Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03


hung, but the protests Of the diplomatic corps
finally induced the Chiilians to leave il.
Churches a. well a. private houses were
stripped. and what could not be destroyed or
carried away was consumed by fire, the pur-
pose OF the invaders being 10 deprive the Peru
vians OF everything they priced.
EVIDENCES OF REFnED TASTE.
But despite the present poverty Of the old
capital, evidences Of the refined taste Of its
people in music and art are everywhere sppa-
rent. Its aristocratic circles are extremely ex-
elusive and their social laws are very rigid.
However rich or respectable foreign resident
may be, he finds it difficult to obtain any sort
Of social standing among this highest ''set,"
but II he comes for temporary stay with good
letters OF introduction he will be received with
cordial hospitality and will be well entertained.
This 10 especially true in regard to English and
balls, dinners, &C., Whenever their ships are in
the hnrbor, for here, ~ elsewhere, the ladies
have an especial liking for gold lace and brass
buttons.
FEW PUBLIC BALLS RECENTLY.
Since that terrible war there have been few
public balls and receptions, and for the same
reason, poverty, there is not nearly SO much
display in dress and jewels as formerly. How
ever, the glitter Of ''gaud and gear" 10 still
other fiesta occasions, for the ladies' Of the
present generation inherited many splendid
gems from their fair ancestresses, bought in
the golden days Of Peru when money was
poured out like water. From the same source
descended the priceless lace and the rich, old
fashioned fabrics one sees 50 much Of in
Limaian ''best society" which make nine
teenth century senorita look a. il she had just
stepped down and out Of an old painting.
SOCIAL REFLECTIONS.
Those ancient social restrictions which make
it a breach Of decorum for lady to see gem
tleman alone for one moment until after mar
riage still prevail in Peru among the upper
classes, and the numerous petty CONVENTIONAL
ties are a. strongly marked az Is the entire abb
sence Of all con' entionality among the lower
orders. For examples gentleman has had re-
peated invitations to call upon certain family,
and some fine day he goes. In every case he
must ask for the gentleman Of the house; or, if
ne As not at home, the point may be stretched
to the extent Of asking for the elder brother,
should there be grown-up young man in the
family. If it happens that both are absent the
VISITOR must depart at once, leaving his card for
the master Of the casa and his verbal compli-
ments for the ladies, but on no account must
he ask to see the latter. II the father or brother
are at home they will welcose the caller most
hospitality. One by one the female members of
the family will all drop in; some music on
harp, piano or mandolin will be beautifully
rendered by the senoritas who, coquettiEh by
nature and eager to entertain and be enter
tanned, will make eyes, at the caller il he has
the faintest approach to attractiveness about
him; tea or chocolate with dulcies will be
served, and q most charming hour or two may
be spent.
PERUVIAN COOKERY.
Peruvian cookery is an incongruous mixture
Of foreign and native styles, the latter predomi-
mating at private meals, the former at all cere-
monious repasts. A dinnor-table custom, which
was once common and IL not yet entirely done
bocadita, and is a rather comicsl if not always
entirely acceptable demonstration Of friendship
or something warmer. 1t consists in selecting
q choice morsel from your own plate and hand
ing it on your fork to some lady present. who,
in her turn, is privileged to not only pay back
the delicate compliment. but to intensity it by
taking tid-bit from her own plate, without the
aid of knife or fork, and presenting it to the
gentleman who has made the challenge, be
leaning over the table and receiving it in his
mouth from her fingers. 1t used to be custom
airy in Peru, on all occasions Of Formally, for
the host and hostess to eat by themselves, i'm
mediately before the banquet, and then during
the progress Of the ceremoniOus repast to take
nothing whatever, though sitting one at each
END Of the table being supposed in that way to
give their undivided attention to the guests.
HOW TO MAKE PUcHERo.
Mr.. Knox, in his "Boy Travellers" makes
Frank say in a letter to his mother: 1--WE can
not say much for the cookery of Lima, if We
are to judge by what We have seen. One arti-
Gle that may be called national dish of Peru
is known as puchero. have obtained the re-
ceipt for you, and here it Is: Have kettle &C
cording to your puchero; put into it q large
piece OF beef or mutton, some cabbage, sweet
potatoes, salt pork, sausage, pigs feet, yucas,
bananas, ounces, Irish potatoes, pears, pease
nd Wi cal md TN ~ po1
peppers; add sufficient water aud stew the
whole gently four or five hours; then serve on
deep platter. Puchero is patterned some
what after the ola podrida of Spain, the chow
der Of New England, and the bouillabiasse OF
southern France, but contains more ingredients
and more davors than all of them put together.
cannot say that 1 dislike it. but could get
along with it great deal better if they would
put in less red pepper.
CHUPE, A WONDERFUL. MIXTURE.
"Another stew, simpler than puchero, is called
chupe, q favorite breakfast dish, but not often
served at dinner. The lower classes are fond
Of the hottest picsntes. compounded Of meat,
fish, crabs, meal, potatoes, bananas and red
peppers, mixed with the juice Of bitter oranges
and stewed in water. We have tasted this won
derful mixture, but could not get to q second
spoonful in consequence Of the fiery nature Of
the peppers. Fred says they use q pound of
peppers to o pound Of all the other ingredients,
water included. Swallowing torch-light pro-
cession would be preferable to a dinner Of
picantes. Around the landing place at Callao
we saw women with little braziers of charcoal
ladling out steamed picsntes TO the laborers and
idlers Of the port and we're told that it il their
only article Of food. In the poorer parts of
Lima there is Q picanteria every few yards and
each establishment has its patrons among work.
men employed in the vicinity" There are
many varieties Of picantes, each having dis
tinct name; but every one Of them is red hot
with peppers. FANNIE B. WARD.
Written for The Evening Star.
Rural Delights.
Almost within the city's sounds within the city's
sights,
But far enough away to give rs restful days and
nights,