The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-05-12
AT HOME IN chilli.
striking Pcculiaritics in the Gus.
toms of the People of the
Far South.

Among the towns of Chilli that pre-
sent special features of interest to the
foreigner is Talcahuano, which has
population of about 5000. 1t lies at the
southwest angle of Conception bay, and
has, perhaps, better natural situation
than any port on the west coast OF
South America. Encompassed as it is
by harbor six miles long by four wide,
striking by reason of the natural beauty
Of its scenery. perfectly sheltered from
the dreaded 'norther," and with album
dant space for safe anchorage ground
anywhere--the reason of it's compare
tive unimportance as a business center
will ever probably remain mystery.
The town itself is, says a writer in
the Queenslander, built for the most
part on the rising ground that forms
the base of the high hills standing di.
rectly in the rear, and extends from
the business premises facing the wharf
(some proud in the pretentiousness of
two stories) to the little red-roofed
fishermen's cottages clustering among
the rich brown of the hills behind.
The houses, small, square, and with
little ornamentation, are chiefly COM
posed of sun-dried brick, and are dec
GRATED with the most glaring shades
of color, applied with extraordinary
sense of effect. Thus, the first dwell
ing of row may be ornamented by
lirid red, and its neighbor by a most
detestable shade of green
Further along. possibly as a correct
i've to the frivolous display of its pre-
decessors, will be found tenement
standing solidarity in its coating Of fu
| nereal black. Nor are the legends or
| announcements attached to any of them
less novel. Invitations to the passing
| traveller, or other business allurements,
are invitingly set forth in many in
stances on the same house in the re-
spective language Of Spain, Germany
and England. 1t will thus be seen how
cosmopolitan this small port is.
1t is only among the lower class of
the population that these types exist
that can truly be spoken of as tracy of
the SOIL" and even then they are, at
least in respect to distinctiveness Of
| dress, in large measure limited to the
men. It is true that among the fe-
males bonnet is the exception, and a
''mantilla," or shawl covering for both
| head and body, is the rule. Except for
| this, however, there will be found but
| slight difference between the common
prints Of black frocks of the women
| there and those of others the world
over
With the men, however Fishermen
and laborers for the most part, it is
different. These are gay fellows and
| care little who knows it. 1t is
| their fashion to affect the most
brilliant colors, and if they are
| not exactly harmonious, they at
! least present certain striking effect
which is not altogether displeasing.
| Huge sombreros, around which are
fastened gaudy-colored straps, shining
green neckerchiefs, blazing red belts,
shirts in which colors are so mixed
| together as to be impossible of dsscrip-
| ton, white shoes through which run
stripes of their eternal red or green,
and massive brass or silver earrings,
leui ~ lIle S"dItut NedICiS Il strange
| picturesqueness
But there must not be forgotten in
this category that which is perhaps the
| most important feature in the dress
| Of the South American, whether Gillian.
Peruvian, Bolivian, or any other. This
il what is called the 'poncho." 1t has
been briefly described as "a blanket
with slit in the lniddle"-and col
umns could present no better impress
| sion of it to the mind than that. The
head of the wearer is thrust through
the opening-and presto: there he
stands equipped, for far less money
than an overcoat would cost, for day
and night, in hot and cold weather
alike! OF one thing the intending Wis
itor may be assured-he will see the
| ''ponchos' worn during the most bis
| tering period of summer-for they grill
| in Chill. too, sometimes-or in the mid
| die of the winter months. Should the
sun scorch and the motion of the air
| hs of no account, your South American
| native will remark that the poncho
| keeps the heat out, and will draw his
| loved covering the closer. Should the
| wind chill and the sun be invisible he
will say that it keeps the heat in, and
will seal himself up accordingly. He
should, indeed. be a happy man whose
pocket and preference are in such good