The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-19
MISCELLANY.
LADIES AT A suLL-FIGHT.

Charles Dudley Warmers humorous nc.
count in the Century OF fashionable bull
fight at Seville illustrated by Blum de-
scribes the ladies in attendance as follows !:
The ladies' of Spain, except in some re-
mote towns in the mountain regions, have
laid aside the national costume, and dress
according to the dictates of Paris, prefer
ring even the French fans to their own de-
corated 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 liz
the cover of the new fashion, mores the
pity, and the high combs have gone alto
gether. do not know why a woman, even
plain woman, should be so utterly fas-
cinating in n mantilla, thrown over 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 calculated 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 petticoat,
brilliant in color. Nothing could be more
becoming and il makes one doubt whether
woman's strongest desire is to please, and
whether 1t is not rather to follow the fashion,
when we see a whole nation abandon such
charming attire.
But the white msntilla is de gfg,teur for
bull-fght, and every lady wore one. 1t
was little odd to see ladies in the open
light ola brilliant, cloudless day, and in
the gaze of the public, i'll full Gas it is
creamy-white mantillas softened somewhat
the too brilliant display, and threw over the
whole the harmony of snbdued splendor.
What superb Spanish lace, blonde, soft,
with silken luster, falling in lovely folds
that show its generous and exquisitely
wrought figures, each leaf and stem and
flower the creation of dainty fingers. Such
work rs this, of such q tone and finencss,
in such large mantillas, sweeping from the
head to the train, is scarcely to be found in
the shops nowadays. These were heir
looms, = great great grandmothers lace,
long following, and growing rich in locked
chests, worn only on state occasions, and
now brought forth to make bulls holi.
day. 81
We spent good deal of the waiting
time in scrutinizing the packed seats for
beautiful women, and, am sorry to say,
with hardly reward adequate to our
anxiety I am not sure how much the
beauty of the women of Seville is tradition
al. They have good points. Graceful
figures are not uncommon, and fine teeth
and dark, liquid. large eyes, which they
use perpetually ia ailiqdts destructive to
peace and security And the fan, the most
deadly weapon of coquetry, gives the coup
de grace TO those whom the eyes have
wounded. But the Seville women have
usually sallow. pasty, dead compilations.
Perhaps the beauty of the skin is DESTROYED
by cosmetics for there was not a lady at
the bnll-fght who was not highly roueed
and powdered. This gave an artifciality
to their appearance en- masse. Beauty of
feature was very rare, and still rarer was
that animation, that stamp of individual
character, loyeliness in the play of ex-
preston, and sprightliness, that charm in
any assembly of American women. No.
the handsome women in the ring were not
numerous enough to make any impression
on the general mass, and yet the total effect,
with the blonde lace, the artificial color, the
rich toilet, and the agitation of fans, was
IL 4'