Washington sentinel., 1853-10-13

SPANISH LADIEs.-On the Alameda or pub
lie walk of Malaga, such variety of colors
meet and dazzle the eye as to make the stran-
ger at once conclude that whatever attractive
qualities Spanish women may possess, taste in
dress cannot be considered among them. The
most striking novelty on first landing in Spain
is the mdntlia, or black veil, which is generally
worn; although here and there bonnets are
creeping in, and Spanish women are sacrificing
the only becoming peculiarly they have left, in
order to initiate the fashion of their neighbors.
There is an elegance and dressy appearance
about the mantiltd which creates surprise at its
not having been adopted by other nations; and
if Spaniards could only be made to feel how un-
becoming bonnets are to them, the rich masses
of whose splendid hair prevent the Sbonnet be-
ing properly worn, they would cherish the man
tia as comforting on them peculiar charm in
which they are safe to fear no rivals. | know
that shall be accused of insensibility and want
of taste, when | confess that my first disap-
pointment, on landing in Spain, was the almost
total absence of beauty among the Spanish
women. Poets have sung of Spain's "dark
glancing daughters and travellers have wan
dered through the country with minds so deeply
impressed with the preconceved idea of the
beauty of the women, that they have found them
all their imaginations so fondly pictured, and
in their works have fostered what | cannot
help maintaining as a mere delusion,--one
of the many in which people still indulge when
they think and dream of Spain. The women
of Spain have magnificent eyes, beautiful hair,
and, generally fine teeth; but more than that
cannot be said by those who are content to give
an honest and candid opinion. have rarely
seen one whose features could be called strictly
beautiful; and that bewitching grace and iasci-
nation about their figures, and the walk which
they formerly possessed, have disappeared with
the high comb which supported the mantiila
and the narrow bdsqu,nd--which give n pecu-
liar character to their walk With the change
in their costume those distinctive charms have
vanished.
The gaudy colors which now prevail have
destroyed the elegance that always accompany
black, in which, alone, some years since, n lady
could appear in public. No further proof OF
this is required than to see the same people at
church, where black is still considered indis-
pensable, and on the Alameda, with red dresses
and yellow shawls, or some colors equally
eaudy, and combined with as little regard to
taste Although have not yet discovered the
beauty of Spanish women, | must say that the
Malaguenidns are entitled in all that does exist
to dispute the palm with the inhabitants of any
other town we have visited. There are some
very pretty faces, and very characteristic of the
Spanish countenance. They are generally very
dark: and almost all have that peculiar pro
iecting brow, which gives to the face quite a
character of It's own. The women have uni
versal fashion of putting fresh flowers in their
hair 1t strikes one much upon first arriving,
to see those of every class even the poorest,
with some flower or another most gracefully
placed i'm their rich black hair; the beauty of
which is not little enhanced by the bright red
rose or snowy jessamine, contrasting so well
with their raven tresses. The hair is generally
worn plain--curls being seldom seen, for they
do not suit the adntlid; and if flowers cannot
be procured, some bright ribbon is invariably
worn as substitute. The love of brilliant and
snowy colors appearing to form ruling passion
in the present day, offers singular contrast to
the fashion twenty years ago, when lady who
| would venture into the street dressed in any.
thing but black, would have been mobbed and
insulted by the people. Our first visit to the
theatre at Malaga confirmed my impressions
of the exaggerated accounts generally given o
Spanish beauty.-Lady Louisa 7enaison.