The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-02-18
BRAZILIAN WOMEN.
Appearance and Habits of Members of
the Upper and Lower Glasses.

Society in Brazil is divided into three
distinct classes-the aristocrats, the
middle. and the lower classes, says a
correspondent of the Detroit Free Press.
The ladies of the upper classes are un-
deniably beautiful. They have raven
black hair. white teeth, and perfect
forms; and if it were not for the
enormous amount of plaster-of-paris
enamel with which they cover their
faces they might have lovely, creamy
complexions. But their wondrous
eyes are the chief and never-ending
charm-large, dark, lustrous, and full
of expression; throwing more meaning
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 single SEN
tence correctly-for the education of
women is not considered essential to
their happiness. They learn embroid-
cry and music indifferently, and spend
their lives in rocking-chairs and ham
mocks, never reading a 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 II and
16 years, thus early assuming the i'm
portant and responsible duties of life.
Mothers little more than 20, with four
or five small children, are no uncom-
mon sight.
Brazilian ladies never go out, even
in daytime, without the family or
servant; they seldom go out at all.
They do not have gentleman visitors,
and if a young man who has been as
sociated with a girl in childhood, or
who by some accid ent is allowed to
visit the family, becomes a lover. he
is Immediately elected from the house
and the courtship proceeds from the
balcony to the street. If notes are ex-
changed it is done secretly, never
through the mail. Often a gentleman
sees a lady for the first time on a bal
cony, at the opera, or at church and
falls in love with her. A courtship
like the above ensues; they become en-
gagged, frequently without knowing
more of each other than they can learn
from enquiry; knew nothing of each
others minds, tastes, characters, or
dispositions. l was told of a gentle
man who thus courted girl for eight
long wears and left her three months
after marriage.
If a Brazilian girl should walk with
gentleman not her relative in the
daytime it would ruin her.
If the lover desires an engagement
to the ball or opera, or a promenade
with his sonora, he must first propose
at headquarters, then seek her pleas
ure, and if she accords the whole fam
lily goes along.
Among the lower classes there are
plenty of women who go about the
streets with bare, brown feet thrust in
small Turkish slippers whose heels
clatter along the dusty pavement in
the most slipshod style. These women
lead simple, purposeless lives going
to mass every morning, where 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 children around them,
smoking their long-stemmed pipes and
passer-by. Their dress generally con-
sists of one garment a 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 differ
ence whether strangers are present or
not. They seem perfectly happy and
contented with their lives and are al
WAYS ready to chat with any one that
they may happen to meet.