“The coward lives a long time.”[29]--[_Louisiana._]
[29] The word _capon_ is variously applied by Creoles as a term of
reproach. It may refer rather to stinginess, hypocrisy, or
untruthfulness, than to cowardice. We have in New Orleans an ancient
Creole ballad of which the refrain is:
Alcée Leblanc
Mo di toi, chère,
_To trop capon
Pou payé menage!_
C’est qui di ça,--
Ça que di toi chère,
Alcée Leblanc!
In this case the word evidently refers to the niggardliness of
_Alcée_, who did not relish the idea of settling $500 or perhaps
$1,000 of furniture upon his favorite quadroon girl. The song itself
commemorates customs of slavery days. Those who took to themselves
colored mistresses frequently settled much property upon them--the
arrangement being usually made by the mother of the girl. Housekeeping
outfits of this character, constituting a sort of dowry, ranged in
value from $500 to even $2,500; and such dowries formed the foundation
of many celebrated private lodging houses in New Orleans kept by
colored women. The quadroon housekeepers have now almost all
disappeared.