Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-09-05
MAIDEyS OF YUCATAN.
FAMOUS FOR THEIR BEAUTY or
FORM AND FEATURES.


FORM AND FEATURES.
Their LSt u s~Isisaa Happy on~--sfalins \
CtxArettes-vi-it Ca the lace Maksrs-A 4
Tale % wo~-R@siRem-nt and Amiabli-
ty.
The meztiza women of that most inter-
esting country are famed for their beauty |
OF form and features. abundant silky /
black tresses, large dark eyes and easy. |
graceful manners. Generally they ARE
as good as they are pretty; but their lot
Is seldom happy one; perhaps they are
too numerous 20 be justly appreciated.
About one in eight enters the state Of
matrimony. and these appear to be the
least happy. Owing To great excess OF
female populatiOn-thc consequence of
many revolutions and war with hostile
Indians-a large number of women de
pend entirely on their own exertions, and
their field OF labor il limited. They are
not employed in stores, such places being
monopolized by white handed youths
who think coarser toll beneath them.
Those individuals of the sterner sex ex-
pect the gentier. under all circumstances,
10 remain at home, no matter how pain
full their position. Orphans must eat the
bread of dependence in the house of re-
Ltions or friends, and ON no account
shock public opinion by trying to earn u
living away from their place of abode,
nor may they venture to dwell apart
/ from elders who shall control their every
movement. They may suffer everything
except actual starvation, yet must sub
init ii they would lie respected.
t a few are wonderfully clever ut max
ing most beautiful fruits and flowers of
sugar, but cannot earn living by 1t, the
/ time and care needed in the manufacture
entailing SO much expense that only the
wcalthicst give an order on very special
occasions. Nothing truer To nature than
these vegetables, fruits and flowers of
sugar can be imagined. a pineapple. aD
ear of corn, IA golden CIV, with its
Lodi size! e1t;'aatdt dppcndage, spray of snow
white tuberuscs-all equally perfect IN
form and color; while large, full blown
roses. crimson, pink, and yellow, appear
"a ii the frail leaves will fall from the
stem if brcathed upon. Only the taste
convinces w that they are not what they
seem, and the fiavors given to them by
their skillful producers are US delicious as
the work Ii admirable.
MAKING CIGARETTES.
The making of cigarettes affords en-
ployment To hundreds of girls, because
men, women and children there indulge
In the use of tobacco. Ia city, town and
village pretty senoritas sit behind the
prison like window gratings deity wrap
ping up tobacco in small pieces OF the
outer covering of maize, which, when
toasted. imparts delightful flavor to
the cigarette. Twenty cents day Is the
most That one pair Of hands can earn.
Dressmakcrs are numerous. Others
anxiously solicit orders To cmbroider in
silk thread or worsted. Pillow lace was
formerly manufactured in Merida, but
being cxpei"ivc, there was no demand
for the article. Less costly laces are
largely used. No meZtizas holiday
dress il complete without ample flounces
; of it: this converts their simple white
: linen garments into expensive attire.
: Cheap lace il imported, but all who can
prefer t. wear that made in the country
II being handsome ms well rs more dura
BILE. This Is not sold in the stores but IN
the public market place, where 1t Is car
I ried by servants; for, strange as 1t may
! appear, the most poverty stricken have
maids, who, besides receiving no wages
I, frequently help 10 support their mis-
: trcsscs. Generally they have been giveI
:. 10 tho family, when children, by thei
: parcnts-too poor TO provide for them
:, They work hard for little food and scant.
i clothing, are very faithful, and will bea
: hardship and i'll treatment rather THAI
= leave those 10 whom they have becom
. attached.
:, Being directed to family of girls VIII
: supported themselves, we made our wa
: along broken narrow sidewalk 20 hous
:, No. 4 in "A row of dwellings, each COZ
= sisting of three rooms, and an outhuus
, that served as kitchen. We raped wit
, our knuckles, and a sweet Voice badc I
- .comc in" Pushing open the door, "
found ourselves in "a room containing
small table and three low seats, occupit
b. young women, whose appearance i
as Dictated that they seldom enjoyed hear
y meal.
TALE OF WOE.
ne Yes, they could make all the lace v
an desired If we could advance money
~ buy net ANA thread: they had none, cvI
aS TO buy medicine for their sick mothC
- We asked them To resume the work tn
ny our arrival had interrupted. This tin
ny did, embroiderlng the net with a lol
eM fine needle and thread drawn from win
al linen cloth. The designs, their own in
tation OF native flowers, are traced
=. white paper that il tackled 10 the net.
frame Is used only for very wide lace.
After our order was given tale
ter woe was poured forth, with an appeal
Oh money in advance. A few days latel
the messenger came from our lace malS
tine with an earnest petition for anotl
fnl. small installment. and 50 ON. every &
INN days. the full price being paid long
Ell. fore tho lace was made. We engag
! ~ one woman To make eight yards of l.
tho eighteen inches wide, and having p:
e il tho full sum ia advance. never obtain
lew more than four yards. These people "a
from twenty 70 thirty-tive cents day
In spite of their cherries homes. Il
notonous lives, and continued toll, TN
A.. Il u winsomc refinement and amiabil
about these maidens that surprises 0
charms. They seldom indulge in gioo
-, forcbodings, and when things are
their worst make light of them. IL
dinner may have consisted "a but I
~ tor;illa, they may not have u cent
ma their possession, or tallow dip TO CHI
'ep' the darkness from their empty roC
'esp but they will throw open the street dc
letting Ia iiool Of sweet moonlight ,
balmy air A neighbor has an
guitar. and slender fingers fall hgl
in upon the strings, while plaintivo yo
been blend in some sweet melody attune'
is TO the sentimental serses of 4 native p
-.