The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05
ND HUNTS OF CREOLE GIRLS.
Lenten Prayers at the Chapel or St Roch,
New Orleans. md the Help Of 81. Joseph.

Lent is a busy season for the creole girls Of
New Orleans. They are all devout Catholics,
and II, by any chance, they should find time
hanging heavy on their hands. they can en-
ploy 1t in what every creole girl considers as q
highly profitable way; that is, man9uvres
for the capture of a husband.
These Lenten marpuvres are none of those
vulgar and secular methods resorted to by or
binary young women at ordinary times. Fine
feathers and fine food and fine phrases may
serve their turn at Faster and thereafter, but
during Lent everything is on quito n different
plane.
The favorite Lenten matrimonial promoter
is the neupdtnc. The nsurdine Is. literally, Sim
ply a period Of nine days, but in TIE mind OF
the creole girl It means nine successive days
of fasting. prayer. and pilgrimage for some es-
pecial object. The especial object is pretty
generally Il good husband. The creole girl is
like her distant relative, the French girl. Life
holds very little for her before she Is married
and nothing at all II she remains unmarried
past her bloom and her youth. So she wants a
husband, and she wants one openly and ear
nestly.
1t is not necessary, however, that she avow the
object of her neupdtne. People perform these
pilgrimages with other things than matrimony
In view, and people may 10 left to decide for
themselves whether the fair ~penitent Is pray
ing for n husband or for her mothers restora-
tion To health, or her fathers success in bust
ness.
The ravorite destination OF these sentimental
pilgrims Is the little chapel or IT. Roch. on the
outskirts of the city. The chapel sta nds In tho
middle Of Il small cemetery. and Is as quaint
and pretty a bit OF architecture as you will find
In New Orleans. II IA a tiny Gothic church.
completely covered with ivy, even to the bel
fry, with its three small bells. At the gate of
the cemetery Is a small house. where the faith
ful buy the vCtive candles which even from
there, can DO seen nickering on the steps below
the altar.
The ,pl~lgrimages to the chapel must be made
on foot and fasting. Each time n candle must
he added IL, the taring group m the little dim
church. and to make assurance doubly sure, IL
1, Just AS well TO make use ~ the well near by.
ms, wei has remarkable, properties, III you
kneel and put your hand down ON the water
while you make. your wish, 1t is almost as
good IA settled that you will get ii,
Tho creole girls have another matrimonial
agent which is very powerful. In fact, II
would really seem to be nohOdy's fault hut the
maid. The visitor In New Orleans will he very
likely To notice, outside OF the small shops con
tanning PRAYER books, Images, and other church
paraphernnlia, a small basket with dozens Ot
lutte lead cases about the size OF n peanut
shell. II he has the curiosity to open one OF
very rude image Of ST. Joseph. These con-
yenient pocket editions OF the saint can he
bought Tor hye cents apiece. so they are within
Joseph really effective, he must be "A gift. Even
hat Is easy OF accomplishment
~, 3oSepni s-Marranted TO pTing a hus3and'
lines 1t takes patience and perseverance,, but
all comes right In the end. They tell a lit
the absolute dependence which can no placed
on The saint even n extremity, There was a
creole glrl WHO hah carried her little leaden
most worn out. One day In a tf OF disgust al
the tardy realization OF her hopes, abe picked