The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-07-04

In the shops, which line three sides Of
the grand square, are found almost all
the elegant products Of art and mechani-
cal ingenuity. The long colonades which
protect them from the sun, are paved
with smooth pebbles, and are sufficiently
wide for several persons to walk abreast.
Here you encounter, at all hours of the
day, the indolent and the active, the
grave and the gay of Lima. A more
motley crowd in color and costume can
not well be conceived. The language of
almost every nation on the globe throws
its peculiar accents on the ear. The
poorest have on them generally some ar
ticle Of luxury or refinement. The Span
lady is seen in her Sauary manto the
mestizoe in her gayly-6gured shawl, and
the quadroon in her white-kid slippers.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL l. Since the great
earthquake of 1746, the houses in Lima
have generally been confined to one story.
A few families Of wealth, who consulted
their pride more than their personal safe
ty, have run their dwellings little high
er. The walls are uniformly Of sun-baked
brick, and the roofs fat. The more pre-
tending houses have an open court be-
tween the heavy gate and the main
building. The front of the dwelling, with
its Lfresco paintings, and gilded window
mes,glimmering through the evergreens
which fill the court, has fine effect
every thing looks inviting and cool, well
suited to the climate-but dash ofsnow
would ruin its attractions.
Almost every house betrays the Moor.
ish origin of its architecture in its yer.
anda. This appendage resembles long
capacious bird-cage, fastened to the wall
it is composed of lattice-work, and print
ed green. Here the inmates can observe
the passing crowd without being them
selves seen. But all the buildings il
Lima have about them the evidences o
decay. Many of the mansions Of the ricl
have passed into the hands of foreigl
merchants, and are used as counting-house
while others have been converted int
hotels and restaurants. Many families oi
distinction, after the revolution, returned
to Spuin and not few Of those VIII
remain are slowly exhausting the rem
nants Of their once splendid fortunes. I
Spaniard with the most diluted drop @
noble veins, will about as soon starve a
work. He regards labor as a degrade
tion.
THURSDAY, April 2. The novelty
costume, which first strikes the strange
in Lima is the savary manto of the ladie'
At distance this dress looks like tw
petticoats the one hanging down wher
all petticoats should hang, and the othe
drawn up over the head. as if lifted by
little whirlwind in mischief But th
lower garment proves to be a rich sill
skirt,so plated and arranged as to betra
the swelling outline of the person and ia
in wooing drapery around the limb
} the upper one combines the advantages
the hood and mantle. 1t is fastened I
: the bottom within the band Of the skir
and falls over this cincture in Howin
wreath while the top is gathered ov'
the head and face, and so held by Il
hand within as to expose but one eye
The disguise is complete; no husbar
could recognise his own wife in such
dress.
The apology for this dress is, that
4 enables lady to 60 out in the mornin
. to mass or shopping, before she has mat
1 her toilet. The objections to it lie in Il
e facilities which it lends to purposes Of
t very different character. 1t wells 10
I intrigue from all but the guilty T.
o jealous care of the husband and the slee
). less vigilance of the duenna, are ali
n baffled by its impenetrable folds. Wi
C the young it often paves the way to ru
and life of crime No virtuous col
d munity would tolerate its presence for
d moment 1t has been relinquishcd
It some of the better families in Lima, a
e was once put under the ban of legisl
l. tive statute but it still survives, and
y still in extensive use. The Evil OI
, could such a thing be, might drop tel
rs over its fall.
1t How the heart turns from such a p
ture as this, to that Of one whose brea
r ing features throw at this moment tn
g. unveiled sweetness on my eye. Born
Q. other climes. she blooms here in all
ID native modesty and grace. There is
,k air about her, delicacy,a and heart Il
lie speak the truthfulness of her nature, q
al her freedom from those affectations VIII
ne vanity and a false taste induce.