The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28
THE "CAJUNs" OF LOUISIANA.
An Element of Citizenship Not Yet
Anna Igamated.
Dallas (Tex.) News.

Dallas (Tex) News.
That history repeats itself is a trite truth just
now being fully exempifed in our midst. In
the early part of this, the nineteenth century,
we, a nation, were intensely and agressively
American. With the French revolution, and the
influx of French refugees. French manners dress
and modes of thought prevailed. To such an ex-
tent this true chat Harriet Martineau, Wis
iting this country III $780, said that Except for
the peculiar manner Of walking which distin-
cuisines all American women, Broadway might
be mistaken for French street.
With the introduction of steam navigation
came another change. A trip to England. hther-
to confined to favored few, came to be in
reach of the many. They went to scott and re-
NAMED to initiate. Everything good, bad and
Indifferent found a ready welcome in this coun-
try, provided only it could be stamped Eng
lsh- English customs, manners, morals and
even minerals, were copied with an incredible
subserviency, and the highest ambition of the
average American heiress was to be allowed to
sacrifice herself and her fortune to the NIoloch
of English titled grandeur
Now. in the concluding years of the century,
the tendency Is to again become American III
the best sense of the word, and many of our
women's clubs. to encourage this patriotic move
meni. have decided that for this year. at least.
the proper study of Americans is America. SO
this is my for Offering for consideration
brief sketch of some of the inhabitants of our
neighbor State of Louisiana.
The creole of Louisiana has been a favorite
subject of the story writer. and has been so
often and charmingly described by Cable.
Grace King and the queen of Southern dialect
writers, Ruth McIsnery Stuart that of them
nothing remains to be told. But large element
of the French population of the State not
creoes but Acadians or, as they call them
selves and generally called, "Cajuns" Their
expulsion from Acadia forms one of the most
pathetic tragedies in the history of the settle
ment of oar native land. and is of additional
interest since it furnished immortal Long
fellow with he inspiration for his touching
poem, "Evangeline.'
After the treaty of Paris, by which the French
abandoned forever all controlling influence in the
new world. these unfortunate refugees by
the French government assisted to louisiana
lnVa lc IN fno NAx (Pln
where their descendants live to this day, and
where. in the midst of age of progress. they
remain distinctly medieval in thought, manners
and customs.
Their dwellings are for the most part built of
a kind of clay mixed with moss, and not
unlike the concrete and adobe houses of western
Texas. Their furniture is just about what their
ancestors considered necessary for their Acadian
farm houses over one hundred years ago. The
little treadle spinning wheel occupies con-
spcuous place in the domestic economy. and
whatever artistic taste they may have finds vent
iii the numerous cheap colored prints of the
Virgin which adorn the walls of even the
poorest.
OF books there are none. except. possibly. u
French prayer-book hich none of the family is
able to read, and which they could not under
stand anyway as their dialect differs in many
respects from the modern French.
They are in certain sense religious. but their
religion consists in the observance of the forms
and festivities especially festivals. of the Catho
lie Church. some of which very pretty but
also suggestive of the middle ages. With them
celebration of mass in the morning Is usually
followed by ball at night. an amusement Of
which they passonately fond, and in which
the old, mddle-aged. the youth and children
take part with equal zest.
They are extremely hosptabe, and in their
dwelling 1t is said the coffee pot is never allowed
to grow cold, and every chance guest is served
with cup OF this beverage, boiling hot and
very bitter, which he must not refuse on penalty
Of giving lasting offense to his host This in
veterate coffee drinking seems to be productive
of Ill effect physically, but l have sometimes
wondered If it might not i'm part account for the
low order of intellect which prevails
They are a pleasure-lOving people, and work
only CROUCH to secure the necessities of life, and
as they a-men. women and children-go bare
foot except on state occasions, and corn bread
and tassa dried beef form the staple article Of
food very little work enables man to provide
for moderately large family.
Their aversion TO regular employment might be
ascribed to a probable strain OF Indian blood
that flows i'm their veins. and for the
son they mingle with the superstitions OF the
French peasant some which come by inheritance
from their Indian ancestors.
The creoles. many of whom boast of the bluest
of the blue blood. have always treated their
plebeian fellow countrymen with good-nat ured
contempt (Which the Caiuns bitterly resent, and
have so far done nothing for their social or
mental advancement.
Politically these people are a problem. They
take very little personal interest in elections. and
are usually voted by the parish priest.
One important factor in the making of the
children ignorant foreigners into good citizens
is cur public school system, and with the Cajuns
this has failed far. partly from prejudice
against brain labor of any kind, which Is innat
and partly from the antipathy to receiving In
structicn from hereto, which is incui eated
with their religion. And as their poverty in
most cases preeludes their attending the Catho-
dren, they remain. after nearly a century OF
American citizenship, no better educated in re-
publican institutions than the immigrant Of yes
terday.