Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15

Sesteo tnat penang the arrival OF n COOK, we
have our meals brought from the cafe, COM
mon custom here. You hare q lot of tins made,
fitting one into tho other, with a wire passing
through rings at the sides. The bottom tin
contalns coal. and different meats and vegeta-
bles are placed above one another in the sue
cessive TINS. At dinner time one may see men
rushing through the streets Of Valparaiso in
every direction with strings of dishes varying
In length according to the magnitude of tho
purchasers dinner.
1--WE lived in that wav for q week ION half
cold food that all tasted OF unwashed tin and
menu OF many yesterdays), till ut last we Sc
cured u weii-recommendedc cook who is to hive
SO per month for getting up two meals day,
washing most OF the dishes and going 20 the
market. She sleeps in her own house and has
the usual perquisites accorded to servants here,
viz: Meat and vegetables from our own table.
one pound Of brown sugar q week and cents
worth of bread per diem. Butter is never al
lowed them; coffee and tea at the generosity OF
their employers.
you would laugh to see me in the morning
approach my cook with money in one hand and
dictionary in the other to give orders concern
ing the marketing. 1t is not difficult to catch
the pronunciation OF Spanish, and in case OF
stern necessity one may dispense with verbs
altogether The briefest of dialogues, some
thing in this fashion, always occurs: Dolores,
quiero por pas, huevos. beefsteak' Ct want
potatoes eggs and bcefsteakO, to which Do
iores respectfully replies Isl, senorita; muy
cuSho \ Acs, mlSs very Weil
DAILY ROUTINE OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
"The man servant, or major domo. as he is
magnificeutly called, takes charge of the din
ing room, waits at table and acts as chamber
maid. for it is a singular fact that the chamber
"maidens' of Chilli are universally Of the
other sex. We have one street stair case up
which everything is brought. Tho first thing l
near III the morning is the chatter upon the
steps OF the water carrier, who brings us two
Kegs OF water daily, for which he is paid $500
per month. Then comes the bread man, to
whom We pay 80 cents q day for what our
family OF seven are supposed to consume; then
the milk man, bringing half pint for cents,
and lastly the cook arrives with the
marketing and the days supply of fuel. In
this hand-to-mouth way Of living always have
an uncomfortable impression that some day
we shall be left destitute. But everybody else
lives in the same fashion. and, indeed, no other
way is possible here. The laundress comes on
Monday takes the soiled clothes and returns
those that she carried away seven days before.
One must keep close account Of every article
to guard against theft, and there is always the
dire suspicion that your pretty embroidered
skirts, your wash dresses your husbands
shirts. &c, are being worn by the lnundress
ana her relations during that long week OF alb
sence."
In every Gillian household hospitality to
evening visitors is expressed by tea and cakes,
the hostess always pouring out the beverage and
servant handing 1t to the guests. The bever
age OF the common people is yerba mate. the
leaves OF shrub that grows in Paraguay. and
1t Is also much used by tho better classes,
though the Chinese plant takes its place in the
parlor. lerba mate is a slightly exhilarating
drink, with the taste Of tea and a faint SAVIOR Of
tobacco. 1t is prepared by putting little
purnt sugar In the bottom Of a cup, then q
plnch or two of the dried leaves, after which
boiling water is poured on and it is drunk
steamlnS hot, or rather is sucked through
tube The poor use little gourds for cups, with
q bamboo tube called a bombilla, while the
rich indulge In elegant mugs OF silver or china,
with silver bombillas.
Evening parties large and small, formal or in
formal, are very much in fashion, and the re-
freshments served are always cakes. ices and
teas. Years ago-before the Chilians grew
Jealous OF foreigners and also, perhaps before
Journalists came down here to publish unpleas-
ant truths about them-ali strangers were well
coined with overfowing hospitality and de-
hghted simplicity. But now such warmth is
seldom shown. except in remote country
places. where the mate cup and its bombilla are
still passed from your neighbours lips to your
own. and where the hostess will pause in front
OF you with her dish of dulces in one hand
and spoon in the other while she envelops q
peach III It's rich sirup and gently thrust5 1t
into yo1r mouth, and so on around the circuit
OF the drawing room.
Suppose you bring a letter OF introduction to
Gillian city. He leaves his card at your hotel
with the information that he will celebrate
greatly acquaintance with YOU" and when you
return the call will assure you that his house
and all 1t contains is entirely at your service
a meaningless phrase, except that henceforth
you have the entree of the casa, and his wife
will receive you cordially. The parlor is always
lighted ateyening and you are at liberty to drop
In without knocking at 9 or 10 o'clock, every
evening in the week if you like, to take tea and
IN nlfPhf fha NAL -
being music, conversation and tea The mas
ter OF the mansion is not often present, for he
is spending his evenings somewhere else in the
same way-or maybe playing cards at his club.
Sunday IS the day for complimentary visiting
calls being made ut or 3 in the afternoon, and
also at twilight. Ladies are rarely attended
homo from evening visits by anybody but a
servant, 'bepux, as we at the north under
stand the term, not being permitted.
FANNIE Il. WARD.