The times., 1898-02-27
THE CHILEANs AT HOME.
Peculiar Types and Customs of the
Talcah ahuano Natices
(From the Pail Mall Gazet


Among the towns of Chile that present
eigner is Talcahuano. which has popu-
lation of about 5000 1t lies at the south
west angle of Conception Bay, and has,
perhaps. better natural situation than
any port on the west coast OF South
America. Encompassed as ii is by a har-
Dor six miles long and four wide,
striking by reason of the natural beauty
of its scenery, perfectly sheltered from
the dreaded 'norther," and with aburld-
ant space for safe anchorage ground
everywhere-the reason of its compare
tive unimportaHce as a business center
will ever probably remain a 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 directly in the
rear, and extends from the business
in the pretentiOusness of two stories). to
the little red-roOfed fishermen's Gotta
ges clustering among the rich brown
of the hills behind. The houses small
square and with little Ornamentation. are
chiefly composed of sun-dricd brick, and
are decorated with the most glaring
shades of color. applied with extraordi-
nary sense of effect. Thus the first
dwelling of row may be ornamsnted
with a lurid red and it's neighbor by q
most detestable shade of green. Further
along. possibly as a corrective TO the
frivolous display of its predecessors. will
be found a tenement standing solitarily
in its coating of funereal black Nor are
the legends or announcements attaching
to any of them less novel Invitations
to the passing traveller or other busi-
ness alluEements. are iaFitingly set forth
in many instances on the same house in
the respective languages of Spain. Ger
many and England. Ii will thus he seen
how cosmopolitan this small port is
1t is only among the lower class of the
population that those types exist that can
truly be spoken of as ''racy of the soil A"
and even then they are. at least in re-
spect to distinctiveness of dress. in large
measure limited to the men. IT is true
that among the female a bonnet is the
exception, and ''mantilla." or shawl
covering for both head and body the rule
Except for this, however there will be
found but slight difference between the
common prints or black frocks OF the WO-
men there and those of others the world
over. With the men, however fishermen
and laborers for the most part), 1t Is diff
ferent. 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 harmOnies, they at
least present a certain striking effect
which is not altogether unpleasing- Huge
sombreros. round which are fastened
gaudy-colored straps, shining green neck
erchiefs, blazing red belts. shirts in which
colors are 50 mixed together as to he i'm
possible of description, white shoes
l.
red or green, and massive brassior silver
earrings Lend 10 the swarthy wearers a
strange picturesdueness.
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 Chilean. Peru
Wan. Bolivian or any other. This is what
is called the 'poncho.' 1t has been
briefly described as "a blanket with a
slit in the middle'--and columns could
present no better impression of it to the
mind than that The head of the wearer
is thrust through the opening. and pres
tot 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 visit
or may be assured. he will see the pom
cho" worn during the most blistering pc
riod of summer-for they grill in Chile,
too SOfhttilltSsS-oi- III itlt VI the
the winter months. Should the sun
scorch and the motion of the air be of
no account, your South American native
will remark that the poncho keeps the
heat out and will draw his loved cover
ing 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
happy man whose pocket and preference
are in such good accord