The Creole population of New Orleans are a peculiar and singular
people. And here it is proper to explain who are recognized as
_Creoles_, for I find, that almost without exception, every person
of the North understands the term, _Creole_, to mean that portion of
the inhabitants who are, more or less, shaded with African blood;
and in short, the impression is, that when you speak of them you are
speaking of those called _Quadroons_. Yet they believe that in this
class are included those of a much darker shade than the yellow persons
or mulattoes who come strictly within the class of quarter-blooded
Africans or _Quadroons_. The term Creole simply means _native born_.
The Creoles are principally descendants of the French and Spanish
settlers. They are exceedingly genteel, civil and courteous, and in
all the embellishments that adorn the gentleman and lady, they excel,
and in all their articles of dress they exhibit a degree of taste
and perfection in arrangement, that makes them easily recognized in
the common walks of life as well as in the promiscuous assembly. And
yet they are strongly attached to the footsteps and ways of their
fathers, and are exceedingly cautious in preserving their identity,
and consequently do not desire to become familiar with the manners
and custom of those “Goths and Vandals,” who have come down upon them
from the North. This portion of the population of New Orleans reside
principally in the first municipality, which is now the center of the
City. The second municipality, or American part, as it is termed, is
above, and the third is below. In the third, the inhabitants are a
mixed mass, of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues. The Creoles
being thus hemmed in, are gradually yielding and giving way to the
superior energy and force of character and adaptation to business of
those who surround them, and have given tone and vigor to every thing
of a business nature in New Orleans. Hence, the Creole reads in the
future his destiny, and is compelled to reflect that what he now looks
upon as Vandalism, will ere long crush every thing of his name and
character in the dust. This foreshadowing of his doom makes him jealous
of his more busy neighbors, and oftentimes, in view of the change that
is going on like magic before him, he becomes exceedingly captious, and
thus forbids himself to become social with his Yankee neighbors. But
the immutable laws of population which will ever make the weak give
room for the strong, force of character, influence and power of change
in associations, the ingenuity and adaptation to business of those who
surround them, and who already begin to mark them as their prey, will
take every thing from their hands, and leave them in the shades of
oblivion, only to be found by the cold and speechless marble that marks
their final resting place.