Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-01-07
RECoLLRCTgeNs OF SOUTH AME
RIEA

dalusia, is evidently Of Moorish origin. nodi-
6ed, and thiakI may say beaatiGed by A
nlerican taste.
Although, the Sayary Nante, at first sight
cauSc slight Revision OF the fceliags, by the
irresistible allnremcnts which al masqaeraaes
produce and by the Ulea which is naturally
associated with q OF intrigue and gadlantry, Il
soon grows familiar and the taste improves by
acquaintance, when the foreigner psfCeIves
great neatness and beauty in the costume. |
have seen no individual WAC did act expert
ence change of opinion IN regard to 1t and
who dill not relinqlish the idea of ITS being
immodest, an impression apt to be formed
on a first visit TO Lima
The material of which this hahanent Is
made, IS kind of camhlet. the better quality
is composed Of silk, and gathered into Ilsits
by the needle, resembling the Indcpturcs IN a
fur.ed fan or iil.et shirt ruiile, the colour
and texture are various according 10 the taste
and circumstances Of the weafer. The body
of the dress is made to fit close round the
form and to follow the shape with exac tRess,
bullying largely at thc hips and diminishing
downward. 1t is not put on. as ali noaest pet
hcasts should be, over the hGaa, but lkc a
pair of pantal0ans, and fastens neatly round
the waist. From ue knee iais rich trimming
OF Planters lace Of 4 colour eorresu JDGnw
VIII AH1A bl Tue uISS5, Vts.tH -lfSo IL z h'tt
mad delicate appearance. The form OF the
Saya has not a more striking prototype in my
mind, than its resemblance to a chicken
breasted coffin, with its lateral edges rounded
Attached TO the back part OF the Syria or pet
hcoat, is large black silk shawl, called the
Manto, which is brought over the head and
covering tl.1 bust, leaves only a small aperture
for the lcit eye.
Beneath the Manic boddlee is usually
worn, which gives to the breast a correspon-
ding symmetry with the body of tie dress
On the whole, the costume gives pleasant
play to the Imagination; as lis wearers pass
IN their promenades the stranger is irresisti-
bly, tempted to pry through the opening of
the vel to behold the hidden portrait it con
ceals, and if IN some instances he obtains
passing glimpse of a VEINS fresh from the
sea" at other times he is struck aghast by the
sudden revelation Of shriyclled Hecate or
one of the Funenides; those, however, who
have favorable opinion of their own attrac-
tons seldom fail to crafty the gusto of the
inqusitiye passenger. This they effect by III
gen,enslv throwing open the Manic ifthcY
intended TO renew its adjustment.
When matters of the heart are involved,
ladies here, as well as elsewhere, are seldom
behind their lords IN accomplishing their
ends.
They never allow this costume to be crit
eised, nor is it ever spoken Of by themselves
except in the superlatiye degree .Buenisimo,'
as it is esteemed the Ultima Thule Of all that
is beautiful and delicate and not to be Of this
opinion is destitute Of taste, If not downright
vandalism.
One of the most striking pecuIiarities of the
females of this part of the world, is the
smallness of their feet, the early confinement
of which by tight shoes, prevents their natu-
raj Gevelopement-Sucb is their astonishing
eiiminution, that in SOME instances they APP
pear too contracted for use. 4 fine foot il an
indispensable element in the composition of
Limanian beauty, as a large one is consider
ed the last misfortune. To render the foot
more conspicuous they wear white cordo-
van or silk shoe over highly CLOSED Eng
lish silk stocking; this device under a brilliant
black saya produces by the contrast the in
tended effect, and like the Chiara oscura in
painting, detatches sing lie object from the
groupe, and brings it into more tangible re-
lief
There is, however. nothing painful in the
movement OF these little yanities,
(which underneath the pettcoat,
Like little mco, play in and out
As tho they feared the light"
Instead oc the totterng gait we would ex-
poet to see IN Chinese belle, all IS ease and
gentJity; the feet are squared to a becoming
angle, supporting the entire weight of the
body on the heel a"1 toe, and performing all
the locomotive eyolIiionS willi acknowledged
gracefuness. Should pair of these pad
dies be seen propeliing their way down Dati-
more street, they would excite more tip toe
curiosity than hon from the lair of Mogu-
Ian Prince.
This passion for pretty feet IS universal
30 much SO that the club footed race Of Airi-
ca whom partial nature has cursed with
black phz. are ueycr seen in parade or on
"a festival days without aspiring to uniformity
in this particular, OH Which occasions man
feels his coras witch, by seeiug thcir feet
crowded into compasses So small that they
frequently resemble masses OF superabundant
flesh rising over the conPressions of Tour
neouoit. w.
The celebrated Italian poet, Metastasio,
was the son OF ii common mechanic, and
used, when little boy, to sing his extempo-
raneous verses about the streets. The father
ofIfayden, the great musical composcr,was a
wheelwright The father of the painter,
Opie, was working carpenter, in Cornwall.
The parents OF Sebastian Lastalio, the ec-
giant Latin translator of tie bible, were poor
peasants, who lived among Zee mountains Of
Dauphinv The Able Hautciuelle, who dis
tingn;shed himself In the seventeenth century