New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
GIRL-LIFE IN PORTUGAL.
From ATLANTA.

From Atalanta.
Comparatively little can be said of grlhfe in portu1
gal for girls have such very slight role Ia the LIE
Of the nation. In childhood they are bright, clever
and precociOuS very much spoiled and very muoh
desd formal respect e 5 their parents tSIS 5srSs
kiss their bands aud ask their blessing at bedtime.
They are constantly In the company OF grownup peo-
pie, sit up late at night and are frequently taken 70 ina
theatre and opera. A little girl OF nine amused mo
very much one day by grave criticism on the voices
of Mines Nevada and Theodorini, who were then sing
ing at San Carlos. and the parts In which they rspeeI
lively shone. Conversation Is not restrained IA the
ihsf freedom Of IDEAS and freedom Of expressing them
that is marked feature OF society In southern
The education of Portuguese girls is superficial. con-
sisting chiefly in what used to DC called accomplish,
three they attain great proficiency and IN the Latter
they excel The Portuguese, unlike the spanaFds ana
cases as fluent In French En glish aud German as in
their mother tongue. and conquer the dineglt!es ct
schools of all sorts in Lisbon Governments schools pr,
yate schools and convent schools 6eongins 70 the
preston of the national religious houses In 1884, these
nuns have quietly spread their influence and multiplied
clusvely in their hands the education d
and marry very soon after. Among the upper ten
thousand the young people meet each other constantly
sorts and their courtnlp cosmopolitan, rather freer
than in France, much less so than IN England. It
Of the country aud the nation. The Portuguese are
very conservative in their ideas. Of the position Of
Moorish masters In bygone centuries. Consequently.
girls lead very shu NE they go regularly 10 mass
on sunday mornings and take occasional walks durna
the week. always accompanied BY or too cha perons
Young men never call at the house. and II they did
would not be admitted except on business, This
strctness leaves but open FOR an INTERCHANGE
sentiments and that is the window. and il is quite
the thing % make use of it, II is not considered ik
bred 10 stare In Portugal; may stare at q gin
he does not know as long he likes; he must moo
do 10 girl he has been introduced TO unless shA
gives him some encouragement BY returning his
glanees \ girl will SIT at her window all the after
looking into the street and her adorer from the
street looks at her, and this Is much the custom
that II attracts no attention from tho paSserS-by.
From looks they proceed t. bows. smiles. 10 few
words then he follows her 70 church. finds out II she
Is going to the theatre and goes too. scenades her
with bis guitar moonlight nights, and finally makes
an oner ~ her father lie I, then received by the
family, and allowed to come 10 the house In quiet
way TIL the wedding. and after that the young couple
usually live either with her parents with his and
the even tenor Of their life continues.
] hoard O Portuguese gentleman who had travelled
and was considered homme du monde say " Mar
rage makes difference In the life OF woman before
1t she lives with her mother. after It she lives with h
mother: what cond she wants.