Evening journal., 1900-03-14
PORTO RICO coURTsHIP.
It Is Carried on Under the Greatest
Difficulties.
(san Juan correspondenlce).

their continued SuDJection 10 parental
authority, even after reaching years
Of maturity, is a successful barrier to
anything sensational in contracting
life partnership in Porto Rico. No as
sociation is tolerated that may lead to
a mesalliance. and few opportunities
are afforded to create an attachment
without the full knowledge and con-
sent of the heads Of the Family. The
only occasions upon which this may
happen are the larger social gather
ings, such as Mardi Gras balls and
dances at the Casinos Espanol. which
occur several times q year.
Young women are always surrounded
with a suitable guard of chaperons by
day and night. After reaching a place
OF social rendezvous the young folk are
allowed some liberty to promenade,
dance and chat together while those
charged with guardianship sit near and
take note of the proprieties. The at
tention Of an inamorato 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 suscept-
lble young American who succumbs to
Il AlA1 MAAAAAnAh 6AtliiNI Va a oNC1Nr teAN
eyed senorita finds the paths of love
anything but flower strewn. 1t requires
heroic walls OF bristling duennas and
human walls of bristling duennas and
scowling matrons that guard the ap-
proaches 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 de-
creed TO be a fragrant breach of pro-
priety for an afianced or married wom-
an to step through the mazes of the
dance with any other than her fiance
or husband. However, the chaperon-
age continues until marriage. Court
ship must be conducted under the pa
rental eye, members of the household
remaining in the room during the visits
of men. and rarely can the sweet, low
| ing nothings be breathed without
reaching other ears than those for
which they are intended Sometimes
the Argus watchfulness 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 frequently by the scrupulous and
anxiously responsible parent or matron
in charge
In the preparation for marriage the
bridegroom is expected to provide
home according to his means, more or
less completely equipped with house.
hold linen and all necessities for house.
keeping. This in virtue of the senti-
ment that the bride must bring to him
nothing but herself and her trousseau.
In this country Of fine needlewomen
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 her husband
alone that all the arts Of construction
are expended in house gowns, lingerie
ana negligees. A popular model is a
cambric princess. the front a mass of
lace and drawn work round neck, and
gossamer tight fitting or flowing angel
sleeves. A number of these enter into
the outfit, each marvel of exquisite
work, according to the purse or deft-
ness of fingers Of the bride.
A fashionable time for the marriage
ceremony is from midnight UP to two
o'clock in the morning. The bride
groom. with his immediate relatives
and friends, proceeds to the home OF
the bride. and from there a wedding
g procession is formed to the church
t Carriages are rarely used, the party, Il
S living in town, making the short jour-
l. ney on foot, the bride walking with hei
= godfather. the bridegroom with his
C godfather The ceremony over, they
e return to the brides home, whereupor
y she lifts the veil from her head and
n throws It over that Of her nearest CIR
L. H.-aa ii &C. n fa
T. tributes it among the unmarried guests
h al. the cersmony.
The bride then strips to pieces the
: orange blossoms Of her crown, and also
Il those which deck her gown more OF
HI less elaborately, according to the mum.
ber OF her guests, and a spray is pre-.
sented to each. The fun then grows
lively over counting the blossoms, those
n fun blown signifying years, the hall
l. blown months and the buds days which
II will intervene before the recipients
a marriage.
Z The bride then retires to make 9
10 change in another special feature o
, her array, the bridal garters, which arr
n elegant affairs, ornamented with white
y satin rosettes and orange blossoms anS
: suspended from the waist by strands
upon strands Of white satin ribbon
I. Each garter IS enclosed in pretty bo'
y and presented 10 her most intimat'
girl friend The strands Of ribbon ar
cut into pieces and distributed amonl
the other guests. Then, simply attire'
in the wedding gown, sometimes evei
Z this is laid aside for another, and tn
n festivities take the form OF those usua
TO such occasions.
u Refreshments are served, never omit
/. ting chocolate, which from time i'm
y memorial has been the nuptial bever
s age. so generally recognized that whei
It a friend wishes to ask the date OF I
n marriage the question takes the form
l. Of when will chocolate be served2'
r After several hours Of gayety tn
e bridegroom takes his bride to thei
n new home, and they begin life Of tru
domestlcity. They continue to be see
occasionally in society, but generall
chaperoning some young friends, o
chatting with their contemporaries, o
quietly and contentedly moving throug
O the dance. always, invariably, wit
p each other.