The herald., 1896-02-16
WON EN- OF VENEZUELA

| suddenly opens marvellous blossom
winter than silver, more fragile than 6
dream. Then all the forest is intoxi
Gated with perfumed breath that Ii
sweeter than the spices of paradise.
For four or i've short hours this won.
| derful flower bangs upon the vine in
perfection, but with the first ray of
sunlight it droops and fades. and by
the time the sun is up nothing remains
of that miracle of the night but mass
of flabby brown petals.
The fate of the flower is cnriously
symbolical of the life of the Nenezue.
Ian women. At about the age of II
they ripen into the most astonishing
beauty. AS recent enthusiastic trav-
eler declared, "they are almost too
good to be true
darkness, their hair abundant, wavy
and as brilliantly dark as their eyes.
AS a rule their teeth are white and
very perfect, their compilations as del
icately and transparently lovely as the
petals of the tropical night flower, and
their figures are as supple and slender
as lizards. They are especially noted
for their Well-made feet and hands. 1t
is not uncommon, either, to find them
we'll dressed and with great gift of
tongues, speaking French. English and
German, besides their native Spanish
The daughters of the wealthier families
are usually sent to Paris for few
years Finishing" in fashionable con-
vent school, and they qnickly acquire
in the capital of fashion that grace and
chic which is eminently Parisian.
Taken altogether, one of these Ven
ezuelan jslne file, just home from
France, is as captivating creature as
one can we'll imagine. Unfortunately
for their beauty and charm the climate
is absolutely destructive. Only the
most energetic can keep up any regu-
lar exercise, and without it in these
tropical countries this lovely bloom of
their first years is almost as evanescent
as the life of the rarest flower.
1t is entirely due to the climate that
this is SO, because in very many cases
where the girl is able to bring sub
stantial dover, the parents arrange for
her marriage in Europe, and some of
the most beautiful women of the conti-
mental capitals are Venezuelans, who
retain their beauty welt on into middle
age. If, however, their fate is to return
to Venezuela they have only to resign
themselves to an early flight of all their
physical attractions.
As rule-and this rule is almost
without eXception-they are married
before they attain the age of 20. In
deed, the greater number of marriages
are contracted before the girl has
passed her 18th birthday. The modes
of courtship are very much like those
of Spain.
The Venezuelan houses are mostly
of two stories. The first floor is upon
the level Of the street and leads
straight into the central patio or court
yard. Tnis story is given up to the
offices and servants quarters and is
very low. The floor above contains the
reception and bed rooms and looks out
upon the street only by means of few
grated windows, and here and there a
tiny balcony. About sunset it is GUS
tomary for the young swells to station
themselves beneath these windows upon
horseback.
The first story being so low they are
thus almost on level with the balco-
MES. The young men ride in the most
picturesque fashion. Their horses are
the descendants of the original Span
ish horses, which we're full of Arab
blood, and have the same archinR necks
and abundant wavy names and tails.
They are usually cream-colored or pie
bald, and their brides are of elabo-
rstely braided and colored horse hair,
with huge silver bits. The saddles are
lined with velvet, have high
Mexican pommels and are hung with
leather tassels and bits Of shining
brass or silver. The horses are ex-
tremely we'll trained and will stand as
still as statues with arching necks
and delicately poised feet, while their
riders pay calls and compliments at
the grated windows, from which look
forth dark, brilliant eyes.
Girls of The higher class are very
strictly guarded. There are few balls
or amusements, 80 that this twilight
smiling through bars or balconies is
about the most exciting social expert
ence of the day. A little of this sort
of thing gives them some idea Of the
possible parties Of the place and when
one of the prancing cavaliers offers
through the medium of his parents-his
hand and heart to some special pair Of
bright eyes, her impression of his at
fractions is usually such as she has
been able to form through the grating
VI u WluuOW.
Love-even under these difficult cir
usually the foundation
Of Venezuelan marriage, for in a
country where life is so simple and in |
considerations of conven-
lence are not as imperative as in most |
communities. AS a rule, |
too, the marriages are happy. The |
are generally amiable and, for |
the most part, excellent housekeepers. |
Love of their children is an absolute |
passion with both sexes and forms a |
very strong tie between the parents.
But only women of the strongest |
character can, in the prostrating heat, |
pursue any intellectual interests. AS |
4 rule, soon after marriage all the prst
ty accomplishments taught by the pa
tent Fren nuns are abandoned, all !
is omitted, and the beautiful, |
white-skinned, slender girl becomes
t, brown and indolent. An amiable
mother, kind mistress and faithful |
wife, but coarse, shspeless and utterly |
in person
Il 4 &
The craze for Marie Antoinette dec
still runs high, and develops |
all sorts of startling new designs. so
far as the bodice goes. First in effect |
are the snug sleeve to the shoulders, |
which. in the new spring designs, we
shall find fully emphasized with the |
big shoulder puff, giving an immense !
breadth to the figure.