Part 6 – Monsieur Generes – “Somewhat of a Philosopher- and very much a Gentleman.”

Jean and Zepherine’s family enlarges to include a son Henri (1806), and three more daughters, Eugenia(1808), Josephine (1812) and Fredericka (1813).

Over the next years Jean builds quite a business as a reputable dance instructor and his practicing balls and cotillion parties continue to be well attended. The typical days of Academy were on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday , the Ladies at 10 o’clock in the morning and the Gentleman at 5 in the evening. Grown persons could be taught either at the academy or their own houses.

The first half hour was devoted to learning how to enter a room , to curtsy, to pass over to one of the gray benches which lined three sides of the room and seat yourself with proper propriety. The doors were then closed and the lesson began. (1) The rigid enforcement of his rule caused attendants to be punctual , the value at which was often expressed by Monsieur Generes, and enforced by his closed door. (2)

Mary Slocum , a student of Jean’s, wrote an autobiography of her life and devotes a chapter to her recollections under his tutelage. She describes him thus (2):

Monsieur was somewhat of a philosopher and very much a gentleman.

Monsieur Generes was always, and his family as well, handsomely dressed for reception days. He was attired agreeably to the fashion of the time, the absence of powdered hair being the only exception. He wore plaited linen cambric ruffles. and a black cloth dress coat and “small clothes” of the same color and texture. The breeches terminating just below the knee, with a a bow of black ribbon on the outer termination. I have heard them called shorts and knee breeches. He wore silk stockings and pumps with large gold buckles on them.

Henri was a miniature edition of Monsieur Pere, without the gold buckles, he wore long pantaloons , very tight and narrow at the ankles and fastened on the outer with a bunch of ribbons.

Mme. Generes was noted for her creole style of turban, in a fine madras handkerchief, which was a St. Domingue style of dress. These are also called a tignon. I found a picture by Agostino Brunias which gives you an idea.

Marcelina and Eugenie acted as assistants , demonstrating the graceful way to walk onto the dance floor. They also made sure the pupils held their skirts “in the left hand, slightly drawn back and lifted a little above the ankle bone , up to the point their satin sandals were laced with ribbons.” (1)

Harry Williams, a fiddler , provided the music.

A traveler’s account of his time in Alexandria described his experience at one of M. Generes’ balls (5):

They were considered the most pleasant parties ever given in Alexandria. An English gentlemen of high rank, went to one of them with some friends, and struck with admiration at the scene presented, declared that ‘he had never seen before so many beautiful girls collected in one room, or witnesses so much hearty, honest, unaffected happiness and enjoyment.”

Richard Bland Lee’s niece, Ann Collins, attended his classes. Her aunt described her progress in a letter to Ann’s father:

“One thing in which she is greatly interested in which she has made considerable improved (sic) is her dancing – we live next door to the school and you can tell by Ann’s countenance at any time when it is opened. Nothing [is as] animating as the sound of the Fiddle.”

“Ann will finish her dancing school this week and have (sic) attained sufficient I think of this accomplishment- she dances very well.”

Her aunt also wrote :

“she has never had the slightest sickness but once of that by staying at a Ball till one o’clock and drinking rich chocolate just [before] going to bed…”

Jean and family would also travel around the surrounding big cities, such as Baltimore, Georgetown and Washington D.C. to bring their practicing balls to a larger audience. They would sometimes stay the entire season and rent a house. It was on one of these trips Jean files a statement while in Baltimore in 1806 that his wife already had a slave named Eliza, age 7-9 years old that was her property before their marriage. With the new slave anti-importation laws in place, it was customary to file this form.

While traveling, Jean would often advertise that he would meet at a tavern or hold the ball at a hotel. During this time, taverns and hotels were common centers for social as well as civic life. One such place he held a ball was a Mr. Stelle’s Ballroom and hotel in Washington. This was a popular meeting place where on one day you could have a Grand Fencing Exhibition, the next day an Independence Day Gala with heads of state such as Alexander Hamilton in attendance, to practicing balls from a reputable travelling dance instructor!

Mr. Stelle was a prominent hotelier and his hotel was located in Square 687 overlooking the Capitol (2). Here is a map of Washington D.C. during this time, square 687 is right above the word Capitol (3):

Monsieur Generes was particular about the atmosphere of his balls , stating in 1809 that he would have to exclude everyone except parents from the Saturday evening dances. In some ads he included a request that “the gentleman appear in a dress suitable to the etiquette of an assembly room , ” followed by the sterner injunction (1):

“Young gentleman who come with an intention of dancing are requested to provide themselves with Shoes, as none will be allowed to dance in BOOTS.”

The offensive boot Jean was probably referring to is the Hessian boot on the bottom right in this picture. The two shoes in the middle were likely his preference :

One of Monsieur Generes’ students who was to become famous in this time period was Peggy O’Neale Eaton. At a ball in Georgetown in 1816 she garnered “the prize of the ball” from Dolly Madison. I learned of this connection from a fellow ancestry.com member who calls himself “taskerg”. Here is more of what he had to say :

The Eaton Affair was the tabloid story of its time — and perhaps of all time. Peggy O’Neale Eaton, the brash and unconventional wife of President Andrew Jackson’s secretary of war, was branded a “loose woman” and snubbed by Washington society. The president’s defense of her honor fueled intense speculation and gossip, and the scandal began.

Before it was over, the entire Cabinet resigned, duels were threatened, assassinations were attempted, and John Calhoun’s hopes for the White House were dashed, and Andrew Jackson’s first term was nearly a failure. Washington’s hostesses were the only bloody victors.

Award-winning author John Marszalek systematically tracks the escalation of events in a story that teems with conspiracy, slander, and paranoia. Reaching deep into the social context of the Jacksonian Age, he shows how even the most powerful politicians ceded to an honor code that could not be broken.

Both a riveting read and a fascinating window into our present-day politics of scandal,The Petticoat Affair is a deft exploration of the mores of another era brought to life by the timeless forces of ambition, conspiracy, and polit
More details: The petticoat affair: manners, mutiny, and sex in Andrew Jackson’s White House By John F. Marszalek