The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-03


and the usual resultant big heads When
that kind Of thing became an old story,
some of the good people determined to re-
deem their city from The imputation of
being behind the times, at any cost. An in
surance agent was
ENCOURAGED TO VISIT CONCEPTION,
policies-for about double the value of the
property insured. A night or two after
wards there was a rousing blaze-not any
thrilling, second-class affair, but a genuine
confagration, in which coal oil and other
combustibles caused the flames to leap and
dance right merily.
The citizens We're in ecstasies. Every
body turned out to see the fun. Church
bells rang iubilantly. The new engine was
dragged through the streets in triumph,
and even the bomberos managed to arrive
III time, to be in at the DEATH One by one
they came sauntering 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 eminently
satisfactory performance-for Everybody
but the insurance company. The owners
of the burned buildings came out some
thousands of dollars ahead, for the alleged
damages had to be paid, because the insur-
ance business was yet in its infancy in
Chill, and the company knew that
REFUSAL WOULD BE DEATH-BLow
to their hopes of future prosperity"
IL used to be the fashion in Valparaiso to
set fire to ones own property in order to
obtain the insurance on it; but the author
iitcs were compelled to put stop to pro-
ceedings so dangerous to the entire COM
munity in closely-built city. They did it
in the summary manner peculiar to Chill
by throwing into prison any unfortunate
man whose house took fire, and sometimes
his nearest neighbors were incarcerated to
keep him company, all being retained in
durance vie until ii was proved to the sat-
isfdction of everybody just how the fire
originated. II it was due to any careless
ness on the part of the owner or his fam
lily, woe betide them-as if it were not bad
enough to lose ones property, without
being punished for it like common Grim
inal!
Another novelty, seen nowhere but in
Chill, is the wearing of white mdntdS and
white dresses by penitelltdS, or women who
have committed some sin, for which they
desire to atone by thus advertising the
fact.
THE BLACK MANIA OR SHAWL,
with which the women of Peru and Bolivia
cover the head aud shoulders,
is also used here, though most ladies of the
aristocracy have discarded it except for
on other occasions sporting
the finest French millinery. But if going
to mass, a 1ndntG you must wear, for no
other style of head gear Is permitted inside
a Gillian sanctuary.
In this connection l am reminded of the
recent experience of a 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 daiutiest little women l ever met,
told me, with a blush of morti-
fcation, how they were actually
turned cut of Santiago church.
There was grand mass of some religious
fiesta; and, being in utter ignorance of local
customs, the lady wore her travelling bon
meta modest toque of black chip. She
says that the moment they entered the door,
woman came hurriedly forward and
whispered something in an angry tone-in
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
another, each gesticulating more vehe-
mently than her predecessors, but whisper
ing the same words. Considerably aston
ished, but knowing no cause for dismay
and feeling sustained by conscious recti-
tude, the young Philadelphians bowed Sc
renely to those who accosted them, and
having chosen a retired spot behind a pillar,
prepared with due reverence to enjoy the
ceremonies. But black gowned priest
strobe down from the altar, took my lady
by the arm and politely walked her out, fol
lowed, of course, by the now wrathful hus
band; and not until they met an English
speaking acquaintance did they learn the
cause of their ejecuion-all on account Of
that modest little toquel
Though the mdlltd is exceedingly becom-
ing to everybody. 1t suits the big black eyes
of these southern sisters better than the
grace and beauty, but hides sloVenly dress.
ing and
ALL DEFECTS OF FIGURE.
When properly draped, it makes an ole
woman look young, a skeleton form appear
reasonably plump, meal-bag- tied-in-the
middle shape almost slender, and renders {
handsome face perfectly irresistible. Some
of the mantas, of rich silk, covered all over
with heavy embroidery and edged with the
real Spanish lace, cost from $3.50 10 $500
There are cheaper all-wool varieties tina
'drape equally well and have an embroidered
vine running around the edges, which sci
for between thirty and one hundred dollars
while coarser grade, commonly worn by
/
low as IS.
But the mantas of the penitentds are non,
of these being strips of white wool-delain,
say three yards long, by yard wide
and entirely without adornment, though
worn in the same coquettish fashion as tn,
black ones. The wearers go about tn
streets with downcast eyes, recognizing n
one and apparently looking at nothing
One sees great many of them in tn
churches,
ESPECIALLY NEAR THE CoNFEsSIoNALs,
where they walk to receive dissolution from
the sin they have atoned for by thus max
! ing it public, that their souls may be re
lieved from all sense of guilt and thei
| bodies from this mark of penitence. Some
| times they perch before some saint or cru
ciilx. motionless for hours, like so man,
I snow-white birds, or remain all day upol
their knees by way of penance, (try tina
posture for sixty consecutive minutes an,
! see what punishment it is y Or assme som
other uncomfortable attitude and stick T.
| it with perseverance worthy better cause
have seen the menta also around happ,
| faces at the theatre, the circus, the publ
promenade, and other places hardly consis
tent with penitential grief. Ladies o
wealth and highest social position are foun,
among their number, as well as charmin
young girls Indeed it is sad commentar
on 1.-The dangerous gift of beauty" that few
ugly faces are found beneath those sam
white mantasi
Let US quote Mr.. w. E. Curtis, who
good
AUTHORITY ON MOST SOUTH AMERICA
| MATTERS.
He says that the women of Chill are q
universally pious as the men are proud, an
that this method of securing absolute
from sin by advertising it to the world
yearly becoming more fashionable II