Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-29
Peruvian Women.

Lima is called the paradise of women They are called beautiful |; so they are, if you ad- mire black eyes and ebony tresses-not the dreamy black eyes of the harems, nor the sparkling black eyes of the Syrians, nor the liquid black eyes of the Egyptians but the black eyes that easily reveal the different types of character. Peruvian ladies have character, and are not afraid to show it; yet we hear nothing of equal rights and privileges among them. For them to lay claim to a right is but to possess it, for they can easily win over the priesthood, and thus have the most powerful class of Peru on their side. They are generally occupied, but do not work they look upon labor as degrading They rise early, take cup of tea and go to mass. Their toilet requires but few mo- ments. Their walking suits are neat and pretty in this respect they surpass us. The dress is black, and never touches the ground; there is no fussing or fumbling with trains white skirt is sometimes seen little below the dress, with deep hem and two tucks, and always white and clean. Prunella gait CTS are generally worn the hands are bare; the manta is thrown over the head, falling gracefully down almost to the bottom of the skirt
 The subject of dress claims most of their time and attention their ball dresses and opera and soiree suits are magnificent. Their boots, especially, are beautiful. No people have naturally as small feet as the Peruvians The Peruvian made boots are too small for foreigners.
 Peruvian ladies not very intelligent as soon as they pass beyond the schoolgirl peri cd they care little for books or literature Many learn to play the piano when young, but do not care to continue when married They are excessively courteous in their man. ners, but are not to be misled by appear ances. Their mode of salutation is more of an embrace than anything else, and they al- ways say, My house and all that I have is entirely at your disposal, and we are to be as one family" They are always wealthy in inn agination-at least they never speak of pov- erty. They love to smoke Although hand some when young, they scarcely turn 20 when they begin to fade. One thing always lasts with them, and that is their gait Their movements are gliding and graceful the same is true of the men.
 The ladies are good at shopping and mak- ing bargains they never tire or find thing too trivial to occupy their time; they are never in haste there is always & manana (to- morrow and then another. Call a laundress, and she promises to return your clothes in eight days, never sooner, except at the steam laundries, where the price is about one-third the value of an ordinary garment. Eight days pass-the laundress does not appear. She must then be looked after. The things are not ready, she says but come tomorrow and tomorrow means another week. By the time that she fully understands that you are in hurry for your clothes, she says you can have them sure estes noche (this evening" but she raises her price about three fold. Take your clothes and pay the price agreed upon, no more. The same delays may be expected in all business transactions with the Peruvi- ans. In making any purchase eyeryt hing must either be bargained for or two or three times the value will be demanded