Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-09


time in Porto Rico. has discovered that
the rapturous praises Of the beauty Of
the women Of the West Indies, have
but very slight foundation, in fact.
The ladies' Of the upper classes. says
g, dress in the most gorgeous fashion,
4 I'd go q great way toward making up
the deficiency in those Of lesser caste.
Like the birds of the tropics, the
senoritas are Of gaudy plumage, and
wear what would be considered ex-
tremely loud among the bellies OF the
temperate zone. Gewgaws Of the
most absurd and barbaric description
are loaded upon their persons, and
onlythOse who have becn in the United
States or in Paris show any degree Of
refinement In taste. They wear the
most extraordinary combination of
colcrs, and when dressed for a ball
the tropical belle looks as If she had
rugged herself out to represent rain
bow at masquerade.
They still cling to the fashion Of
loading their heads with masses Of
false hair. and the chignons which
were worn in North America fifteen
or twenty years ago, still are found
on sale in the shops here, enclosed in
paper boxes with glass covers. like the
i'd of coffin, and are seen on the
heads Of the ladies whenever you
happen to find one without the lace
scarf which they all wear instead Of a
bonnet It looks like old times to see
these waterfalls" which in the States
are supposed to be obsolete.
The bellies Of the upper classes, those
whose languishing eyes and rich bloom
have been the topics of so much litera.
ture in prose and verse, may be beauti-
full au naturel, but with what they
choose to consider artificial adornment,
they are not. Their eyes are wondrous
black and bewitching, and to be able
to'use them effectively. is a matter Of
education. It is said that Cuban
women and by thai mean the whole
West Indies-can throw more express
sion into glance Of the eye than any
in existence. but the people who say it
have probably flirted with them, or
seen the glowing of a heart in love.
To me their eyes all look alike, beau
tifully black, sensuously languishing,
and generally indicative of very bad
temper, but otherwise expressionless.
They haven't hale the expression Of
the eyes Of a thoroughbred horse or
dog, and are simply evidences of pas
sion. not of intelligence.
And with the eyes ends the Cuban
woman's beauty. She would spoil
them If she could, but as she can't, she
dau1s the plaster on her face all the
thicker. The chemists here sell sort
Of paste made Of powered egg shells
with which the women paint their
faces until they have the appearance
Of plaster images. They take the stuff
with them IN the cars, to church. and
TO the opera and when they think
nobody IS looking. give their faces a
aaub. There cannot exist in the mind
Of any one Of them 4 supposition that
this plaster Dc Paris complexion de-
REEVES people. but why they think
chalk is beautiful Is > mystery. The
neck and ears Of . West India belle
are about ten shades darker than her
nose and cheeks
Their mouths are usually large, their
ips thicker than is consistent with
slassic rules, but their teeth are usual
y white, even, pretty. and well pre-
served. Although they make sweet
meats or ''duls Is ! great part Of their
iiOt for breakfast Is wen as dinner.
rou seldom see i woman or man
without good teeth.
But The most disagreeable thing
about 4 Cuban woman is her voice
hat low. sweet musical tone which IS
sold about as one Of the attractions Of
Turkish beauties IS not heard here nor
: khA hold AGENT nf Ehn English rirl