The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
DAUGHTERS OF PORTUGAL
Odd Customs and Characteristics Of
Peasant and Patrician.
Little Beauty Found Among the Up
per CInsscs-Charms of the Gale
gan Maidscrvants-Heav work
Done by Women-The WeIl-Dress-
ed Mcn-Love of Guitar Music.

LISBON. Portugal, Dec. 19.-of deeper
interest than anything else in this fair
land are the people thereof; and OF these
| the lowliest are most interesting, because
| unique. The cosmopolitan upper classes
are distinguished for little but universal
and invariable correctness of attire-a pro-
nounced Characteristic OF all Latin people,
on both sides of the Atlantic.
While energetic. rough andready Amer
leans, sometimes even those of wealth aud
high position, may be met in clothes that
| would hardly pass muster in respectable
European society, you can never surprise
a Portuguese gentleman otherwise than
faultlessly attired, whatever the state Of
his finances At any hour of the day,
abroad or in the seclusion of home his
dress. from top to toe. shows scrupulous
care and neatness. Better than all. "the
eternal fitness is observed in smallest de-
tails, with no suggestion of foppishness, or
appearance of having been especially got
ten up. Always well -groomed from his
cradle. after habit of his ancertors, he
From king and courtiers, down the social
gamut of an impoverished nobility, SEN
tlemen OF leisure. professional men, plant
tiers, merchants, clerks, broadcloth and fine
linen are as much a part of the man as
his eyes and hair. II is certainly easier
for an effete aristocracy, which never
dreams of lifting a finger at anything
which bears the remotest resemblance to
manual labor. to keep everlastingly dressed
UP, than for the sturdier Anglo Saxon,
whose dignity has no connection With his
clothes and who disdains no work that
comes within the line OF legitimate Dusi- |
ness.
Even the humblest fishermen. porters,
and muleteers in Portugal are always i'm
maculate as to white shirts and cotton !
trousers. the only exceptions to universal !
cleanliness being the beggars, licensed and |
professional. whose stock in trade is rags |
ard filth. No gentlemen in the world are |
better and more cheaply served in the way |
of Wallets than those of Lisbon. The ser
wants of Portugal are all Spaniards-from
the ancient sovereignty of Galicia, which |
comprises the present four northwestern
most provinces of Spain. There are fully |
eleven thousand OF them in this city alone
said to be one hundred thousand in all
Portugal, the most docile. faithful, and
humble OF servitors. skilled in their special
lines. accepting whatever dole their EN-
ployers may choose to bestow and enduring
every indignity without murmur.
Servants within Call.
Few of these Gallegans are attached 10
a single individual or household, but, like
he donkeys that stand for hire in the
,racas. they are ready at all hours 10 per-
orm miracles OF service at anybody's call.
DO YOU want your apartment cleaned your
Inner cooked, your clothes mended, your
hair dressed, your luggage transported
rou have only TO go to the window. shut
7our teeth. widen your mouth and emit
he lung-drawn Portuguese "sh-s-s-si"
md before the magical hiss has died away,
everal stalwart fellows stand at your
ide Thus the poorest clerk may have
lis valet, who finds and lodges himself.
yho can repair garments with the dexteri-
Y of a tailor, and, for a few cents day, |
will keep his employers wardrobe in per-
ect order.
The most enthusiastic admlrer OF the
portuguese nation cannot call its women ,
the higher classes beautiful. Indeed,
ne is almost panied at the lack of female ;
eauty, as compared with that of other
ATTN countries, when viewing Lisbon's
pper- tendon in the fun dress of ball or
4 the costly equipages of the Campo '
rande. The blood of youth does net lin {
or long with the Portuguese lady and at q
twenty-five she is passe. Moustaches show y
themselves early; her complexion grows 8
luddy and assumes a greasy look, and at I
iiddle age her figure is either of the I
can pole order or its opposite-the meal b
g-tied-in-t the middle shape. 7
But she has ''redeeming features" Her a
yes are large aud expressive, her teeth {