The Republican., 1890-12-12
BRAZILIAN WOMEN.
The Great Majority of Them Lead Idle,
PurposeIess Lives .

PurpoSeIess Lives.
Society in Brazil is divided into three
distinct classes-the aristocrats, the
middle and the lower classes The
ladies of the upper class are undeniably
beautiful. They have raven black hair,
white teeth and perfect forms, and il it
were not for the enormous amount Of
plaster-of-paris enamel with which they
cover their faces they might have
lovely, creamy compilations. But their
wondrous eyes are the chief and never
ending charm, large, dark, lustrous and
full of expression, throwing more mean
ing into single glance than an hours
conversation could possibly convey;
for, though attractive and captivating
IN their simplicity and grace, they may
not be able to write a single sentence
correctly-for the education Of women
is not considered essential to their hap
piness. They learn embroidery and
music indifferently, and spend their
lives in rocking chairs and hammock,
never reading book of any description.
The girls are very fond of their dolls,
taking them wherever they go, even to
church, and never give up playing with
them until they are married, which is
generally between the ages OF twelve
and sixteen years, thus early assuming
the important and responsible duties of
life. Young mothers little more than
twenty, with four or five small children,
are no uncommon sight.
Brazilian ladies never go out, even in
daytime, without the family or serv-
ant; they seldom go out at all. They do
not have gentlemen visitors, and if =
young man who has been associated
with girl in childhood, or who by some
accident is allowed to visit the family,
becomes a lover, he is Immediately
elected from the house, and the court
ship proceeds from the balcony to the
street. If notes are exchanged it is
done secretly, never through the mail.
Often a gentleman sees lady for the
first time on balcony, at the opera or
at church, and falls in love with her. A
courtship like the above ensues; they
become engaged, frequently without
knowing more Of each other than they
can learn from inquiry; know nothing
of each others minds, tastes, characters
or dispositions. | was told of gentle
man who thus courted a girl for eight
long years and left her three months
after marriage.
If Brazilian girl should walk with
gentleman not her relative in the day
time it would ruin her.
If the lover desire an engagement to
the ball or opera or promenade with
his sonora, he must first propose at
headquarters, then seek her pleasure.
and if she accord, the whole family goes
along.
Among tho lower classes there are
plenty of women who go about the
streets with bare, brown feet thrust in
small Turkish slippers whose heels clat-
ter along the dusty pavement in the
most slipshod style. These WON lead
simple, purposeless lives, going to mass
every morning, whore they may be seen
kneeling throughout the entire service,
as no seats are provided in their
churches. In the evening they are
found sitting in groups on the ground,
their nude children around them, smok-
ing their longstemmed pipes and gos-
siping with their neighbors or the pas
ser-by. Their dress generally consists
of one garment, loose hanging skirt,
with straps over the shoulders, and
reaching but little below the knee.
Their arms and necks are always bare,
and it makes not the slightest difference
whether strangers are present or not
They seem perfectly happy and con-
tented with their lives, and are always
ready to chat with any one they may
happen to meet.-Chicago Herald.