The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-06-16
NUDE TABLE WATERS.

aguay:
NUDE TABLE WATERS.
"Shortly after my arrival at Ascun-
cion, 1 was invited by Senor j. to din
ner, and, having accepted the invita-
ton, went on the following day at the
late and fashionable hour of two o clock.
Several friends were assembled for the
occasion; but at table / was placed
between two of the Misses j., young,
blooming, (for most of the females of
of Ascuncion are very fair,) and with
out doubt very pretty women. Guess,
then, my confusion, to find that we
were waited on at dinner by half
dozen boys and girls, little slaves, all
perfectly nude. Their liveries had cost
nothing, their shoes and stockings had
cost nothing, not one Of them had
dressed for dinner; they were one and
all in stotu a,dterP. At first, fidgeted
in my chair, and threw furtive glances
around; but seeing every one on eth
er side of me, including my fair COM
panions, as composed as if the most
rigid decorum had been studied, L
gradually recovered my serenity, and
learned thenceforward to know that
whatever has become the custom of the
country, is never supposed by the peo-
pie to have anything oaltre in it. How
are we in truth, the creatures of habit?
| got SO accustomed to these unclothed
attendants, during my sojourn in Par
aguay and Corientes, that on my return
to Buenos Ayres, thought there was
great affectation, in dressing out the
same class of servants there from top
to toe"
CONVERSATION.
As the body is left loose and unre-
strained by dress in Paraguay, so the
conversation of all classes is the most
unsophisticated in its construction that
, can be imagined There is no circum-
spection, no subtlety, no mode of speech
. by which one thing is made to stand
, for another. At dinner, or any other
occasion, right before their daughters
the parents sometimes give dissertations
|, on domestic medicines, &C., which make
strangers blood run cold, but which
, they discourse about with all the vOlu
billity of clever mothers, in their ma
turer wears who have raised large
, family by dint of their constant appli
cations to the doctor, and to which
: their rdaughterslisten as gravely through
the details, as if they were hearing
/ counsels on the improvements of the
a mind.
5 NIGHT HABITS.
2 In the principal streets of the city
l long and continuous corridors are bull
/ which run along on one side of it. Th'
v principal shop-keepers and merchant
e who inhabit this part of the town, OF
!. very warm night of summer, conver
f these corridors into common bed rooms
; The portable beds of these citizens ar
a drawn out and ranged along the GOV
: cred way; and it was curious to Sc
It them, as you passed along toward te
II o'clock at night, preparing for bed, an
). some were already enjoying their night
= repose. Some were to be seen sittin
: on the side of their stretchers, yawr
ing, or smoking their cigars others ur
dressing with the greatest sang .froi
here one snorning, there another col
versing with his next neighbor-an
every one unconcious of the oddity {
S. the scene in the eyes of strange
lr The same custom prevailed more G
ir less through the.city, beds and stretcl
" ers obstructing the way in every dire,
re ton. Very little police is exercised
,e Ascuncion, but such thing as robber
w. or theft committed during the night,
,r unheard of: and in fact such securit
,g was felt and enjoyed that people re
as without any nocturnal fears.