The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-29
Ladies OF Seville Of a Bull Fight.

Charles Dudley Warmers humorous
account in the November Century, Of Il
fashionable bull fight at Seville Qllus
trated by Blum) describes the ladies
in attendance as follows: "Thc lay!ic,
of Spain. except in some remote towns
in the mountain regions. have laid
aside the national costume, and dres,
according TO the dictates OF Paris.
prefcrring even the French fans To-
their own decorated with the incidents
of the bull fight and the serenade, In
Seville the black lace mantilla is still
worn at church. and to some extent on
the street; but the hat il the cover OF
the new fashion. more'S the pity, and
the high combs have gone altogether.
| do not know why woman, even a
plain woman, should be so utterly faS-
cinating in II mantilla, thrown over N
high comb and falling gracefully over
the shoulders. stepping daintily in
high heeled shoes with pointed toes.
and moving her large fan with Just
that nonchalant air so accurately cal
culatcd TO wound but not to kill. In
the whole assembly saw only one or
two national costumes; the mantilla
and the high comb, with the short pet
ticoat, brilliant in color. Nothing
could be more becoming, and il makes
one doubt whether woman's strongest
desire is to please. and whether it is
not rather to follow the fashion. when
we see Il whole nation abandon such n
charming attire.
But the white mantilla is he ifgHcH'
for bull fight. and every lady wore
one 1t was little odd to see ladies
in the open light OF a brilliant, Cloud
less day, and in the gaze of the public,
in full (as it is callcd) costume of the
bali room; but the creamy white man
tillas soitcned somewhat the too brill
liant display and threw over the whole
the harmony of subducd splcndor.
What superb Spanish lace. blonde,
soft. with ,ilkcn lu>tcr, falling in
lovely folds that show it. generous and
.cXquisitely wrought figures, each leaf
and stem and flower the creation of
dainty fingers. Such work as this. OF
such Il tone and tincncss, in such large
mantillas, sweeping from the head to
the train, is scarcely to be found in the
shops nowadays. These were heir
ooms-great- great-grandmothcr' lace,
long following, and growing rich in
locked chests, worn only on state occa-
sions, and now brought forth TO make
q bulls holiday.
1--WE spent Il good deal OF the wait
ing time in scrutinizing the packed
seats for beo, Iilul women, and. am
sorry to say, with hardly Il reward adj
equate to our anxiety. am not sure
how much the beauty of the women OF
Seville is traditional. They have good
points. Graceful figures are not un-
common, and fine teeth; and dark.
liquid. large eyes. which they uac per-
petually in rH'HdeS destructive 10 peace
and security. And the fan. the most
deadly weapon of coquetry, gives the
have wounded. But the Seville women
have usually sailow, pasty, dead com
plexions. Perhaps the beauty OF the
skin is destroyed by cosmetics, for
there was not q lady at the bull fight
who was not highly rouged and pow
dered. This gave IN artiticialily to
their appearance en- ma$Sc. Beauty OF
feature was very rare. and still rarcr
was that animation, that stamp of in
dividual character, loneliness in the |
play OF expression. and sprightlincss
that charm in any assembly of Amcri- |
can women No, the handsome women
in the ring were not numerous enough |
to make any impression on the genera, !
mass. and vet The total effect. with the /
hlondc lace. I'll" artificial color. the
rich Joliet. and the agitation of fans,
wa, charming