CHAPTER I
THE SOUTHERN SOCIAL CIRCLE
FOR many years the South has been noted for its beautiful Quadroon
women. Bottles of ink, and reams of paper, have been used to portray the
"finely-cut and well-moulded features," the "silken curls," the "dark and
brilliant eyes," the "splendid forms," the "fascinating smiles," and
"accomplished manners" of these impassioned and voluptuous daughters
of the two races,--the unlawful product of the crime of human bondage.
When we take into consideration the fact that no safeguard was ever
thrown around virtue, and no inducement held out to slave-women to be
pure and chaste, we will not be surprised when told that immorality
pervades the domestic circle in the cities and towns of the South to an
extent unknown in the Northern States. Many a planter\'s wife has
dragged out a miserable existence, with an aching heart, at seeing her
place in the husband\'s affections usurped by the unadorned beauty and
captivating smiles of her waiting-maid. Indeed, the greater portion of the
colored women, in the days of slavery, had no greater aspiration than that
of becoming the finely-dressed mistress of some white man. At the negro
balls and parties, that used to be so frequently given, this class of women
generally made the most splendid appearance.