
more graceful and pleasing than those
Of English or Scotch admiXture Per
haps the most cOquettish and frivolous
creatures on earth, and the one least
burdened by morals" is the French
quadroon, or mulattress. They are
Partisan grisettes in ebony, and with
their large roguish eyes, softly waving
hair, well-rounded figures, graceful
pose, and piquant, dainty ways, are
exceedingly attractive. In manner,
complexion, and general appearance
they resemble the pretty quadroons of
Louisiana; and like them, fade early,
their average span of life being less
than 30 years. Bot these tropical
flowers of Martinique bloom to perfec-
ton while about it, and get the utmost
out of life that their opportunities af-
ford. On ordinary days this class Of
women 60 about the street in loose.
flowing robes of light material suited
to the climate; but on state occasions
and especially on Sunday they appear
in gorgeous array of silk and satin
in all the hues of the rainbow and in
audacious combinations of color that
nature never was guilty Of
Their skirts, covered with lace
flounces and furbelows, are made short
enough to show the stockingless feet