diff --git a/pandas/core/config.py b/pandas/core/config.py
index 01664fffb1e27..b88241abeb68f 100644
--- a/pandas/core/config.py
+++ b/pandas/core/config.py
@@ -53,8 +53,10 @@
 import re
 import warnings
 
-import pandas.compat as compat
-from pandas.compat import lmap, map, u
+try:
+    unicode
+except NameError:
+    unicode = str
 
 DeprecatedOption = namedtuple('DeprecatedOption', 'key msg rkey removal_ver')
 RegisteredOption = namedtuple('RegisteredOption',
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ def _describe_option(pat='', _print_desc=True):
     if len(keys) == 0:
         raise OptionError('No such keys(s)')
 
-    s = u('')
+    s = u''
     for k in keys:  # filter by pat
         s += _build_option_description(k)
 
@@ -634,7 +636,7 @@ def _build_option_description(k):
     o = _get_registered_option(k)
     d = _get_deprecated_option(k)
 
-    s = u('{k} ').format(k=k)
+    s = u'{k} '.format(k=k)
 
     if o.doc:
         s += '\n'.join(o.doc.strip().split('\n'))
@@ -642,14 +644,14 @@ def _build_option_description(k):
         s += 'No description available.'
 
     if o:
-        s += (u('\n    [default: {default}] [currently: {current}]')
+        s += (u'\n    [default: {default}] [currently: {current}]'
               .format(default=o.defval, current=_get_option(k, True)))
 
     if d:
-        s += u('\n    (Deprecated')
-        s += (u(', use `{rkey}` instead.')
+        s += u'\n    (Deprecated'
+        s += (u', use `{rkey}` instead.'
               .format(rkey=d.rkey if d.rkey else ''))
-        s += u(')')
+        s += u')'
 
     s += '\n\n'
     return s
@@ -736,10 +738,11 @@ def inner(key, *args, **kwds):
     get_option = _get_option
     register_option = _register_option
 
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 # These factories and methods are handy for use as the validator
 # arg in register_option
 
-
 def is_type_factory(_type):
     """
 
@@ -777,8 +780,7 @@ def is_instance_factory(_type):
     """
     if isinstance(_type, (tuple, list)):
         _type = tuple(_type)
-        from pandas.io.formats.printing import pprint_thing
-        type_repr = "|".join(map(pprint_thing, _type))
+        type_repr = "|".join(map(str, _type))
     else:
         type_repr = "'{typ}'".format(typ=_type)
 
@@ -796,11 +798,11 @@ def is_one_of_factory(legal_values):
     legal_values = [c for c in legal_values if not callable(c)]
 
     def inner(x):
-        from pandas.io.formats.printing import pprint_thing as pp
         if x not in legal_values:
 
             if not any(c(x) for c in callables):
-                pp_values = pp("|".join(lmap(pp, legal_values)))
+                uvals = [str(lval) for lval in legal_values]
+                pp_values = "|".join(uvals)
                 msg = "Value must be one of {pp_values}"
                 if len(callables):
                     msg += " or a callable"
@@ -815,7 +817,7 @@ def inner(x):
 is_bool = is_type_factory(bool)
 is_float = is_type_factory(float)
 is_str = is_type_factory(str)
-is_unicode = is_type_factory(compat.text_type)
+is_unicode = is_type_factory(unicode)
 is_text = is_instance_factory((str, bytes))
 
 
@@ -835,3 +837,23 @@ def is_callable(obj):
     if not callable(obj):
         raise ValueError("Value must be a callable")
     return True
+
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Options needed in _libs
+
+pc_date_dayfirst_doc = """
+: boolean
+    When True, prints and parses dates with the day first, eg 20/01/2005
+"""
+
+pc_date_yearfirst_doc = """
+: boolean
+    When True, prints and parses dates with the year first, eg 2005/01/20
+"""
+
+with config_prefix('display'):
+    register_option('date_dayfirst', False, pc_date_dayfirst_doc,
+                    validator=is_bool)
+    register_option('date_yearfirst', False, pc_date_yearfirst_doc,
+                    validator=is_bool)
diff --git a/pandas/core/config_init.py b/pandas/core/config_init.py
index d42a1ab72b156..1dcacfb737503 100644
--- a/pandas/core/config_init.py
+++ b/pandas/core/config_init.py
@@ -110,16 +110,6 @@ def use_numexpr_cb(key):
     pandas objects (if it is available).
 """
 
-pc_date_dayfirst_doc = """
-: boolean
-    When True, prints and parses dates with the day first, eg 20/01/2005
-"""
-
-pc_date_yearfirst_doc = """
-: boolean
-    When True, prints and parses dates with the year first, eg 2005/01/20
-"""
-
 pc_pprint_nest_depth = """
 : int
     Controls the number of nested levels to process when pretty-printing
@@ -331,10 +321,6 @@ def table_schema_cb(key):
                        validator=is_text)
     cf.register_option('notebook_repr_html', True, pc_nb_repr_h_doc,
                        validator=is_bool)
-    cf.register_option('date_dayfirst', False, pc_date_dayfirst_doc,
-                       validator=is_bool)
-    cf.register_option('date_yearfirst', False, pc_date_yearfirst_doc,
-                       validator=is_bool)
     cf.register_option('pprint_nest_depth', 3, pc_pprint_nest_depth,
                        validator=is_int)
     cf.register_option('multi_sparse', True, pc_multi_sparse_doc,