Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-03-13
MAIDENS OF YUCATkN.
FAMOUS FOR THEIR BEAUTY OF
FORM AND FEATURES.

!, Thelr Lot Is Seldom IL Happy one--Naling
Cisarottes-yis!t to tho Lace Makers--A
.'ale OF Refinement and Amiabil-
IL.
+ The iaeztiza women of that most inter-
est ngruantry arc famed for their beauty
Of fa..A and features, abundant silky
u,.aa treases, large dark eyes and easy,
graceful manners. Generally they are
as goes ~ they are pretty; but their lot
! is scldo:a happy one; perhaps they are
too numerous to be justly appreciated.
! About e..e in eight enters the state of
natriniaay, and these appear to be the
least happy. Owing to great excess of
female population-the consequence of
many revolutions and war with hostile
| Indians-a large number of women de-
pend entirely on their own exertions, and
their field of labor is limited. They are
not employed in stores, such places being
monopolized by white handed youths
who think coarser toll beneath them.
Those individuals of tho sterner sex ex-
pect the gentler, under all circumstances,
to remain at home, no matter how pain
+ full their position. Orphans aust eat the
bread of dependence in the 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
NIT if they would be respected.
/ A few are wonderfully clever at max
ing most beautiful fruits and flowers of
sugar, but cannot earn a living by it, the
time and care needed in the manufacture
entailing so much expense that only the
wealthiast give an order on very special
occasions. Nothing truer to nature than
these vegetables, fruits and flowers of
gugar can be imagined. A pineapple, an
car of corn, a golden kashew, with its
odd shaped appendaGc, o spray of snow
white tllbercscG-all equally perfect in
form and color; whiic large, full blown
roses, crimson, pink, and yellow, appear
as if the frail leaves will fall from the
stem if breathcd upon. Only the taste
co2vince3 us that they arc not what they
seem; and the fla7oro given to them by
their s!zillfUl producers Gre as delicious as
MAKING CIGARETTES.
The 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 senorita8 sit behind the
prison like window gratings deity wrap
| ping up tobacco in small pieces Of the
outer covering of maize, which, when
toasted, imparts a delightful flavor to
the cigarette. Twenty cents day is the
most that one pair Of hands can earn.
| Dressnakers arc numerous. Others
anxiously solicit orders to embroider in
silk, thread or worsted. Pillow lace was
formerly manufactured in Merida, but
being expensive, there was no demand
for the article. Less costly laces are
largely used. No meztiza's holiday
dress is complete without ample hounces
of it; this converts their simple white
linen garments into expensive attire.
Cheap lace is imported, but all WliO can,
prefer TO wear that made in the country,
| it being handsome as well as moro dura-
BILE. This is not sold in the stores but in
| the public market place, where it is car
ried by servants; for, strange as it may
appear, the most poverty stricken have
maids, who, besides receiving no wages,
frequently help to support their mis-
| tresses. Generally they have been given
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 bear
hardship and Ill treatment rather than
leave those to whom they have become
attached.
Being directed to family of girls who
supported themselves, we made our way
along q broken narrow sidewalk to house
No, in q row of dwellings, each con-
sisting Of three rooms, and an clubhouse
that served as kitchen. We raped with
| our knuckles, and sweet voice babe us
fcome in" Pushing open the door, we
| found ourselves in room containing a
small table and three low seats, occupied
by young women, whose appearance in.
Dictated that they seldom enjoyed hearty
meal.
A TALE OF WOE.
Yes, they could make all the lace we
desired, if we could advance money to
buy net and thread; they had none, even
to buy medicine for their sick mother.
We asked them to resume the work that
our arrival had Interrupted This they
did, embroiderlng the net with a long
fine needle and thread drawn from VIII :
linen cloth. The designs, their own i =
tation Of native flowers, are traced ca
wlAte paper that is tackled to the net. A
frame is used only for very wide lace.
After our order was given tale of
money in advance. A few days later a
messenger came from our lace makers
with an earnest petition for another
small installment, and SO on, every few
days, the full price being paid long be-
fore the lace was made. We engaged
ono woman to make eight yards Of lace
eighteen inches wide, and having paid
the full sum in advance, never obtained
more than four yards. These people earn
from twenty to thirty-fve cents day.
In spite Of their cherries homes, mo-
notonous lives, and continued toll, there
is q winsome refinement and amiabiity
about these naidens that surprises and
charms. They seldom indulge in gloomy
forebodings, and when things are at
their worst make light CT them. Their
dinner may have consisted of but one
tortilla, they may not have o cent in
their possession, Or tallow dip to chase
the darkness from their empty room,
but they will throw open the street door,
letting in flood Of sweet moonlight and
balny air.. A neighbor has an old
guitar, and slender fingers fall lightly
upon the strings, while plaintive voices
blend in some sweet melody attuned to
the sentimental verses Of native poet.
1t may be G lovo song, or perhaps q
carnival ditty with chorus.-Harpers
Bazaar.
49,
|. A Funeral in Turkey.
f,,.,o..nl