The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-06
CoURTsHIP IN PORTO RICO.
1t Is Carried on Under Much Greater
Difficulties Than Here.

renee of the elders of the family to be
1t is next to impossible for a mar
riage engagement without the concur
contracted i'm Porto Rico. The con-
stant surveillance maintained over the
girls of the household and their con-
tinued subsection to parental authority,
even after reaching years Of maturity,
is a successful barrier to anything sem
sational in contracting a life partner
ship. No association is tolerated that
may lead to a mesalliance, and few OPP
portunitics are afforded to create an
attachment without the full knowledge
and consent of the heads of the fam
lily. The only occasion upon which this
may happen are the larger social gath
erin"s, such as Mardi Gras balls and
dances at the Casinos Espanol, which
occur several times a year.
Young women are always surround
ed with suitable guard of ChaperonS
by day and night. After reaching n
place of social rendezvous the young
folk are allowed some liberty to prom
| enade. dance and chat together, while
those charged with guardianship sit
near and take note Of the properties.
The attention of an inamorito to the
object Of his devOtions must not be
too ardent nor too continuous he must
not dance with her more than twice
nor hover near long enough to excite
comment, which is prone to be prompt
and free.
Under these conditions the suceptible
young American who succumbs to the
Witching glance of a sweet. soft-eyed
sonorita finds the paths of love any
thing but flower strewn, il requires
heroic measures to break through the
human walls of bristling duenna and
scoWling matrons that guard the ap-
proacncs to her Shy young heart.
After an engagement is announced
the conditions are changed. Hence
forth they can dance only with each
other. For centuries it has been decreed
to be fiagrant breach Of propriety for
an attianced or married woman to step
! though the mazes Of the dance with
any other than her fiance or husband
However, the chaperonage continues
until marriage. Courtship must be con-
| Quoted under the parental eye, mem
bers of the household remaining in the
room during the visits of men, and
rarely can the sweet, loving nothings
be breathed without reaching other
| ears than those for which they are
intended. Sometimes the Argus watch
fulness is relaxed for a few moments,
which are improved to the utmost, It
can be imagined but are liable to be
broken into unexpectedly and frequent
ly by the sCrupulOus and anXiOusly re-
sponsible parent or matron in charge.
In the preparations for marriage the
bridegroom is expected to provide a
home according to his means, more or
less completely equipped with house
hold linen and all necessities for house
keeping. This i'm virtue of the senti-
ment that the bride must bring to him
nothing but herself and her trousseau
In that county of fine needle women
this trOusseau is something remarkable
in variety and execution, often of such
daintiness that many American brides
might envy them.
Porto Rican brides do not waste
much time or money upon many street
gowns or those for public display 1t
is to please the eye of the husband
| alone that all the arts of construction
| are expended in house gowns, lingerie
| and negligees. A popular model Is a
cambric princess, the front mass Of