The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
PORTO RICAN WOMEN.
Given to Horseback Riding and
SnOl>ing-1Inny COIOred Costumes.

Given to Horseback Riding and
SmOking-MRny COIOred Costumes.
Bargher.ta Ariina Hamm writes from
Coamo, Porto Rico to the Pittsburg Dis
patch as follows:
Il noticed in my journeys through the
island that women ride a great deal in
Puerto Rico, the same as in Mexico, and
much more than in the United States
The better classes use the English side
saddle, though few prefer The more pic
turesque and safer, but less graceful
Spanish saddle. In the country districts
the pillion IS occasionally employed, while
among the lower classes many women ride
astride without exciting comment.
When the natives are both pretty and
good riders they display considerable CO.
query in the saddle. 1 noticed one rider
near Juana Diaz who took my mind back
to the old days of chivalry. She was a
lovely girl OF about 10 or IS, with a face
like a madonna and a figure like an art
isis model. one little foot crept out be-
meath her silk riding skirt, and to my sur
prise was devoid of hosiery. The skin was
like polished velvet, and was of a pinkish
sod of an exquisite tint. 1t was shod with
a slipper of satin or silk, embroidered in
color, with an arched instep which made
the foot all the mere charming by its set =
ting.
The time to see the women at their best
Is on Sunday morning when they ride from
their homes TO mass in the nearest church
or cathedral. On enc Sunday morning
while riding leisurely into a small village
on my way to this town, l met a crowd
of Worshippers on their way 70 mass.
Nearly all the women were on muleback.
and sat or lolled as if they were in an easy
chair in their own home. few. probab Div
Weather than the others. or else delicate
IN health, were accompanied by a little
darkey boy on working mule, who held
over Them parasol or an umbrella. These
umbrellas are as gorgeous as those of the
Mandarlns of China They are family ef-
fairs, large enough to cover the mother
and all her little brood
They are embroidered, covered with lace
and fringed around the edge with red and
yellow fringe foot deep. This fringe
Is usetuI as well as ornamental 1t in
creases the shade and by its movement
in the wind frghtens away the flies sn1
other insects with which the paths abound.
Each rider carries her fan. a simDla af
fair made of beautiful native wood de-
corated with gold and covered with paper
gorgeously printed or painted in pris-
matte coiors.
VI oAiAhcS 6dCu woman wears huge
rosary, sometimes so large as to b.. nm
comfortable. l saw several that were as
unwieldly that they went over the should
ers and formed a huge line, larger in
deed, than string of slelghbens. These
are ornamental rosaries, and are not used
for prayer. The praying rosary is as
small and dainty as those used by fashion
able women in our own Roman Catholic
churches. Besides the fan and the rosary
every woman was provided with a Ieat
and often handsomely bound prayer book
and a huge lighted cigar or cigarette.
This is, indeed, the land for women who
love the weed. A few smoke cigarettes
and pipes, but the majority like parta1as,
perfectos Napoleans aud other rolls of
the weed larger than those usually oeen
in our own land. They smoke them at
home and in the streets, at the table or en-
the balcony, lying in hammocks or lolIing
on their steeds, and only desist when
within the sacred walls of the church.
The moment mass is over the first thing
the women do is to light a fresh cigar,
aud then climb into the saddle.