The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-17

tern or Of quaint, old fashioned style
that dates back probably TO the owners
| first Porto Rican ancestor.
The huts OF the negroes are OF course
very poorly furnished. Many OF the mu-
lattoes are, however. in good financial
| circumstances.
| In dress the ladies are very far be-
hind the Partisan modes. They adore
silks and heavy satins. and while wear
ing muslin and such airy fabrics they
seek comfort by abbreviating their
gowns very much about the shoulders.
over which are thrown the lace man
tillas which the Spanish women drape
| so gracefully over their heads. The
women OF position have quantities OF
jewels with which to deck themselves
on every possible and impossible oc-
casion They are particularly fond Of
diamonds and display an almost child
ish interest i'm their appearance.
The temperature in Porto Rico along
the coast, where all the large cities are
located. is Iof such tropical character
| that IL Is only for a few hours OF the
day that the white population at all
| bestirs itself. This is before 10 a. m. or
after p. m. Between these hours the
sun blazes down with a fierceness that
not even the cooling sea breezes can
reduce to temperature lower than 95
| degrees in the shade. In the morning
the women go shopping. visiting the
| town In their carriages, accompanied
| by yellow and wrinkled duennas or by
| servants to carry the purchases.
In the evening. when the military
| band plays on the plaza, the entire
town turns out for froiic. The gayiy
uniformed Spanish officers strut back
ward and forward ogling the ladies'
with the self assurance peculiar to
Spanish beaux. The ladies of the town
| are unaccompanied by men unless some
| jealous old don is seen stalking along
| by the side of a particularly young and
lovely wife. The younger women are
| always seen with older ones, who are
/ supposed to keep an eye on the lively
young senoritas and check flirtations in
| their infancy.
But in spite OF the duennas romances
| flourish. AS the lines OF promenaders
pass one another many an ardent lover.
frowned upon by stern parents, man.
ages to slip billet doux into the ex-
pectant hand OF his inamorata. One OF
the reasons why higher education for
women is not particularly favored in
Porto Rico is that stern parents think
the fair ones another means OF COM
municating with the numerous detri-
mentals, who are the terror OF the av-
erage parent until he has safely mar
ried his daughter to some worthy
household Of means and position. for.
no matter how romantic the young peo-
pie may be, their elders have well de-
fined ideas in regard to the size OF
marriage settlements and dowries.
The young officers, while they may
be admired by the impressionable bellies,
seldom have much money. and most
parents prefer fine estate in Porto
Rico to a noble Castilian pedigree.
While the young man may have some
latitude in the selection OF his bride
the young woman is compelled to mar
ry the selection OF her parents, no mat
ter what her preferences in the matter
may be. No well brought up Porto
Rican girl thinks OF questioning paren-
tai authority.
The women have beautiful eyes and
long. soft tresses. but their compilations
are so heavily plastered with powder
and paint as TO make the quality Of the
real article a mere matter OF conjecture
to beholders.
Most hospitable are the Porto Ricans.
The stranger who makes their acquaint-
ance is literally overwhelmed with at
tentions. AS their guest. IL he chances
TO admire a picture, a piece of bric-a-
brac or a book he is told that IL is his.
and the admired article Is at once sent
TO the guestroom. where 1t remains dur
Ing his visit.
Birthdays are great institution In Por-
to Rico. Whether or not the ladies are
correct as 10 chronology they always
celebrate the Anniversary, On birthdays
all friends are expected TO call upon the
celebrant or send a good excuse. Fall
ur, to do so is looked upon as a very
great breach OF etiquette and some
times leads 10 tho breaking OF old and
much tried friendships.
Most OF the wealthy families have
beautiful country seats upon the hills
in the interior, where they retire dur
ing the very warm weather. These
places are only a few miles from the
cities, and when a family goes to its
country home II has merely TO pack its
trunks. step into the carriages and go
bowling along the smooth roads to the
pleasant house that lies. shaded by a
thousand grand old palms. amid an
Eden OF tropical loveliness. Here. no
matter what the heat may he below on
the coast, II In always cool and COM
Portable. and yellow fever, that scourgs
of the tropics does not often penetrate.
The Porto Rioans belong to the Ro-
man Catholic church, and the women
are most devout and attentive TO their
religious duties. The influence Of the
clergy in Porto Rico is great, ana 70 is
exercised with good effect, for nowhere
H. II a
peaceabls. honest and law abidina pee-
pie than are the Porto Ricans.
The great festival Of the people n on
June "a. st. Johns eve. On that day
there are horse races horses being
plentiful In the island and much priced
BY the people. Partly on this ac-
count Porto Rico might be called the
Kentucky Of the West Indies. AZ 10
o'clock on the day the natives In the
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