The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-11-04

in the drawing room respondent |
all the paraphernalia and furbelow
known to the inventors of feminin
toilets. They are splendid dressers
"a little too much display of colcrs
perhaps, to please the critical eyai
but after all with general make uE
that would do infinite credit to tle
Empress of tho French. The plan
and guitar are both in requisition un
til dinner, which is served at fivd
o'clock. At the dinner table is ofted
congregated the wit and intellect Of
large circle, and under the exhiler.I
ating Influences of the wine and the
inspiring presence Of the women the
mots and repartees como thick and
fast. These dinners are most enjoy.
able affairs. The conversation is ed.
flying and the victuals gratifying
After the principal courses are re-
moved dessert and coffee are brought
on. 1t is habit of the country new
or to drink tea or coffee during or
with the meal. After coffee, cigars
are served and lit at the table, when
the ladies arise and the gentlemen
wind up the meal with cognac ct aqua.
The house is then open to miscel-
laneous callers. The evenings arc,
spent partly In the house and partly
in the garden. The most delicious
outdoor music, that of the violin, flute
and harp is often blended With the
melody of sweet voices. At eleven
o'clock chocolate isserved to the COM
pany in tiny cups, and by twelve the
last guest has retired from the draw
ing room. Beyond that hour none
would presume to stay.
This is the every day, indoor life of
the Peruvians. It is not infrequept-
ly varied by ball at a private house
or at the Presidents palace, which
everybody attends and at which
everybody trips the light fantastic
toe with the koenest zest and relish.
The ladies are entirely independent
Of household cares. Everything is
entrusted to housekeeper and an
army of servants, whose neglect the
law gives the master the power to
punish. The domestic machinery
moves with the regularity of clock
work, yet the real mistress of the
house knows no more about what she
is to dine upon than her husband 5
uncle who is spending the day with
him. This is the settled rule of the
country, but it scarcely conforms to
the Americans Interpretation OF do
mestic economy. That, however, is
no criterion for the Peruvians. They
are naturally lndolent, under the
ennervating influences of tropical
climate. That a Peruviana prefers,
as rule, to blush unseen until late
hour in the day, is not surprising
That she repudiates the Kitchen is
still less so.
l must not forget to mention that
the ladies of Peru are natural politi-
clans. Not that they arc voters
They have not even applied for suf
frage. They are probably awaiting
the advent of a George Francis Train
or Susan B. Anthony to lead them
on to the entire subjugation of the
sterner sex; but, pending this they
exercise by other means a potent in
fiuence in political affairs. Not q
revolution or war is fermenteG but
the ladies are concerned in it. Not
a political campaign is planned but
the services of their female allies are
called into rcquisition by the candi.
dates. They coax, and bribe, and
fatter, and inveigle into their tolls
many honest men who would other
wise vote straight ticket with not
a scratch thereon, but who under the
Establishments of the sex are turned
heels over head in their political pre-.
ferences. In consequence of this q
large part ofthe clectioneering is done
among the ladies under the guise oil
friendly calls. Many times cause
is successfully plead and won at a
government ball. Not infrequently
a President is made or unmade amidst
the "giddy mazes of the dancer"
l mention this for the benefit OF
our own politicians. This country is
rapidly approaching the same end, OF
worse one. The moral is that can.
didates must cultivate the ways Of
gallantry and of smarter diplomacy
And the further deduction may be
drawn that he who is possessor oil
the most "cheek" and "brass," that
he who is willing to make chatter.
ing babboon of himself, and capel
round the vinegary old maids and an
Gent widows the sprightliest, will
win. over modest men, in the race
for Office and the consequent spoils