Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-14

l the sea. During the day the dark
1 eyed senoraS and senoritas keep well
within doors, lounging beneath the
| gayly tinted screens of the balconies.
| These balconies are shut off from view
| of the outside world partially by the
oyerhanging awnings and partially by
| the wealth of Towering vines that u
| all seasons f1aunt their perfumed bios
! SONS in the breeze.
, The interiors Of the houses are very
| simply furnished. The floors are us
| ually of hard wood or else are covered
with mating. The furniture is of light
| pattern 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
mulattoes are. however, in good fnan-
| cial 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 somfort by abbfeviating their
gowns very much about the shoulders.
over which are thrown the lace man.
ttllas 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.
The temperature OF Porto Rico along
the coast, where all the large cities are
located, is of such tropical character
that 1t Is only for few hours of the
day that the white population at al
bestirs itself. This Is before 10 a. IN.
or after 3 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 morn
irg the women go shopping, visiting
the town In their carriages, accompan-
led by yellow and wrinkIed 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 a frolic. The gayly
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 dor is seen stalking
along by the side of 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
firtations in their infancy.
But in spite of the duennas romances
flourish. AS the lines of promenaders
pass one another many on ardent lover,
frowned upon by stern parents, man
ages to slip billet doux into an 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
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-
eIage 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 10 the size Of
marriage settlements and doWries.
The young officers, while they may
be admired by the impressionable bel
y.
most parents prefer a fine estate in
Porto Rico to a noble Castilian pedi-
gree. While the young man may have
some latitude in the selection Of his
bride the young woman is compelled TO
marry the selection Of her parents, no
matter what her preferences in the
matter may be. No well brought up
Porto Rican girl thinks Of questioning
parental 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 Ri
cans. The stranger who makes their
acquaintance is literally overwhelmed
with attentions. As their guest, II he
chances to admire picture, piece
Of bric-a-braf or book, he is told that
it is his, and the admired article is at
once sent to the guestroom, where IL
remains during his visit.
Birthdays are a great institution in
Porto Rico. Whether or not the ladies
are correct as to chronology they all
ways celebrate the anniversary On
birthdays all friends are expected TO
call upon the celebrant or send good
excuse. Failure to do so Is looked upon
as very great breach Of etiquette and
sometimes 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 its
/ trunks. step into the carriages and 20
| bowling along the smooth roads to the
pleasant house that lies. shaded by a
! thousand grand old palms, amid an
/ Eden of tropical loneliness. Here, no
! matter what the heat may be below on
/ the coast, 1t is alwsys cool and COM
| Portable, 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 deyout and attentive 70 their
religious duties The influence kof the
clergy in Porto Rico Is great, ar4i 1t IL
exercised with good effect. for n,twhere
| In the West Indies Is there 81 more
| peaceable. honest and iaw-abidin4 peo-