The Dickinson press., 1889-03-09
PARAeuAY's wlTcHlNe WOMEN.
Finely Moulded. Graceful and Gay. Tho,
Captivatc All Men.

Finely Moulded. Graceful and Gay. They
Captivatc All Men.
Paraguay is one of the most favored lands
Oh earth. There no insane love of gold COM
pcls the heart to questionable deeds. No po-
litical situation harasses the mind. The very
atmosphere breathes peace. The air is soft
and balmy, inviting to repose and prolific
nature, throwing about everything her gar
ment of rich vegetation, supplies man with
oil he needs and beauties all that his eyes
rest upon. Paraguay is, indeed, almost q
fairyland of romance, so beautiful arc its
manifold attractions
The native portion of the population is
remnant of the tribe of Guarani Indians,
one of tho loftiest tribes i'll the grade of civ
ilization of all the American races But moth
ing astonishes tho visitor to Paraguay so
much as tho vast prcponderance of tho female
over tho male population. The proportion
is something like nine to one. This is the
result Of long and very fierce war, in which
Guaranians followed and supported cruel
and ambitious ruler through indescrbable
hardships and sufferings. This war ended
only with tho death of the man who waged
it, and has reduced the whole population to
about one-sixth of what it was twenty
years ago, leaving only women and boys
These women are rs beautiful and fair to
look upon us can be found in any part of the
world
They are of medium height, rather slight
md 1.-the, with finely nodded limbs, small
pretty hands and feet and figures of match
less grace and beauty that would serve for
models of the sculptors art Their carriage
is SO easy and natural us to he almost tho
poetry of motion, for the freedom from high
lieeled boots and tight clothing has left their
step light, supple and strong. Their dress is
of the simplest form; short tunic or robo
not.unlike skirt falling to below tho knees
and II shoulder covering not unlike u shawl
both of pure white and adorned with pretty
native lace They are gracefully worn, and
bowitchingly servo to half reveal and half
conceal the form beneath. In tho midday
siesta they are fond of lying languidly in
their hammocks slipping their mate and
singing in their low, sweet voices, yet sad and
| with touch of melancholy, tho "naran
caros," or songs of tho orange gatherers, or
those other strange weird songs of theirs
whose words are all of love. Indeed, what
need to do aught else in Il land so blessed MS
thcirsl
Living entirely upon fruits and vegetables
v,
moved by the ambitious schemes of the money
making Europeans, upon whom they look
with questioning wonder, and possessed OF
languid, voluptuous natures that are fosterci
by the climate, what else should they do save
love and dance and snsf Dancing is their
only pastime, and into that they throw the
whole spirit of their joyous nature. Tho
slightest excuse is all that is necessary for
getting up ball, at which the whole neigh
borhood ut once assemblies.
The girls and women are dressed only in
tho robs described The men wear white
linen trousers and red ponchos. The dances
are in quaint, original figures, but nearly
always very graceful. Sometimes tho fcs
tiyitics will bo kept up through tic entire
night, after which tho participants will gayly
return to their occupations, of whatsoever
nature, always contcnted, always happy
Sometimes there will be IL grand contribution
| picnic at some distant point, where the
dancing 'vill be kept up the round of II whole
twenty-four hours For truly these people
live but to be happy through the livclons day
After reading this one is not surprised to
hear that many visiting Europeans, English
men among the rest, have settled down in
| the country. "Who would not rather become
lotus eater among tho lotus caters, and
settle down upon tho sunny hilsides or Shady
river banks, amid the fragrant and fruitful
orange groves to forget u regretted past and
live only in tho happy present, waited upon
| by tho SIMPLE white robed Indian woman
| devoted, affcctionate and surprisingly fairl'
Boston Transcript.