Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-10
PEN PICTURES OF LISBON.
! Jleanliness and Neatness Distinguishing
characteristics of the Portuguese.
C9EAUTIFUL BLACK EYED SENORlTAs
Galesans and Their Heritage of Servitude
-Prettiest of All Womcn-Processions
of Fisher Maidcns-The Water
Carriers of Portugal.
Lcopmtnnted. 1892. bu the Autnor.l

LISBON, Portugal, Dec. 22.-lSpecial Cor
respondence of TIT BEE. There is hardly
another city in the world where neatness III
attire is so general as in Lisbon. You can
not find an uncleanly or a sloveply person in
the city outside of beggars, who are numer-
Gus, licensed and therefore professional, and
who all affect both rags and filth. The mid
die classes and the aristocracy are faultlessly
dressed, and spotless linen from nobleman to
lighterman and fisherman is here as delight
full a universally as in that other elysium Of
the lavendera, fair and brilliant Havana.
|, With men, throughout tho various ranks
Of the aristocracy and among gentlemen Of
leisure, g%allants, merchants, professional
men and even with clerks, the normal condi-
ton seems to be one of ~faultless dressing. 1t
is also observable that no one seems gotten
up for any occasion, or as If only OCCASION
ally gotten up. You can never surprise these
Portuguese gentlemen, or discover them, out
of good form rs to their attire. They
are never overdressed; but they are
always well dressed. 1t Is difficult
to say how much of this is the
result OF national good taste. But it IS cer-
tainly more possible with Portuguese men,
where o finger is never lifted in manual
labor. than with Englishmen or Americans,
to whom the idea of helping ones self and
others, or performing any duty necessary to
the fdrtherance OF business, is not repug-
nant. The mon Of Lisbon are the best served
men in the world. More than 10000 Span
iards are practically their slaves. These are
my old friends, the Gallegans, from the
north OF Spain, among whom / wandered two
winters ago. They are the most docilo OF all
servants, and the best. For the value of an
, American hve-cent piece they will go any
whore and perform miracles OF service.
They are not usually attached to a single in
diyidual or household. They are everywhere,
aud are any one's porter, servant OF valet at
n moments warning. The magical Kissing
sound, "Sh-s-s-s-spi uttered anywhere in
LISBON, will bring one instantly TO your
side. And SO the poorest clerk may have
his valet, seamstress-for he will mend
and all, in one, as much or little as he likes or
can afford.
n study of Lisbon Women.
As much cannot no said for the women.
Their street appearance Is not so character
lstic nor SO graceful as the Spanish
The beautiful mantilla is less worn here than
seems hitting, or as one could wish. One
feels, when a group of senhoritas are met in
she pracas or seen IN costly eQuipages on the
b.Scampo Granda, that unlike all other women
OF tue Latin races they possess no distinct
air or style or presence of their own. In
dress they are In fact composite; and like
Bayrenth architecture, which Is in Europe
the universal simile for every manner OF
style anonymously composed, a Portuguese
lady often presents startling combinations OF
date aud style In her most priced and Eumpt-
nous attire. She still possesses a fine car
Elage and figure, and, as said previously