River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-10-04
THE BELLIES OF LAMA.
characteristics of the Beautiful Women
of Peru'S Chief CITY.


of Peru's Chief City.
Lima from the earliest times has
been noted for its beautiful women;
not merely for symmetrical features.
but elegance of physique and graceful
movement. In speaking of the women
of Lima reference is made to the SUI
perior class of Spanish descendants,
the genealogies of Pizarro and his fol-
lowers. who, as Prescott states, shOd
their horses with silver shoes and
gambled away in one night the ac-
cumulated wealth of centuries.
A typical Lima belle is of greater
stature than the North American model
of beauty, possessing a well-rounded.
graceful form, small and elegantly
nodded feet, and pearly teeth. The
eyes are dark. large and so bewitching
in their expression as to drive care
from the shippers mind as ne whirls
his ideal beauty through the long hall
way. his soul keeping time with the
spirited waltzes, until gathered into
the folds of the same manta with his
senorita- The essentially of the life
of "A Lima belle is pleasure.
The young ladies (senOritas) of the
family either accompany their parents
in the evening ramble or are attended
by their personal servants; usually two
young ladies together. followed by
their attendants. Should they meet a
gentleman of their acquaintance, they
cordially invite him to JOIN them in
their passU. IL he be a Peruvian he
takes his place behind the ladies and
chats over their shoulders as they pass
along. Should he happen to be a
greugo, as foreigners are termed, he
would be politely asked to walk in the
rear, and would suffer from solid in
difference unless he should sufficiently
compensate the attendants-which is
no difficult matter-to remain in some
alley until the return of the ladies. II
this arrangement is consented to by
all, the young people seek secluded
streets, where they are not liable to
meet with parents and friends. and
where all formality is thrown aside.
IL it should transpire that
this gentleman calls upon these
young ladies the following evening,
the GOODNESS of his reception would in
dictate that they had never before met;
but he would be ushered into the par
lOr and Hospitality received by the
family. Young ladies are not allowed
TO receive gentlemen callers in private.
One of the parents, sister or an at
tendant assists in entertaining, and at
times the whole family.
The mother, knowing the passionate
disposition of her race, constantly en-
deavOrs to screen her daughter from
secluded male company until her mar
riage. After marriage she is free to
invite TO her house all her old lovers
and to there entertain them, whether
her husband is present or not. This
newly-gained freedom extends further
to the extent that she is now at lib
erty to indulge in flirtations upon the
streets or in the gardens, with her
bewitching glances Turing her adj
many daughters are exasperat-
ed beyond patience from Observ-
ing the flirtations of a married sister
or other relative, and devote their
evenings upon the balcony passing
notes to their lovers. Perhaps he,
stranger, first attracted her attention
as she leaned over the baluster by
passing several times beneath the bal
cony. If she desires his acquaintance
he receives some signal which en-
boldens him to bow or pass a card to
the lady. The initiatory being over,
evenings are passed in this manner
until the acquaintance has ripened
into friendship, when the gentleman is
free to call or stroll through the plaza
or garden. These balcony scenes be-
ing clandestine, they are not enacted
until a late hour, when the mother is
unconscious of the daughters where
abouts, as she has been carefully
watched until she is safely lodged in
her bedroom, with its barred win
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