Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-30
A PETTIC0AT RACE.
Some Funny Chilian Charac-
teristics.
KNOW HOW TO BE HOSPITABLE
dow the Ruling Glass Deport Themselves
In q Roto's Howell - Like the
French, They Kill You
With Politeness.
Special correspondence of the Gazette.

Special correspondence OF the Gazette.
CoNCEPcIoN. CHILL, Aug. 1.-THE
stranger to this remote corner of creation
IS apt TO imagine that the Chiiians are d
semi barbarous nation, wretchedly clad, if
clad at all. with little refinement and less
education, superstitious, cruel and blood
thirsty. When first arrived here-astOn-
iShed by the magnificence of clos Ricos"
frhc wealthy class, who, though numeri-
raly few. yet rule both church and state),
their splendid casas and numerous schools
and places of amusement, their costly liv-
ing and stylish dressing and dazzling
display of jewels, and their grace
II! and generous hospitality-he jumps
- the conclusion that his previous impress
srouS We're absolutely and entirely enron
eous. But as time goes on and he learns
low the common people, who make up
the bulk of the population, live and move
and have their belIg--he reluctantly comes
back 10 his first opinion as concerning a
large mojority of Chilians. There are 50
many conditions of existence in the land,
and consequently such a variety of charac-
ter that one may say of these people with
equal truth-they are both highly civil
lied and sunk in barbarism: profoundly
educated and densely ignorant; rich as
CrGSus ard poor as Jobs aforementioned
turkey; that they live in palaces furnished
with every modern luxury, and in mud
bowels with nothing but beans and raw
clans for daily bread that they are tine
most warm-hearted, genial, hOspitable ana
thoroughly delightful people in the world,
L we'll is the most trcacherous, revenge
f-l and never o-be-depended-upOn Ger
tam national characteristics may be clearly
traced through all classes of society-such
Is the quick sensational and emotional
soldier terrible foe; the Chill
San citizen ready to lay down
RI life atany moment for point OF honor
pr ne cherished iutitutious of his beloved
r.uutry: the Cnilian lady or gentleman
most generous and devoted friend; the
CHilIan lover male or female, ardent to an
cxtr4vagant degree hardly conceivable by
IN Angl0-SaXon mind, and inclined to jeal
ousy IS the sparks fly upward.
In Chill the typical rico (rich MANI,
v0uug or old, dresses every day in figura-
tive purple and fine linen. For him there
IS no second best attire in the way of
rough and ready morning costume or bust
ness suit. for he has no need of such, being
like the lilies in that he tolls not, neither
does he spin. His clothes are always fine,
dainty and fashionable as an artist tailor
can create them; his polished hair care
fully parted IN the middle or brushed
straight up Ia pOmpadOur. His immacu-
late shirt cuffs. with COnspicuSuSly jeweled
buttons, extending towards his knuckles
Just 50 far by i hairs breadth: his very
small, sharp-toed, high-heeled shoes reflect
ing his beauty as in twin mirrors; his mon
ogram-em broldered handkerchief delicately
scented, and, i'll his eyes, the handsome
diamond ring and Scarf-pin which he sports
are no less essential than shirt or trousers.
lie has been taught department from his
cradle and mastered that science to
perfection at an early age. As often
es he meets you, be it dozen
L. J., - l.; 81, yla,,,
tily in one well-gloved hand while tipping
his faultles tile with the other, bows grace
fully and low and shakes you by the hand
with never the slightest perceptible yaria-
ton in the depth of his obeisance or the
warmth Of the shake; unless YOU happen to
be man and an intimate friend, il which
case he
MAY EMBRACE AND KISS YOU.
If, being only a casual acquaintance, you
call upon him on. an errand of business or
pleasure. he will hasten to inform you that
everything he possesses is unreservedly
yours-his house himself, his family, his
servants, are all Z su disposition de
uSted-''at your disposition. p" His
wife, who is generally beautiful
and always well dressed. will smile on you
benignly through q drift of face powder
with touch of rouge on either side of the
nose, and assure you in Soft-vOweled Span
ish of the pleasure she feels in thus form
Ing your acquaintance-and makes you be-
hevc it, too, which is the best part of it.
observation-disclosures tell US that all this
tropical courtesy means little, and is only
skin deep But who cares to go deeper!
Ii Is delightful all the same and quite deep
enough to outlast the occasion. We, who
profess to be a cultured people and are in
clined to Stiffen our neckS with Yankee con-
ceit when our ways are compared with
those af other nations, might learn from
the Chilenos good many needed lessons in
common pOliteneSS. For example
they never enter or leave
coach. street-car or other public
vehicle without bowling to all its occu-
pants. No lady or gentleman to the manor
born ever sat down to or arose from table
in Chile, either public or private, without
an inclination of the head to all present.
so, in shopping, they bow to the merchant,
or his statesmen. on entering or leaving q
store. That sort of thing, it seems to me,
Is much more human between fellow-trav
elers on life's short journey than our don't
care for-any body way.
} Says one: The great social question of
The day IS whether, for q transient ac-
auaintance. it is better to meet an English
man who will be bluff and bearish toward
you and make you feel like an intruder,
while his heart is overfiowing with good
viii toward you, or one of these more
Courtly Southerners, who fiatters you with
politeness until you are perfectly at
ease, while all the time he is
thinking what n bother you are" The
generality of people prefer the latter, with
out taking the trouble to sound its depths.
Most poliueneSS is
PLEASANT sHAMNING
the wide world over. When our truest
friends bid Us goodbye how many of
them mean ii in the full breadth of its
original God ne with you,'' and when they
say farewell how many go into the de-
tails of wishing you good meals and clean
bedsl 4 greeting is not likely to be more
honest because less cordial, any more than
our good-byes and farewells are more
forCible because abbreviated and meaning
less Heinrich Heipe remarks of his coun-
trymen: German simplicity still regards
rudeuess as a mark of courage and honesty,
but peep into the prisons would suffice TO
show that there are rude rascals as well as
rude towards
1t was long ago decided that it was better
for society 10 be even politely hypocritical
than TO be honest and rude / see no reason
for distrusting hospitality simply because
IL bears the semblance of hospitality. The
Gillian adios sounds like mothers bless
ing; and 'que pasSe Vd. bien'' is whole
benediction.
In the streets, however, the average
Chiliau might learn some good behavior
from Germans. EngliShmen and Yankees.
Here gentlemen consider ii a proper tribute
to female beauty to stare into a lady'S face
as long as she remains within the range of
vision, whether she appears to like ii or not;
and in passing, though she be an entire
stranger. 10 address her some compliment
AIRY remark, such as beso sus manOs, sem