Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-01-08
HOW THE oHILEANs LIVE.
Magnificepoe of .'Los Ricos." squaior Of
the People.

conception lcUlCI Ill lllG IIbpobh'SA
Dispatch. The stranger to this remote
corner of creation is ap5 to imagine
thatthe Chileans are sGmi-barbarous
nation, wretchedly clad, if clad at
ALL with little refinement and less
education, superstitious, cruel, ana
bloodthirsty When first arrived here
-astonshcd by the magnifcence OF
"Los Ricos" (the wealthy class who,l
though numerically few, yet rule both
church and State,) their splendid
casas and numerous schools and
places Of amusement, their costly liv-
ing, the stylish dressing and dazzlingl
display OF Jewels, and their GRACEFUL
and generous hospitality-he jumps
at the conclusion that his previous
impressions were absurdly and en-
tirely erroneous.
But as time goes on, and he learns
how the common people, who make
up the bulk of the population, live
and move and have their being, he
reluctently comes back to his first
opinion as concerning large majority
Of the Chileans. There are so many
conditions of existence in the land,i
and consequently such variety OF
character, that one may say of these
people with equal truth-they arc
both highly civilized ard sunk into
barbarism; profoundly educated and
densely ignorant; rich as CrOesus and
poor as Jobs aforementioned turkeys
that they live in palaces furnished
1, In
mud novels With nothing but beans
and raw clans for ''daily brea1;" that
they are the most rm-hearted,,
genial, hospitable, and thoroughly de-
lightful people in the world; as WeiE
as the most treacher0us, revengeful,
and never to be depended upon.
Certain natural characteristics may
be clearly traced through all classes
of society-such as the quick, sensa-
tional and emotional Nature, which
makes the Chilean solAier a terrible
foe; the Chilean either ready to lay
down his life at any moment for
point of honor or the cherished in
stitutions Of his beloved country; the
Chilean lady or gentleman most
Chilean lover male CT female, ardent
to an extrayagant degree hardly cons
ceiyable by an Anglo-Saxon mind
and inclined to jealousy as sparks fly
upward.
In Chile the typical Rico (rich man.
young or old, dresses every day in
figuratiye purple and fine linen. For
Ia : bDp - Il a frn IN.
the way Of a rough-and-rcady morn
ing costume or business suit, for he
has no need of such, being like the
lilies ia that he tolls not, neither
does he spin His clothes are always
fine, dainty and fashionable as ar
artist tailor can create" them; his
polished hair carefully parted in the
middle or trained to,stan2 straight UP
la pompadour; his immaculate shirt
cuffs, with conspicouously jeweled
buttons, extending toward his
knuckles just 50 far by hairs
breadth; his very small, sharp toed,
! high-heeled shoes rejecting his beauty
/ as in twin mirrors; his monogram-
/ embroidered handkerchief delicately
scented, and in his eyes a handsome
diamond ring and scarf-pin are no
less essential than shirt or trousers.
He has been taught department from
his cradle, and mastered that science
/ to perfection at an early age. AS
/ often as he meets you, be it dozen
times a day, he holds his slender cane
dainty in one well-gloyed hand while
tipping his faultless tile with the
other, bows gracefully and low, and
shakes you by the hand-with never.
the slightest perceptible variation I'M
the death of the 0beisance or the
warmth of the shake; unless you hap,
pee to be a man and an intimate
friend, in which case he may em-
brace and kiss you.
1t being only casual acquaintance,
you cali upon him on an eTrand Of
business or pleasure, he will hasten to
inform you that everything he pos
Sesses is UnreseryedlyyO urs-his house,.
himself, his family, his servants are
all su disposition dc usted--'at your
I disposal" His wife, who is generally
beautiful and always well dressed, will
smile on you benignly through drift
Of face powder with a touch Of rouge
on either side of the nose, and assure
YOU in s0ft-vowelcd Spanish of the
pleasure she feels in thus forming
your acQuaiA tance---and make you be-