The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-07
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
life n vi Society at Panama!
H. IA. ROBINSON,
PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.

Life n vi Society at Panama!
a lady writing from Panama, extracts
from whose letters appear in the Rochester
On. W Union, gives some views of the
actual life and society of Panama. not seen
by travc;crs who pass through II TO and
from California. She thus refers to the la
dies and gentlemen (wl,itc) of Panama:
"Thc ladies' are extremely pleasing In
their manners, all possessing conversational
talent, some IN u remarkable degree. The
schools here Tor young ladies are very poor,
therefore those who have not been educated
IN Europe or the United States. have been
obliged Ia content themselves with Cducn-
ton as FAR ns book learning goes of kind
very inferior tO that our young ladies re-
cciNc. Notwithstanding this, | must say
that the general appreciation of education
IL great, and the women are naturally more
than ordinarily intelligent; making the
most of advantages. In convprsing with
them You do not remark any want Of edu-
cation; for they have all some knowledge
of ordinary branches. The gentlemen are
universally well educated, accomplished
men; some finished scholars"
The etiquette ut II ball differs somewhat
from that which regulates society here ON
such occasions. The writer says:
AT n ball here there l. no conversation
between the gentlemen and ladies' except
during the dances. As soou ns the dance
IL ended, the young lady is conducted to
her seat near the mother, aud the gcntlcmun
takes his leave. When gentleman asks "A
lady 10 dance II polka, waltz or any other
round dance. she Is engaged to him for the
whole time that piece Is played, and can
neithcr sit down, nor dance with another
When Etigned they promenade II there
. Ii
sometimes the gentlemen who have not
been fortunate enough 10 secure PARTNERS,
ask the more favored ones TO tend them one
for while; the lady has nothing TO say Ia
this transfer and at the conclusion OF the
dance she l. returned 10 her original part
nrE who thanks her for having danced
with him, and leads her to her scat.
She thus describes bali given on tho oc-
casion Of the arrival, at Panama, Of the
commander Of the troops sent by General
Mosqucra:
~ ball was given by some ten Spniards
at that time In the city, TO the command
ants OF The Spanish mCn-Of-War then visit
ing The Pacific ports. The City Hall IN
which the Legislature met, was used for
the purpose having n spacious room on the
secopd ll0or. The front of the building was
decorated with two thousand c0lurcd
aud stars. In the arches between the
pillars supporting the roof of u covered
porch were beautiful trausmrencics, pre-
scntlug VariOus notices. The guests were
received by the wife Of the French Consul,
and the sister Of one of the most noted
Generals of the Revolution. The main hall
leading 10 the ballroom appeared perfect
bower of palms. Tho willsor the dancing.
supper and dressing rooms were entirely
covered with flags Of different nations
and the Columbian coors-rcd, blue aud
yellow W-iurmUd the canOpics, the center
pieces being large painted Columbian
shields. The toilet table In the ladics'
drcSslng-room was covered with vases Of
flowers aud every variety of pOmadcs and
pcritmcry IN pretty bottles. At the head
of the ballroom, the Spanish and Column
blan flags were gracefully grouped, The
room was lighted by large chandelier
with twelve lights kerosene four smaller
ones, aud number OF side lights. The
The music was a Panama baud led 10y
'Pnganan.'
The supper was under the direction of
celebrated Spanish and a French cook. We
sat down to supper There was bOncd tur-
key, chickens, &c., with n variety of con-
icctioncry and green seal champagne and
wines of the most costly kinds flowed IN
abundance. The various dishes were orna-
mcntcd with Spanish ilags. The officers
from the squadron were iily IN number;
tile captains and officers of the English aud
American men-of war were also present.
The English commander was loaded with
medals aud decorations, which were also
worn by others. There was dancing till
i've IN the morning! The ladles' dresses
were very handsome and the Jewels mag
niiccnt. Several hnlrcsscS were there and
wore thousands of dollars worth of dIa-
monds. There are some large fortunes here.
A gentleman dying not long since, left
eighteen brothers and sisters three thousand
u year each! Sometimes there will be
twenty or twenty-five members ofOne fam
lily one lady had thlrty-two chlldrenl II
Is said the Jcie cost from S2,5OO 10 $1,000,
The writer refers 10 the insolcnce of the
"colored citizcns,n at the time the lnsur-
gentsand negroes had the upper hand In
the Government. They elected almost All
the aldermen and mcmbcrs OF the INgisla-
ture from among the negroes. Muattocs
aud quadroons salutcd one another as Don"
and "Scnor" aud hardly consldcreda white
worthy the coudesccnsion OF notice,
Ancient Races of Men.
Aided by the researches Of men Of science
in both the old and uew worlds, We are rap
idly acquiring knowledge of prehistoric
races. Ever since sir Charles Lyell has
broken ground upon this subject IN his adj
minblc work on the Antiquity Of Man, re-
searches have hoen multiplied In every Ill
rcctlon. and what was even then but dim
conjecture, has become established scicutiiic
truth.
The exploration Of some bone caves, IN
Belgium. has bcrn carried on. under the
direction of the Government of that coun-