Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-02

| the utter demolition OF the instrument, which
might as well have been left to burn.
| FIRE ESPECIALLY GOTTEN UP.
| An acquaintance writing from Conception
the third city Of Chill, situated some distance
south of Santiago-says: ''The houses here
abouts are built Of heavy brick and adobe, COW
cred with earthen thing, so that it would be al
most impossible to burn them. Within the
memory Of the Oldest iuhabitant there had never
been fire in Conception; but as all well-regu-
lated cities in civilized lands have fre-com-
panies. this ambitious town must have one also.
| After a vast amount Of spread-eagie talk in
print and in public speeches, the citizens or
/ gained company of bomberos, composed
mainly Of the 'gilded YOUTH and purchased a
monster fire engine, at unheard-of expense in
transportation. But they found no use for
either, except in snowy parsdes, followed by
nights Of convivial rejoicing and the usual re-
| sultant big heads When that kind Of thing
became an old story, some Of the good people
determined 10 redeem their city from the irn-
Putation of being behind the times at any cost.
An insurance agent was encouraged to visit
Conception. and he succeeded in issuing a num-
Der of policies-for about double the value of the
property insured. A night or two afterward
there was rousing blaze-not any triiing
| second-class affair, but genuine conhagration,
In which coal-oil and other combustibles caused
the flames to leap and dance right merrill.
EVERYBODY SEES THE FUN.
| "The citizens were in ecstacies. EVERYBODY
turned out 10 see the fun. Church bells rang
| Jubilantly. The new engine was dragged
through the streets in triumph. and even the
| bomberOs managed to arrive in time to be in
/ at the death. One by one they came saunter-
! ing up, some on foot, others in carriages all
having tarried to dress up for the occasion in
their brand new uniforms. In short it was an
emlnently satisfactory performance-fore every
| body but the insurance company. The owners
| of the burned buildings came out some thou
sands of dollars ahead for the alleged damages
had to be paid, because the insurance business
was yet iii its infancy in Chill, and the COM
pany knew that refusal would be death blow
to their hopes of future prosperity"
1t used to be the fashion in Valparaiso to set
fire to ones own property in order to obtain
the insurance on it, but the authorities were
compelled to put stop to proceedings 80 dam
gerous to the entire community in a closely
built city. They did il in the summary manner
peculiar to Chili-by throwing into prison any
unfortunate man whose house took fire. and
sometimes his nearest neigbbors were incar-
cerated to keep him company all being re-
talned in durance vile until it was proved to
the satisfaction OF everybody Just how the FIRE
originated. IL it due to any carelessness
on the part OF the owner or his family woe be-
tide them-as il it were not bad enough to lose
ones property without being punished for it
like u common criminal!
MUST WEAR MANIA IN CHURCH,
Another novelty, seen nowhere but in Chilli.
Is the wearing of white mantas and white
dresses by penitentas, or women who have COM
mitted some sin. for which they desire to atone
by thus advertising the fact. The black manta.
OR shawl, with which the women Of Peru and
Bolivia universally cover the head and shout
ders. Is also used here though most ladies' of
the aristocracy have discarded il except for
ehurch-going, on other occasions sporting the
finest French millinery. But if going to mass
a manta you must wear, for no other STYLE of
head gear is permitted inside CHILEAN sane
tuary.
In this connection I am reminded of the
recent experience Of q Philadelphia couple.
who are making wedding journey around the
world and took in South America on the way
The bride, who is one of the sweetest and
oaintlest little women ever met, told me, with
blush of modification, how they were actu-
ally turned out OF u santiago church. There
was a grand mass for some religious fiesta and
being In utter ignorance of local customs the
lady wore her travelling bonnet-a modest
toque of black chip. She says that the mo-
ment they entered the door a woman came
hurrledly forward and whispered something in
an angry tone-iu Spanish, of which language
our friends do not understand word. As they
passed along the aisle another woman stepped
up to stay their progress; then another and an
other, each gestlculating more vehemently
than her predecessors, but whispering the same
words. Considerably astonished, but knowing
no cause for dlsmay and feeling sustained by
toAoSAOus AtCdtuuc tuo yOunK fQlldQelpllan9
bowed serenely TO those who accosted them.
and having chosen retired spot behind pill
lar, prepared with due reverence to enioy the
ceremonies. But black gowned priest strobe
down from the altar, took my lady by the arm
and politely walked her out, followed. OF
course, by the now wrathful husband, and not
until they met an English-speaking acauaipt-
ance did they learn the cause of their election
all on account OF that modest little toque!
IT Is VERY BECOMING.
Though the manta il exceedingly becoming
to Everybody ii suits the big black eyes of these
southern sisters better than the Saxon blue or
gray. 1t not only heightens grace and beauty.
but hides slovenly dressing and all defects of
inquire. When properly draped it makes an
old woman look young, a skeleton form appear
reasonably plump. meal-ba2- tied-in- the
middle shape almost slender and renders a
handsome face perfectly irresistible. Some of
the mantas Of rich silk covered all over with
heavy embroidery and edged with real Spanish
lace cost from elj0 to $50. There are cheaper
atwood varieties that drape equally we'll and
have an embroidered vine running around the
edges. which sell for between thirty and one
hundred dollars, while coarser grades. COM
monty worn by servants and los pobras, can
be bought as low as So.
MANTAs OF TIE PENIrENTs
But the mantas Of the penitentas are none of
these, being stripe of white wool delaine--say
iVhS yhTu Wlue-anu entirely
without adjournment, though worn In the same
coquetlsh fashion as the black ones The
~earers go about the streets with dovncast
eyes, recognizing no one and apparently look
ing at nothing. One sees a great MANY OF them
IN the churches, especially near the confession
ais, where they wait to receive absolution from
the SIN they have atoned for by thus making IL
Puonc. mat their souls may be relieved from
all sense OF guilt and their bodies from tbis
1naIA o. Peniteuce- Sometimes they perch be-
lore some SAINT or crucifix motionless tor hours
IKE so many snow-white birds, or remain ali
DAY upon their knees by way of penance (try
that posture for sixty consecutive minutes and
see what punishment it ISL or assume soms
other uncomfortable attitude and stick 10 ~
with perseverance worthy better cauna 7
have seen the manta also around happy faces
at the theater, the circus, the public bronze
made and other places hardly Consistent with
penifential grief. Ladies of wealth and bigba.t
social position are found among their humber
as we'll as charming young girls Indeed IA il
sad commentary on 1.-THE dangerous eift 81
beauty" that few ugly faces are found beneath
those same white mansasi
ADVERTISING THEIR srSa
Let us quote Mr.. W. E. Curtiss. WIN IN 0oo,
authority on most South American matters
He says that the women Of Chill are as unive,.
sally pious as the men are proud, and that this
method OF securing absolution from ain by ad-
versisins II to the world il yearly becoming
more fashionable. He adds ..Souls that cannoi
be purged by the Psnissntial dre.a retire 10 =