Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-11-29

barrie adornments, especially in ear
rings. The largest hoop earrings
ever saw are common in Martinique
earrings so large that they look like
misplaced bracelets, and actually rest
upon the woarer's shoulders II this
class of the well-to-do demi-monde
wear any head covering it is quay
scarf put on with telling effect, or more
commonly IL Madras handkerchief of
brilliant coloring tied into a jaunty
turban and stuck full Of gold pins and
brooches. The turbans are generally
so arranged that one end. stiff as
starch can make it, stands straight mp
in front like soldiers feathers, and
seen at little distance the heads of
group Of women gossiping together as
women will, look like bed Of gor-
geous tulips nodding in the breeze.
But somehow, i'll spite Of half-savage
adornments and violent contrasts Of
color. the costume seems 10 be quite
in keeping with the complexion of the
wearers and the tropical surroundings
land only quietly dressed foreigners.
like ourselves, look MS out of place as
n few brown wrens among a multitude
Of bright-colored paroquets.
Nothing in Martinique attracts a
strangers attention more quickly than
the everyday dress Of The hucksters,
market and serving women. 1t con-
sists of single flowing robe of white
muslin or gaudy calico, made very
loose at the throat, with waistband
high up urder the shoulder blades, and
Very long trailing skirts, which are al
ways tucked up at one side, display
irg deal more limb than che Is ae-
customed to see in ''polite" society
The young negresses, with intuitive
coquetry- many of the older ones
in whom feminine vanity dies hard
have q queer fashion Of leaving one
arm and shoulder quite out of harness.
in strong contrast to the always clean
white of their diaphanolis drapcry. To
such an extent was this peculiar one
shoulder fashion carried that even the
lax French law felt constrained to III
tcrfere a few years ago to regulate the
extent of the exposure, as it is said that
! once upon time tile wise legislature
of the state of Pennsylvania sat in
solemn dignity on the "Mctfer Hub
bard" question ana forbade the wear
1 ing of those ungraceful garments on
, the streets.
| The excitement Of the d Esnoty corso
and the favorite promenade is of the
good and everybody is Enthusiastically
happy. Here and there some little
maidens dance and boys run races.
encouraged TO effort by the bestowal
lof prizes from fond relatives. We see
groups Of portly middle aged ne
crosses, clad in lowered chintz which
we could think altogether too gaudy
for sofa covers, thu. starched upright
ends of their turbans wagging in a
/ way that betokens sweet discussion Of
the latest scandal and the rending to
rags of somebody's reputation.
Meanwhile the carriages continue
their monotonous rounds, 50 that their
occupants are perpetually meeting and
smiling upon one another--till at
length the sun goes suddenly down in
a blaze OF glory. as that orb has a
habit of doing in these southern re-
gions. Then the vehicles with one ac-
cord whisk away. and the dandies on
their rocking horses pace after to
pastures new; old ladies put up their
parasols TO ward off the malaria laden
dews, and peasants take off their shoes
and tuck their skirts still higher pre-
paratory to tramping homeward.
Presently the savannah is quite de-
serted. and looking out upon the spark
ling sea, every vessel stands out with
weird distinctness in the evening light,
like painted ship upon a painted
ocean. You can almost count the piles
of barrels and bales of merchandise on
! the distant wharf, and it is so still that
you catch the words of a French song
sung by black crew as they pull to
shore from black hulk outlying the
harbor.
! Suddenly hideous bray. ringing
close beside you, awakes discordant
echoes. 1t is not the voice of Balaam's
historic animal. as you might suppose,
but comes from one of the three bu.
glars who make the Batterie d Esnoty
their starting point. and in turn repeat
the harsh sound until they reach their
1 barracks.
! AS quickly as the clamor and hurry.
burly of the crowd gives way to pro-
found silence, profound night follows
bright day without any intermediate
cleaning, after the blazing sun has
! dropped perpendleularly into the west
ern sea. Wonderfully clear are the
nights in Martinique. You see distinct
shadows. and on looking up for the
moon find that she is tardy just now in
arising. and the shadows are cast by
a star Venus probably, which shines
with remarkable radiance.
1