The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-11-23
IaAirs' Department,
THE WOMEN OF SPAIN.

ALL - V4 ~ &@A
On the Alameda, or public walk Of NAL
aga, such a variety Of colors meet and dag
zle the eye, as 10 make the stranger at once
concluded that, whatever attractive qualities
Spanish women may possess, taste in
dress can not be considered among them.
The most striking novlty, on frs, landing
in Spain, is the mdntiHa, OIL black veil.
which is generally worn,a although here and
there bonnets are creeping in, and Spanish
women are sacrificing the only becoming
peculiarly they have left, in order to i'm
ilate their neighbors. There is an ele-
gance and dressy appearance about the
mantilla which creates surprise at its not
having been adopted by other nations +; and
if Spaniards could only be made 10 feel
how unbecoming bonnels are 10 lhem--the
rich masses of whose splendid hair pre-
vent the bonnet being properly w%orn--lhey
would cherish the mantilla, as comforting
on them a peculiar charm, in which they
are safe to fear no rivals.
know that | shall be accused of insen-
sibility and want of taste, when | confess
that my first disappointment on landing in
Spain was the almost total absence Of
beauty among Spanish women. Poets
have sung of SPANS "dark, glancing
daughters and travellers have wandered
through the country with minds so deeply
impressed with the preconceived 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 | eau not help maintaining is a
mere d%elusion--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 can not be said by
those who are content 10 give an honest
and candid o%piaion. lhave rarely seen one
whose features could be called strictly
beautiful, and that b%ewitching grace and
fascination about their fingers and theil
beautiful walk which they formerly
possessed, have disappeared with the
high comb which supported The mantilla
and The narrow basquina--which gave
peculiar character 10 their walk. Will
the change in their coslume, those distinc
live charms have vanished. The gaudy
colors which now prevail lave destroyed
the elegance that always accompanies
black, in which alone, some years since, +
lady could appear in public. No further
proof of this is required han 10 see thu
same people at church, where blacks il
considered indispensable, and on iht
Alameda, with red dresses and yellow
shawls, or some colors equally gsudy, ant
combined with as little regard TO taste.
Although | have not yet discovered TIT
beauty Of Spanish women, | must say tina
the Malaguenians are fairly entitled, il
all that does exist, to dispute the palm will
the inhabitants Of any other town we hav'
visited. There are some very pretty faces
and characteristic of the Spanish coun
lance. They are generally very dark
and almostall have that peculiar projecting
brow which gives 10 the face quits char
acter ofils own.
The women of Spain have a universe
custom Of putting fresh flowers in ihei
hair. 1t strikes one much, upon first ar
rivaing, 10 see those Of every class, evel
The peasant, with some:aower or anolhe
most gracefully placed in their rich, blacl
hair ; the beauty Of which is not a it'll
enhanced by the bright red rose or snow
jessamine, contrasting SO well with thei
raven tresses. The hair is generally worl
plain--curls being seldom seen, for they d,
not suit the mantilla; and if flowers cal
not be procur ed. some bright ribbon is 10
variably worn as a substitute. The low
Of brilliancy and snowy colors appearing
to form a ruling passion in the present day
offers a singular contrast 10 The fashion
twenty years %ago--when a lady VIII,
would have yentured into the street dresse,
in anything but black, would have bee
mobbed aud insulted by the people. Gu
first visit 10 the Theater at Malaga con
' irmed my impressions Of The ~exaggerate
accounts generally given of Spanish beauty
, LADY Louisa TENSIONS Castle an,
.AndahuSia.