Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-11-24
MAIDENS OF YUCATAN.
FAMOUS FOR THEIR BEAUTY OF
FORM AND FEATURES.

Their lot II Seldom = Happy One-Ndaking
Clgarettes-visit to tho IAce Makers-A
Tale Of woe-ReHncment and Amiabil-
ity.
Tho meztiza women of that most inter.
csting country are famed for their beauty
Of form and features, abundant silky
black tresses, largo.dark eyes and easy,
graceful manners. Generally they are
~ good rs they are pretty; but their lot
Is seldom happy one; perhaps they arc
too numerous to DO justly appreciated.
About ono in eight enters the state of
matrimony, and these appear to be tho
least happy. Owing to o great excess OF
female population--the consequence Of
many revolutions and war with hostile
lndians--a largo number Of women de-
pend entirely on their own exertions, and
their field Of labor Is limited. Thcy,a arc
not employed In stores, such places being
monopolized. by white handed youths
who think coarscr toll beneath them.
Those individuals Of the stcrner sex .ex-
pect the gcntler, under all circumstances,
to remain at home, no matter how pain
full their position. Orphans must eat tho
bread Of dependence in tho house Of re-
lations or friends, and on no account
shock public opinion by trying to earn q
living away from their place Of abode,
nor may they venture to dwell apart
from elders who shall control their every
movement. They may suffer everything
except actual starvation, yet must sub
init II they would be respected.
A few arc wonderfully clever at max
ing most beautiful fruits and flowers Of
sugar, but cannot earn a living by It, the
entailing 30 much expense that only tho
wealthiest give an order on very special
occasions. Nothing truer to nature than
these vegetables, fruits and flowers Of
sugar can be imagined. A pineapple, an
ear Of corn, n golden kashew, with its
odd shaped appendage, q spray of snow
white tuberoses--all equally perfect In
form and color; while large, full blown
roses, crimson, pink, and yellow, appear
rs II the frail leaves will fall from tho
stem II breathed upon. Only tho taste
convinces us that they are not what they
seem; and the flavors given to them by
their skillful producers are rs delicious as
the work is admirable.
MAKING CIGARETTES.
Tho making Of cigarettes affords en-
ployment to hundreds Of girls, because
men, women and children there indulge
in the use Of tobacco. In city, town and
village pretty senoritas sit behind the
prison like window gratings deftly wrap
ping up tobacco in small pieces Of the
toasted, imparts q delightful flavor to
the cigarette. Twenty cents day Is tho
most that ono pair Of hands can earn.
Dressmakers are numerous. Others
anxiously solicit orders to embroider in
silk, thread or worsted. Pillow lace was
formerly manufactured in Merida, but
being expensive, thero was no demand
for tho article. Less costly laces orc
largely used. No meztiza's holiday
dress Is complete without ample flounces
OF 1t; this converts their simple white
linen garments into expensive attire.
Cheap lace Is imported, but all who can,
prefer to wear that made in the country,
1t being handsome rs well as more dura-
BILE. This Is not sold in the stores but in
the public market place, where 1t is car
ried by servants; for, strange as 1t may
appear, the most poverty stricken have
maids, who, besides receiving no wages,
frequently help to support their mis-
GSooCos oSiiCidiiy tllCy iihNO DScll kItcu
to the family, when children, by their
parents-too poor to provide for them.
They work hard for little food and scanty
clothing, are very faithful, and will beai
hardship and i'll treatment rather thar
leave those 10 whom they have become
attached.
Being directed to a family Of girls who
supported themselves, we made our way
along q broken narrow sidewalk to house
No. a in n row Of dwellings, each, con.
sisting of three rooms, aud an clubhouse
that served as kitchen. We raped with
our knuckles, and q sweet voice bade us
"come in" Pushing open tho door, We
found ourselves In q room containing q
small table and three low seats, occupied
by young women, whose appearance in
dicated that they seldom enjoyed a hearty
meal.
A TALE OF WOE.
Yes, they could make all the lace WI
desired, IL We could advance money t
buy net and thread; they had none, ever
to buy medicine for, their sick mother
We asked them to resume the work thai
our arrival had interrupted. This they
did, embroiderlng the net with lonl
1ine needle and thread drawn from whit
linen cloth. The designs, their own imi
tation OF native flowers, are traced or
white paper that Is tackled to the metz
frame Is used only for very wide lace.
After our order was given q tale ol
woe was poured forth, with an appeal fol
money in advance. A few days later {
messenger came from our lace maker
with an earnest petition for another
small inSnllment, and 80 on, every few
days, tho full price being paid long be
fore tho lace was made. We engage,
ono woman to mako eight yards Of lac,
eighteen inches wide, and having pait
the full sum In advance, never obtainet
more than four yards. These people earl
from twenty to thirty-five cents day.
In spite OF their cherries homes, mo
notonous lives, and continued toll, ther
Is winsome refinement and amiabilit,
| about these maidens that surprises AM
charms. They seldom indulge In gloom,
forebodings, and when things are q
their worst make light Of them. Thei
| dinner may have consisted Of but on
tortilla, they may not have q cent Il
their possession, or tallow dip to chas
| tho darkness from their empty room
| but they will throw open the street door
letting In o flood Of sweet moonlight an,
balmy Dir. A neighbor has an ol,
guitar, and slender fingers fall light,
upon the strings, while plaintive voice
blend in some sweet melody attuned +
the sentimental verses Of native poet
It may be q love song, or perhaps
| carnival Iiffu x,,itb /, ,hnr,,, I..so-