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


Their Lot Is seldom Happy One-A Making
c.sarottes--yis;t TO the Lace nEalers--A
sale a. Wee Refinement and Amiabll-
Iss
.,le i,lezti3a women of that most inter-
esi;iusc oantry arc famed for their beauty
Of faf.a and features, abundant silky
tLsc.i tresses, large dark eyes and easy,
graceful manners. Generally they are
| as GOES ~ they are pretty; but their lot
Is selda... q happy one; perhaps they arc
too numerous to be justly appreciated.
! About cite Ia eight enters the state of
matsiniaay, and these appear to be the
laast happy. Owing to a 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 the sterner sex ex-
pect the gentler, under all circumstances,
to remain at home, no matter how pain
full their position. Orphans Nust eat the
bread of dependence in the house of re-
lations or friends, and on no account
shock public opinion by trying to earn
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 maxi
ing most beautiful fruits and flowers of
sugar, but cannot earn living by it, the
time and care needed in the manufacture
entailing so much expense that only the
wealthiest 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, golden kashew, with its
odd shaped appendagc, o spray of snow
white tabercses-all equally perfect in
form end color; whiie large, full blown
roses, crimson, pink, and yellow, appear
as if the ffGil leaves viii fall from the
stem if breathed upon. Only the taste
coavinces us that they arc not what they
seem; and the flavor5 given to them by
their slzillfGl producers are as delicious as
the work is admirable
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 senoritas 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.
Dressmakers are numerous. Others
anxiously solicit orders to ennbroider 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 W.io 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 i'll 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 d row of dwellings, each cen
sisting OF three rooms, and an clubhouse
that served as kitchen. Werapped 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
byyoung 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 long
fine needle and thread drawn from wilia
linen cloth. The designs, their own Ii
tation of native flowers, are traced on
white paper that is tackled to the net. A
frame is used only for very wide lace.
After our order Yves given tale of
woe was poured forth, with an appeal for
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 five cents day.
In spite of their cherries homes, mo-
notonous lives, and continued toll, there
is o winsome refinement and amiability
about these maidens that surprises and
charms. They seldom indulge in gloomy
forebodings, and when things are at
their worst make light Of them. Their
dinner may have consisted of but one
tortilla, they may not have cent in
their possession, or q tallow dip to chase
the darkness from their empty room,
but they will throw open the street door,
letting in o food 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 loyo song, or perhaps a
carnival ditty with O chorus. -Harper's
Bazaar.
~
| a Funeral In Turirav.