Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-02-05
LIFE in LIMA.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN THE PERU.
WAN CAPITAL.
Evidences of the War with Chilli
Social Restrictions - Peruvian
Cookery-A Wonderful Mixture.

| Evidences OF the War with Chill
Social Restrictions - Peruvian
cookery-A Wonderful Mixture.
In Lima, writes Fannie b. Ward in the
Washington Star, the splendid trees of
the parks and boulevards, even those of
the botanical gardens, we've chopped
down for fuel by the Chilian soldiers.
The entire museum of Peruvian curiosi
ties-one of the largest of its kind in the
world-was packed up and shipped to
Santiago. The most valuable books of
the national library, including q vast
collection of old manuscripts, inquisition
relics and other priceless relics were
thrown into sacks and sent after the
museum. Musical instruments were
hacked in pieces by swords and axes,
historical paintings cut from their frames
and many smaller pictures, statues and
articles of virtu were carried off as
private plunder. Peru's greatest paint
ing, Marini's Burial of Atahualpa, the
last of the Incas," was stolen from the
wall where it hung, but the protests of
the diplomatic corps finally induced the
Chilians to leave it. Churches as we'll as
private houses were stripped, and what
could not be destroyed or carried away
was consumed by fire. the purpose of the
invaders being to deprive the Peruvians
of everything they priced.
But despite the present poverty of the
old capital, evidences of the refined taste
OF its people in music and art are every
where apparent. Its aristocratic circles
are extremely exclusive and their social
laws are very rigid. However rich or
rnSnpptnhln n forniern Il l. I,
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 is espec-
tally true in regard to English and Amer
lean officers who are in great demand at
balls, dinners, &c, whenever their ships
are in The harbor, for here, as elsewhere,
the ladies have an especial liking for
gold lace and brass buttons.
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. However, the glitter
of ''gaud and gear is still dazzling on
first nights at the opera and on other
fiesta occasions, for the ladies of the
present generation inherited many splen-
did gems for their fair anccstrcsses,
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 so much of in Limaian "best
society,"" which makes nineteenth cen
tury senorita look as if she had lust
stepped down and out of society.
Those ancient social restrictions which
make it breach of decorum for q lady
to see gentleman alone for one mo
ment until after marriage still prevail in
Peru among the upper classes, and the
numerous petty conventionalities are as
strongly marked as is the entire absence
of all conventionality among the lower
orders. For example: gentleman has
had repeated invitations to call upon a
certain family, and some fine day he
goes. In every case he must ask for the
gentleman of tine house; or, if he is 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 compliments for
the ladies, but on no account must he
ask to see the latter. If the father or
brother are at home they will welcome
the caller most Hospitality. One by one
the female members of the family will
ali drop in; some music, on harp, piano
or mandolin, will be beautifully rem
dered by the senoritas, who, coquettish
by nature and eager to entertain and be
entertained, will "make eyes" at the
caller If he has the faintest approach to
attractiveness about him; tea or choco.
late with dulcies will be served, and a
most charming hour or two may be
spent.
Peruvian cookery is an incongruous
mixture of foreign and native styles, the
latter prelominating at private meals,
the former at all ceremonious repasts A
dinner-table custom, which was once
common and is not yet entirely done
away with, even in proud Lima is called
the bocadita, and is rather a comical if
not always entirely acceptable demon
stration of friendship or something
warmer. 1t consists in selecting choice
morsel from your own plate and handing
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 a It'd bit
from her own plate, without the aid of n
knife or fork, and presenting it to the
gentleman who has made the challenge,
he leaning over the table and receiving it
in his mouth from her fingers. 1t used
to be customary in Peru, on all occasions
of formality, for the host and hostess to
cat by themselves, Immediately before
the banquet, and then during the pro-
gress of the ceremonious rcpast to take
nothing whatever, though sitting one at
each end of the table, being supposed in
that way to give their undivided atten-
tion to the guests.
Mr.. Knox, in his ''Boy Travellers, I"
makes Frank say in letter to his
mother: "We cannot say much for the
cookery of Lima, If we are to Judge by
what we have seen. One article that
may be called national dish of Peru is
known as puchero. l have obtained the
receipt for you, and here it is: Have a
Kettle according to your puchero; put
into it large piece of beef or mutton,
some cabbage, sweet pototoes salt pork,
plg's feet, yucas, bananas, ounces, Irish
potatoes, pears, peasc and rice, with
spices, salt and plenty of red peppers;
add sufficient water and stew the whole
gently four or five hours; then serve on
a deep platter. Puchero is patterned
somewhat after the ola podrida of Spain,
the chowder of New England, and the
| bouillabaisse of southern France but