, 1880-09-13
Ladies' of Lima.

ebony treSSeS-nOt tne uIeamy olacA
eyes of the harems, nor the sparkling
black eyes of the Syrians, nor the
LIQUID black eyes OF tie 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
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 gener-
ally occupied, but do not work; they
look uponplabor as degrading. They
rise early, take cup of tea and go to
mass. Their toilet requires but d few
nor. ents. 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. A
white skirt is sometimes seen little
below the dress, with u deep hem and
two tucks, and always white and clean.
Prunella CATERS are generally worn;
the hands are bare; the manta is thro wn
over the head, falling gracefully down
almost to the bottom OF the skirt. The
nsaata, not being worn with us, needs
some description.
Bv way OF illustration let us take one
of the large silk shaWls, with deep
fringes, that were worn in the States
years ago; dye it black; then ON one
side, about yard from one corner, re-
move half yard of fringe, and put in
It's place a piece OF black lace about
two inches deep; We now have a
nantd. 1t is the manta that gives the
charm 10 Spanish ladies in the eyes of
foreign men; they always praise it;
they always speak Of the manta when
ever they mention the beauty of the
women. 1t has undoubtedly this ad
vantage; it may conceal many defects
of face that is not handsome, and it
sets off to advantage the charms of
beautiful face. To drape ones self
gracefully in manta is an art that
must be studied. 1t is first thrown
over the forehead; the lace is brought
down on the forehead, sometimes
dropping over the eyes. 1t is fastened
SO as to draw around the neck; the
long end is carried over the left shoul-
der, and pinned SO as to fall down in
fold on the left side. The left hand is
concealed. but the right holds either
q prayer book and rosary or parasol.
4 lady never goes out alone; two or
three go out together, and black
woman servant walks behind. Young
girls are carefully escorted by their
friends wherever they go, and are never
permitted to see the persons of the op-
posite sex alone. The matches are
made by the older people, and SO ef-
fectually is this done that the ladies all
marry, and none axe divorced.
The subject Of dress claims the most
of their time and attention; their ball
dresses and opera and Soiree suits are
magnificent. Their boots, especially,
are beautiful. No opeople have natur-
ally as small feet as the Peruvians. The
Peruvian made boots are too small for
foreigners.
Peruvian ladies are not very lntelll-
gent; as soon as they pass beyond the
school girl period 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 We are not to be misled by
appearances. Their mode of saluta-
tion is more of an embrace than any
thing else, and they always say: "My
house and all that have is entirely at
your disposal, and we are to be as one
family" They are always wealthy IN
imagination-at least they never speak
of poverty. They love to smoke AL
though handsome when young, they
scarcely turn twenty 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.
Although the streets of Lima are
narrow and the sidewalks cramped,
you are iostled less by the passing
throng in three months in Lima than
you would be in three days in London,
or New York, or San Francisco. Go
into the densest crowd in the market or
on the plaza, and still the same is true.
Conversation among the ladies gener-
ally turns upon domestic affairs; in
stead of asking foreigner about her
own country and other countries that
she has visited, they ask what her name
is now (although they have been
properly introduced,) what her name
was before her marriage, how old she
is, how long she has been married, if
she has any children, the names and
ages of each, how long she has been
speaking Spanish, what she thinks Of
Lima, etc. It is esteemed fortunate
among them to have a family, for here
comes in one prominent feature in their
domestic life.
When child is christened, sponsors
oficiate called the eompadre (godfather)
and conaadre [godmother.) They bind
themselves to support. educate and
protect the child the same as one of
their own, if the parents die or are
unable to take care of it. In its essen
&iaJ features the system is an excellent