The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-03
Peruvian women.

Lima is called the paradise Of wo.
men. They are called beautiful; so
they are, If you admire 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 differ
eat types Of character. Peruvian
ladies' have character, and arn not
afraid to show it; yet we hear nothing
Of equal rights and privileges among
them. For them to lay olaim to right
Is but to possess it, for they can easily
win over the priesthood ,and thus have
the most powerful GLASS of Peru OH
their side. They are gener ally occupied
but do not work they look upon labor
as degrading. They rise early, take 9
cup Of tea and 20 to mass. Their toilet
requires but few moments. Their
walking suits are neat and pretty; In
this respect they surpass us. The dress
1s black and never touches tho ground {,
there Is no tussing or fumbling with
trains. A white skirt Is sometimes
deep hem and two tuoks, and always
white and clean. Prunella CATERS 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 a t.
tentlon; their ball dresses and opera
and soiree suits are magnificent. Their
boots, especially, are beautiful. No
people have naturally as small teet rs
the Peruvians. The Peruvian-made
boots are too small for foreigners.
Peruvian ladies are not very intelli-
gent; as soon as they pass beyond the
school-glrl period they care little for
books or literature. Many learn to
play the piano when young, but alo not
care to continue when married. They
are excessively courteous in their man
ners, but we are not to be mislcd by
appearances. Their mode of saluta-
tion Is more of an embrace than any
thing else, and they always say, "My
house and AL that have Is entirely at
your disposal, and we are to be as one
family" They are always wealthy In
1magination-at least they never speak
ofpoverty. They love to smoke. AL
though handsome when young, they
scarcely turn 20 when they begin to
fade. Ono thing always lasts with
them, and that ID their gait. Their
movements are gliding and grace eful
the same Is true of the mon. The ladies
are good at shopping and making bar
gains; they never tire or find thing
too trivial to occupy their time; they
are never In haste; there Is always n
manana (tc-morrow) and thon another.
Call laundress, and she promises to
return your clothes in eight duys, never
sooner, except at the steam laundries,
where the price Is about one-thlrd the
value OF an ordinrry garment. Eight
days pass-the laundress does not ap-
pear. She must then be looked aftor.
The things are not ready, she says, but
come to.morrow-and tomorrow
means another week. BY the time that
she fully understands that you are in
hurry for the 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 OK
pectcd In all business transactions
with the Peruvians. In making any
purchase everything must either bo
Dargained for or two or. three times the
value will be demanded.