The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-09
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In,oN'cateu Win a perfumed breath that Il
sweeter tnan the spices OF paradise. For
flower hangs upon the vine In perfection.
pvt with the first ray OF sunjirht n
droops and fades. and by the time The sun
Is up nothing remains Of that utiracIe a
petals.
The fate OF the flower IA curious,v .vr..
bolical OF the life OF tho Venezuelan women
AZ about the age Of seventeen they ripen
INTO the most astonishing beauty. A.
recsnt enthusiastic traveller declared. "thsv
are almost too good to be true
Their eyes are OF the most lustrous dsrk.
hevs, lneir hair abundant. wavy and a.
brilliantly dark as their eyes. a = rnio
their teeth are white and very perfect. their
complications as dcllcately and trapsparentlv
lo'ely as the petals Of tho tropical nisht
mower. ana their figures arc as supple and
slender MS lizards. They are especallv
noted FOR their wcll-made feet and hands
a. 10 NOT uncommon. either. to md them
wen dressed and with a great eift AZ
tongues, speaking French, English and
German, besides their native Spanish. The
uaushters or the Weather families are usu-
any sent TO Paris for a few years "finehInap
IN fashionable convent school, and they
quickly acquire in the capital OF fashion that
smee and chio which Is emlnently Partisan,
taken altogether. one OF these yenezue-
Ian jeunc file, lust homo from France. n
as captivating creature as one can we'll
imagine. Unfortunately for their beautv
ana charm The climate ia absolutely ds-
sructlve. Only the most energetic can
Keep up any regular exercise, and without
~ IN these tropical countries this lovely
bloom OF their FIRST years Ia almost az evan
ceeent as the life Of the rarest flower.
IL IL entirely due 10 the climate that
this Is 40. because In very many caaes
where tho girl Is able to bring a substsn-
ual dover. the parents arrange for her
marriage In Europe, and some OF the most
beautiful women OF tho continental capitals
are Nene2ueiane who retain their beauty
well on Into middle age, II. however. their
fate Is to return TO Venezuela they have
only 20 resign themselves TO an early ni,bt
OF all their physical attractions.
As rule~and this rulc Is almost with.
out exccptiou-tbey are married before thew
attain the age of twenty. Indeed, the
greater number Of marriages are contracted
hefore the girl has pasacd hGr eighteenth
birthday The modes Of courtship arc very
Ike those OF Spain.
Tao venezuelan houses are mostly of two
etories. The hnet floor Is upon the level OF
NO street and leads straight into the CEN
tral patio or court yard. This story Is
given M to the Offices and soryants' quar-
tiers aand is very low. The floor above con-
tdina the reception and bed rooms and
looks out upon the street only by means OF
few grated windowE. and here and there
q tiny balcony About sunset Il is cus-
tomary for the young swels to station
themeolves beneath these windows upon
horseback
The Grst story being so low they arc
thua almost on level with the balconies.
The young men rltc In the most plctur-
esquc inehlon. Their horses are the de-
Of the original Spanish horses
which wero fun OF Arab blood. and hava
me same archlng nechs and abundant
wavy names and tails They are usually
cream colorcd or picbiid, and their brides
nre Of elaborately braided and eplored
horse hair with huge silver bits. The sad
dies are frequently lined with velvet, havs
itigh Mexican poiumels and arc hung with
leather tafses and bits OF shining brass or
silver The horses are extremely we'll
trained aud win stand ae stll as statues
with arching necks and delicatey poised
feet, while their rdors pay calls ana com
plilnentB at the grated windows. from which
look forth dark brilliant eyes
unFlS OF tho higher class are very strictly
guarded, There are fow balls or am,se-
inenis, so that this twilight smiling
through bars or balconies is about tho most
exciting social experience OF tho 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
lnera through the medium Of his parents
~hia hand and heart to some special pair
u bright eyes. her Impression OF his at
fractions Is usually such as she has boon
lble to form through the grating OF
window.
lovc--even under these difficult circunf-
usually the foundation OF
Venezuelan marriage. for IN country
where life Ia 80 simple and inexpensive.
considerations Of convenience are not as
imperative as In most sophisticated COM
mn linn A. ss,t, H.. .sl.
Ire happy The women are generally ami
'blo and, for the most part, excellent
iousckocpers. Love Of their children is an
bsoiute passion with both sexes and forms
very strong tie between the parents.
But only women OF tho strongest char
ctcr can, In the proHtrating heat, pursue
ny intellectual interests. As rule, soon
fler marriage all the pretty accomplish.
nonts taught by the patient French nuns
no abandoned, all exercise In omitted, and
he beautiful white skinned slender girl be-
ONES fat, brown and indolont. An nIniabe
mother. kind mistress. and d faithful
wife. but coarse. shapolcss and utterly
naliractive In person.
The craze for Marie Antoinette decora-
Ions still runs high. and develops all sorts
I startling now designs, so far as tho
odico goes. First In effect are the snug
leevc to the shoulders. which, in the new
haslzed with the big shoulder pun, CIV
lg an Immense breadth to the figure.
Then comes all manner Of odd devices In
coping with that fanoiful period, for dec
rations. The throat Is built high at the
op OF the stock collar with velvet ruch-
igs, and eoftened under the chin by falls
I creamy lace. this same stock and lace
arrangement doing for several gowns.
4 wonderfully smart bodice. the produc.
on OF q Parts coutuFiere. Is OF peach-bloom
bbed silk, fitted smoothly across the ehoui-
ers. and gathered In at the under arm
Fam by deep girdle OF deeper pink vel
ct, crushed on stiffened and boned band.
lg rhinestone buttona are used as dec
ration ON one side OF the girdle.
Tho odd features OF this bodice. aside from
10 sleeves and neck arrangement. are tho
road bands OF peachbloom velvet, reaching
ON shoulder 10 waist and then extending
deep tabs over tho skirt.
These velvet bands arc quite wide, gath
led In at the waist and at the shoulder.
here II IL run through rhinestone buckles,
Such a bodice Is a pretty adjunct 10
ain black satin skirt OF semi-evening
'ess. where decollete gown and gloves
g dispensed with. The effect Of the bright
,lored tabs falling on the black ekirt
'ightens the dressy effect. making II seem
tc1 IN "A han