The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-11-21
Ladies' of Seville Mt Il Bull Fight.

Charles Dudley Warmers humorous
account in the Century of a fashionable
bull-tight at Seville. describes the ladies
in attendance as follows: "Thc ladies
of Spain, except in some remote towns
in the mountain regions, have laid aside
the national costume, and dress accord
ing to the dictates of Paris, prcfcrrinG
even the French fans to their OWN decor
atcd with the incidents Of the bull-tight
and the scrcnadc. In Seville, the black
lace mantilla is still worn ut church, and
to some extent on the street; but the hat
is the cover of the new fashion, morc's
the pity, and the high combs have gone
altogether. In the whole assembly | saw
only one or two national costumes
the mantilla and the high comb,
with the short p%ctticoat, brilliant
in color. Nothing could be more bccom-
ing. and it makes one doubt whether
woman strongest desire is to please and
whether it is not rather to follow the
fashion, when VIC see Il whole nation
abandon such Il charming attire.
but the white mar';lla is de riglcur
for a bull-tight, and every lady wore II G
1t was a little odd to see ladies in the
open light of Il brilliant, cloudlcss day
and in the gaze of the public in full (as
it is callcd) costume of the ballroom; but
the crcamy-whlite mantilIas softencd
somewhat the too brilliant display and
threw over the whole the harmony Of
subducd splcndor. What superb Span
ish lace, blonde, soft, with Il silkcn lus-
ter, falling in lovely folds that show its
generous and cxquiSitcly wrought figures,
each leaf and stem and flower the crca-
ton of dainty fingers! Such work rs
his. of such il tone and lincncss, in sue h
large mantillas, sweeping from the head
to the train, is scarcely to be found in
the shops nowadays. These were heir:
looms-grcat-grca t-grandmothcr's lace
long, following. and growing rich in
locked chests, worn only on state occa-
sions. and now brought forth to make Il
bulls holiday.
eve spent Il good deal Of the waiting
time in sc%rutinizing the packed seats for
beautiful women, and. | am sorry to say,
with hardly IL reward adequate to our
anxiety. ! am not sure how much the
beauty of the women Of Seville is tradi-
tional. They have good points. Grace
full figures are not uncommon. and line
teeth: and dark, liquid, large eyes, which
they use pcrrctually i'll Tilladcs dcstrlct-
i've to peace and security. And the fan,
the most deadly weapon of coquctry,
gives the coup dc grace to those whom
the eyes have wounded. But the Seville
womcn have usually Sallow, paSty, dead
compilations. Perhaps the beauty of the
skin is destroyed by cosmetics, for there
was not a lady ut the bull-iight who was
no! highly rougcl and powdered. This
gave an artiticiality to their appearance
en- maSsc. Beauty Of feature was very
rare, and still rarcr was that animation,
that stamp Of individual character, love-
illness in the play of expression, and
sprightlincss. that charm in any assem-
bly, of American women. No, the hand
some women in the ring were not
numerous enough to makc any impression
on the general mass, and yet the total
effect, with the blonde lace, the artificial
color, the rich toilet. and the agitation
e r, ,,,