The age-herald., 1898-08-14

Siinpfy IuTIllSneu. The IlOOrS are usually of hard wood or else are covered with mating. The furniture is of light pat tern or of a quaint, old fashioned style | that dates back probably to the owner S | 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 Parisian 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 in their appearance.
 But in spite of the duennas romances flourish. As the lines of promenaders pass one another many an ardent lover. drowned upon by stern parents man ages to slip a billet doux into the ex-
 
 the reasons why higher education for women is not particularly favored in Porto Rico is that stern parents think that learning too much will only afford the fair ones another means of com- municating with the numerous detri- mentals, who are the terror of the av- craze parent until he has safely mar ried his daughter to some worthy hOnSahOld nd no matter how romantic the young peo- pie may be, their elders have we'll de- fined ideas in regard to the size of marriage settlements and dowries.
 The young officers, while they may be admired by the impressionable belles. seldom have much money, and most parents prefer a 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 tAs rcs'--1Se her preferences in the matter 'riiay be. No well brought up Porto 4ican girl thinks of questioning paren- tai authority.
 The woIf7eT AnSe beautiful eyes and long, soft tresses, but thsfg -coglplexions are so heavily plastered with powaer- and paint as to make the quality of the real article 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, if he chances to admire a picture, piece of bric-a- brac or book, he is told that 1t is his and the admired article is at once sent to the guestroom, where it remains dur ing his visit.
 Birthdays are great institution in Por- to Rico Whether or not the ladies are correct as to chronology they always celebrate the anniversary. On birthdays all friends are expected to call upon the celebrant or send good excuse. Fail- ure to do so is looked upon as very great breach of etiquette and some times leads to the 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 few miles from the cities. and when a family goes to it's country home it has merely to pack it's trunks. step into the carriages and go bowling along the smooth roads to the pleasant house that lies, shaded by thousand grand old palms, amid an Eden of tropical loveliness. Here, TO matter what the heat may be below on the coast, it is always cool and com fortable, and yellow fever, that scourge of the tropics, does not often penetrate.
 The Porto Ricans belong to the Ro- man Catholic church, and the women are most devout and attentive to the r religious duties. The influence of the clergy in Porto Rico Is great, and it is exercised with good effect, for nowhere in the West Indies is there a mere peaceable, honest and law abiding peo- pie than are the Porto Ricans.
 One of the very odd pets of the wo- men is the sugar cane bug. The women fasten tiny gold chains about these in- sects and wear one end of the chain attached to the shoulder. The bug prom enades over the face and neck of the wearer as the ugly little green lizards used to graze over the gowns of ultra London, Parisian and New York women. The bug looks like bit of polished mahogany and has eyes of a soft amber tint.
 The lives of the peasant class, for such the negroes may be called, are very simple. They wear very little in the way of clothing and have very little n the way of houses. When one of the fierce West Indian tornadoes sweeps over the island, down goes every negro hut, but calmly and contentedly the men and women go to work to build new homes. They need to work little. 'or plenty of food is assured them by merely turning over the earth and drop ping a few seed now and then into the ground. Besides, bananas, yams and CO., ,oanuts grow wild.
 CAROLINE WETHERELL.