The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-17
A LAND OF ROMANCE.
Injuries OF Life In Parnguay-Bevles Of
Beautiful Women.

bttuthht s'Dsts's
Paraguay Is surely one Of the most
favored lands on earth. There 10 insane
love of gold compcls the heart TO ques-
tionable deeds No political situation
harnesses the mind. The very atmosphere
breathes peace The air is soft and
balmy. inviting TO repose, and prolific
nature. throwing about everything her
garment Of rich vegetation. supplies man
with all he needs and beauties all that
his ewes rest upon. Paraguay is indeed,
almost fairy land Of romance, 50 beauti-
full are its manifold attractions
The native portion Of the population is
a remnant Of the tribe of Guarani Indians,
one Of the Hottest tribes in the grade OF
civilization Of all the American race. BIT
nothing astOnishes the visitor 20 Paraguay
so much as the vast preponderance Of the
female over the male population. The
proportion is something Ike Zine 90 one.
This is the result Of q long AID very fierce
war. in which tac Guaraniaas followed
aud Supported cruel and ambitious
ruler through incescribaDle harlships and
suHerings This war ended only with tho
death If the man who wagcd H. and has
reduced The whole population % about
One-sixth If what 10 was twenty year
ago. leaving only women and boys These
women this writer continues are o.
beautiful and far 90 LOOK upon@ as can q
found in any past Of the world.
They are Of medium height rather
slight and little. with finely nodded limbs.
small. pretty hands and feet end figures
of matchiess grace and beauty THAI would
serve for models Of the sculptors art.
Their cair.acc is o easy and Material as
10 Doe ALMOST the poetry Of motion for the
freedom from high hceled boots and tight
clothing has left their step light. supple
BAD strong Their dress i5 Of the simplest
form, q short turic or robe not unlike q
skirt falling 10 below the knees and
shoulder covering nat unlike n shawl
both Of pure white and adorned with
pretty native lace. They are gracefully
worn. and bcw.chingiy serve 20 half
reveal and half conceal the form beneath.
Il the midday siesta they are iond 81
lying languidly IN their hammocEs, sip
ping their mate and singing IN their low,
sweet voices, yet sad and with q touch OF
melancholy, the 'rarG0carOs, or songs
OF the orange CATERERS. or those other
strange, weird songs OF theirs whose
words arc all of love. Indeed, what need
10 do ought else in a land 50 blessed as
theirs
Living entirely upon fruits and vege.
tables that are secured With but little
effort, unmoved by the ambitious schemes
Of the money making Europeans upon
whom they look with questioning wonder,
and possessed q languid, voiuptuous
natures that are fostered by the climate,
what else should they do save love, and
dance, and singg Dancing is their only
pastime and into that they throw the
whole spirit of their joyous nature. The
slightest excuse is al that Is necessary
for getting up q ball, at which the whole
ncighb0rhOod az once assemblies.
Tie girls and women are dressed only
in the robes described The men wear
white linen trousers and red ponchos.
The dances are in quaint. original figures,
but nearly always very graceful. Some
times the festivities will be kept up
through the entire night after which the
participants will gayly return TO their
occupations. Of whatsoever nature, always
contented. always hdppy Sometimes
there will be q grand contribution picnic
al some distant point, where the dancing
viii be kept up the round Of whole
twenty-four hours. For traly these
people live but to be h'gpy through the
lyeloug day.
After reading this one is not surprised
to hear that many whiting Europeans,
Englshmen among the rest have settled
down in the country. "Who would not
rather become q lotus eater among the
lotus eaters, and settle down upon the
sunny hillside or shady river banks, amid
fragrant and fruitful orange groves, to
forget regretted past and live only in
the happy present, waited upon by the
simple white robed Indian woman-de-
voted, affectionate and surprisingly fsirs'
Boston Transcript.