The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-05
LOvE.MAKING In CUBA.
VERY PRETTY PICTURE OF THE PROCESS
ROMANCE OF AzoTEA.
Havana Letter to Chicago Tribune. ]

. ROMANCE OF AZoTEA.
! Havana Letter to Chicago Tribune.I
Last summer two sisters, who lived immt
diately opposite-there in that low house
used to come to the terrace nearly every even
ing at sunset. They were about eighteen an
!, fifteen years of age, and both very pretty
The eldest, Lola, was q black-eyed, raven
haired beauty, with the well-grown, well
developed form SO common among Cubal
women, and so rare among Cuban men. TIL
youngest, Panchita, was more delicate il
make, with flowing chestnut hair and blu,
eyes-the blue Of the pervenche-and com
; plexion Of the purest white.
There is something peculiarly lovely in
fair-skinned Habanesa the perfect oval O.
her face; her long, almond-shaped eye; the
total absence of rose-color in her cheek, make
her type of blonde beauty unknown to
Northern climes. The original, believe, il
to be found in Andalusia, whence came, also,
the fairy-ike feet which distinguish Cubans
generally.
The pretty sisters used to pace the azotea
with nonchalent grace which it was enchant.
ing to watch; Lola with cigar in her mouth,
putting vigorously; both nodding and making
signs with fingers and hands to the young
people, also smoking, on the roofs around.
sometimes Panchita would indulge in paper
cigarita, and it was very pretty to see the
dainty fingers hold it a moment to the coral
lips, and then the light smoke curl up round
the delicate little nose.
A week or two passed thus in simple salu-
tations and pretense of taking exercise, when
I discovered that a young gentleman, who
frequented the roof of that three-storied house
on the right
REMAINED sUsPICIOUsLY STATIONARY
in corner Of his azotea during the whole
| time that the sisters remained on theirs. Soon
l was certain that Panchita smoked her cigar
tia with an embarrassed air. very different
from her former natural, thoughtless grace ;
then it was evident that she fingered
moment behind her sister when they prepared
to descend, and never failed to cast parting
look in the direction of the stationary young
man. At last I surprised signals with fan
and fners, and then blown kisses from the
admirer, and soon all the evidences of passion
that tall individual on house top, with his
silhouette distinctly drawn against the sky,
can dare to give. And then when Panchita
was fairly out of sight, Pope descended also,
and, half an hour later, would be found in the
street posted outside her parlor window, wait
ing patiently for stray smile or word from
his lady-love within.
You see how convenient the windows are
constructed in this country for love-making:
reaching down to the ground, without glass,
and only the perpendicular iron bars, six
inches apart, to defend them, there is abso-
lutely nothing to prevent the tenderest con-
versation between the gallant on the sidewalk
and the belle inside the grating, or reja as it
is called.
It is, then, outside this reja, that the Cuban
lover begins his courtship, and
s1GHs HIS PRETTY NorH1NGs-
"Alma de mi vida" (soul of my life), ssCucullo |
de mi corazon' (irefy of my heart), etc.-to |
the willing, enchanted ears within. After |
period of outdoor love-making, longer or
shorter according to the ardor and sincerity of |
The wooer, he requests to see papa or mamma,
md begs their permission to be allowed to |
continue his courtship indoors. If he is
q suitable match, he is asked for
how long time he intends to pay his ad-
dresses before he de- ermines or is able to
marry. If his term be too long, he will prob
ably not be permitted to visit at the house;
but, if all is right and smooth, gracious leave
s given to come every evening. From that
hour the young lady's society belongs exclu-
,ively to him; he and she sit side by side in
he parlor, whispering and giggling together
interesting objects to those who love them;
great bores to those who do not
Such was the course of Pope and Panchi-
las loves; at the end Of three months
THE WEDDING TOOK PLACE,
although they were in truth but children, he
lot nineteen, she Just turned fifteen. One
vening, ct 8 o'clock, saw from my azotea
he pretty bride, attended by her sister
nd bevy Of fair young girls, and
by papa and mamma and
crowd of friends, set off for the
hurch. She returned with the bridegroom,
be happiest, loveliest creature I ever ,
azed on; and there was music, and dancing, !
nd feasting, and laughter, all night long in !
re brilliant house. Alas /! year later, all !
as darkness and tears withing that same !
ouse! A babe had been born who had died /
lockjaw when six days old-one-half Of the +
children of Cuba fall victims to y
lis terrible malady-and the young mother e
Ved but week after its burial, carried off by 7
galloping consumption, a complaint ex- h
emely common in the island--I may say :,
ightfully so. j
But see, while I have been telling you this =
isode of the azotea with it's melancholy ter -
nation, the sun has sunk below the horizon. =
DIV soft and tenderis this twilight There u
lger still some golden streaks on the verge .,
the horizon, where the sun went down :,
Igaze, the hues change and fade: y,
e last stil love lest till-tis gone-and all is u
gray. h
A very remarkable character has died sud G.
My in Paris-Sophie, the cook to whom as
. late DR.. Veron was indebted for his repu- is
ion as the first dinner-giver in Paris for r
netting like half 3 century. Sophie gen. Sc
lily used to come in after dinner and be re
mplimented, and in her humble way be- IL
ne acquainted with almost every man and ar
man of note in Paris from Mile. Mars and tn
le. Rachel Taglioni and the Ellslers, down NJ
modern stars-from Talma to Regnier or
g late Emperor, while plain citizen Louis ite
poleon Bonaparte, partook of the good LIT
ngs elaborated by this woman of genius; U
late statesman, whose impecuniosity ov
5 notorious, had many a battle with her tn Oh