St. Paul daily globe., 1885-03-16
BLACK-EYED BEAUTIES.
Wonsen of the West stIndies--HOtc They Conf
pare Wi,h Bellies Herea6otttS.

pare Wi.h Bellies HereaJotttS.
Porto Rico Correspondence
The upper classes are either Spanish, or
creoles, or "Sambos." The former are those
who came from Spain naturalized citizens
we call them in North America; the second
are natives of the island, of Spanish blood,
more or less Mixed the third are remnants
of the negro race. A Spaniard can marry a
'Sambo," as all who have negro blood in
their veins are seriously called, without losing
caste. The male ''Sambos often find wives
among the creoles, but seldom among the
Spaniards. Some of the best families in
Cuba, as well as in Porto Rico, have ''Sambo''
blood in them. The president of Venezuela
is ''Sambo," as the president of Mexico is
an Indian.
There are many pretty girls to be seen
among the lower classes-more in Porto
Rico than in Cuba-brigh jolly, sylph-
like beings; as graceful and supple as a
panther, timid and modest, but with all the CO.
quettish graces that budding womanhood is
endowed with and always has been in all
ages and in all latitudes. None of them
can read, none of them ever saw the inside
of a school house, and do not know of the
existence of books; they call you an Gamer
icano." but have as little idea of where an
American came from as of the composition
Of the stars; they reply ''Se Senor' to every
thing you say to them, and modesty droop
their long, black lashes over such eyes as
is supposed were the ruin of Antony and
were worn
by that dark queen for whose mere smile
world was battered
These girls-these Maud Mulers of the
tropics are beautiful-have an animal beauty
that calls for admiration that is genuine and
makes them the victims of the lust of men
and the poverty or avarce of their parents.
A gentleman here tells me that he went into
the cottage of q Sambo woman in the coun-
try one day with party of ladies and gentle
men to seek shelter from the rain and, see
ing there beautiful quadroon girl, remarked
upon her attractions in her mothers hearing.
''She is beautiful" replied the mother,
''and Senor Don So and So only last month
paid me $3.50 for her-more than any girl in
this village ever got. l bought two mules
and five goats with the money"
The bellies of the upper classes, those
whose languishing eyes and rich bloom have
been the topics of so much literature in prose
and verse, may be beautiful au naturel. but
with what they choose to consider artificial
adornment they are not Their eyes are
wondrous blue and bewitching, and to be
able to use them effectively is a matter OF
education. 1t is said that Cuban women
and by that mean the whole West indies
can throw more expression in the glance OF
an eye than any in existence, but those who
say it have probably firted with them or seen
the glowing of heart in love. To me, their
eyes all look alike-beautifully black, SEN
suously languishing and generally indicative
of a bad temper, but otherwise expression
less. They haven't half the expression OF
the eyes of a thoroughbred horse or dog, and
are simply evidences of passion, not of intel
ligence.
And with the eyes ends the Cuban
woman's beauty. She would spoil them if
she could, but as she can't she daubs the
plaster on her face all the thic'r The
chemists here sell a sort Of pas lde OF
powdered egg shells, which the women paint
their faces with until they have the appear
ance of plastic images. They take the stuff
with them in the cars, to the church and to
the opera, and when they think nobody is
looking, give their faces a daub. There
cannot exist in the mind of any one oi
them a supposition that this plaster of Paris
complexion deceives people, but why they
think chalk beautiful is mystery. The
neck and ears of West India belle are
about ten shades darker than hel
nose and cheeks. Their mouths are
usually large, their lips thicker
than is consistent with classic rules,
but their teeth are usually white, even, pretty
and well preserved. Although they make
sweetmeats, or "dulces," great part o
their diet for break kfast, as well as dinner
yo1 seldom see a man or woman without
good teeth. But the most disagreeabe thing
about a Cuban woman is her voice. The
low,' sweet musical tone which is told about
as one Of the attractions Of Turkish beauties
is not heard here, nor is the bold accent Of
the English girl noticed anywhere in thu
West Indies. The voice of the most refined
lady is usually as harsh and rasping as tht
cry of parrot and she always talks very louC
and in a high key
They mature early and fade early, thes'
tropical women. They either dry up ant
wither, or else become very obese. There
are no beautiful old ladies to be seen, as il
all parts of the United States.