The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
THEPEOPLE OF PORTUGAL
UPPER CLASSES ARE EXTREMELY
FAsTIDIoUs AS TO DRESS.
Beauty Belongs to Servants and
Peasant Maids-servants Are
spaniards from GaIicia.

are the people thereof and of these the
lcwiiest are most interesting because most
unique. The cosmopolitan upper classes are
distinguished for little but universal and
invariable correctness of attire-a pro-
rounced Characteristic OF all Latin peo-
pie on both sides OF the Atlantic. While
energetic. rough-and-ready Americans,
sometimes even those of wealth and high
position, may be met in clothes that would
hardly pass muster in respectable Euro
pean 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
Up Always well-grocmed from his cradle,
after the habit of his ancestors, he never
seems conscious of his clothes. From king
and courtiers down the social gamut OF
impoverished nobility, gentlemen of leisure,
professional men, planters, merchants,
clerks-broadcloth and fine linen are as
much part of the mama his eyes and
hair. 1t is certainly easier for an effete
aristocracy, which never dreams of lift
ing finger TO anything which bears the
remotest resemblance TO manual labor, to
keep everlastingIy dressed up than for
the sturdier Anglo-Saxon, whose dignity
has no connection with his clothes and
who disdains work that comes within
the line of legitimate business.
Even the humblest fishermen. porters and
muleteers in Portugal are always immacu-
late as to white shirts and cotton trousers,
the only exceptions TO universal cleanli-
ness being the beggars. licensed and pro-
fessional whose stock-in-trade is rags and
fifth. No gentlemen in the world are bet
ter and more cheapIy served in the way of
Wallets than those of Lisbon. The servants
OF Portugal are all standardization the
ancient sovereignty of Galicia. which COM
prises the present four northwestern pro-
vinces of Spain. There are fully eleven
thousand OF them in this city alone-there
are said to be one hundred thousand in
all Portugal-the most docile. faithful and
humble of servitors. skilled in their spe-
cial lines. accepting whatever dole their
employers may choose to bestow and en-
during every indignity without a murmur.
ACCOMPLISHED SERVANTS.
single individual or household, but like the
donkeys that stand for hire in the pracas,
they are ready at all hours to perform
miracles Of service to anybody's call. Do
you want your apartment cleaned, your
dinner cooked, your clothes mended, your
hair dressed, your luggage transported
you have only to go TO the window, shut
your teeth, widen your mouth and emit
the longdrawn Portuguese "Sh-s-s-s"
and before the magical hiss has died away
several stalwart fellows stand at your side.
Thus the poorest clerk may have his valet
who finds and lodges himself, who can
repair garments with the dexterity of a
tailor. and for few cents day will keep
his employers wardrobe in perfect order.
The most enthusiastic admirer OF the
Portuguese nation cannot call its women of
the higher classes beautiful. Indeed, one
Is almost panied at the lack of female
beauty. as compared with that Of other
Latin countries, when viewing Lisbon's up
r-tendon in the full undress of ball
opera, or on the fashionable promenade, or
I'm the costly equipages of the Campo
Grande. The bloom Of youth does not
linger long with the Portuguese lady and at
twenty-five she is passe. Mustaches show
themselves early; her complexion grows
muddy and assumes greasy look, and at
middle age her figure Is either Of the beam
pole order, or its opposte-the meal-bag-
tied-in-the-middle shape. But she has ''re-
deeming features" Her eyes are large and
expressive, her teeth are good, and there
Is a certain honest radiance in her smile
which is very captivating. She dresses
richly, but with the oldest mingling OF
dates and styles If not of colors, and her
clothes "ft'' as II flung at her in whirl-
wind. There is not the remotest hint Of
French chic about her. nor the trig APP
pearance of English women, nor the volup-
tuous attraction OF her cousins. the Span
fish senoras, and beside her perfectly
dressed husband she looks like a good
brown hen with bird of paradise. Is it
because the modistes of Portugal are so
inferior to the tailors? If so. the surplus
dressmakers of the world would better
turn their steps that way. Whatever the
Portuguese ladies lack in taste and beauty
is more than made up by their manifold
virtues. They are model wives and moth
ers, devoted to their families. deeply re-
iigious, kind-hearted and hospitable.
SOME BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
Portugal, however, but II is mostly found
among the peasant classes. The Gale
gans, male and female, are generally per-
feet physical specimens. and the young
women have lovely faces to match their
figures. You them by scores at many
public fountains, or chafariz. into which
all the water used by the city is poured
from the great acqueduct of Agoasteores.
This acqueduct. by the way. is worthy to
rank among the wonders of the world. 1t
begins in the mountains twelve miles away,
spans the valley Of Alcantara upon thirty
arches. each 107 feet from pier to pier. the
point OF the highest arch towering 264 feet
above the earth. Thus a pure mountain
torrent Is conducted TO an immense COW
cred reservoir, and thence conveyed to
hundreds Of fountains scattered all over
Lisbon. Since the day OF Joao Nv the pub
lie buildings, hotels, shops and most OF the
dwelling houses have been entirely supplied
with water from the chafariz, brought in
casks and Jars on the heads of male and
female carriers. Most of the water-car-
riers are Gallegans, and II is said that