Old Creole Days

Old Creole Days, seven short stories by G.W. Cable, published in 1879. Later editions also include the novelette Madame Delphine, and all deal with the local color of 19th‐century New Orleans.

“Café des Exilés” is a romantic tale of a smuggling plot of 1835, set in the café of kindly oldM. D'Hemecourt. Major Galahad Shaughnessy, gallant leader of the conspirators, causes their failure by an excess of cunning, but wins the hand of D'Hemecourt's daughter Pauline. “Jean‐ah Poquelin” tells of a former slave trader who suddenly goes into retirement in his suburban house. Because of the disappearance of his brother Jacques, the ruinous aspect of his grounds, and his fierce exclusion of trespassers, old Poquelin comes to have an evil reputation. When he dies, it is revealed that Jacques is a helpless and gruesome leper, whom Jean has personally concealed and cared for during these years. “'Tite Poulette” is the story of Kristian Koppig, a young Dutchman who falls in love with Poulette, daughter of his neighbor, Madame John. Kristian is injured while championing Poulette in a quarrel, and she nurses him to health. He proposes marriage, but she refuses, heartbroken, because Madame John has a strain of Negro blood. The romance concludes happily when the older woman reveals that she is only Poulette's foster mother, the girl's white parents having died during her infancy. “Madame Délicieuse” tells of the 15‐year‐long misunderstanding between General de Villivicencio, who clings to the outmoded Creole code of honor, and his gentle and retiring son Dr. Mossy, who champions science and common sense. Mossy will not marry his beautiful fiancée, Madame Délicieuse, because his father has disinherited him. Through a complicated intrigue, the young woman brings about their reconciliation.