The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-03
SOCIAL CUSTOMS OF PORTO RICO.
Beauty and AmiabIe Qualities of the
Women.
CDR. William S. Birge in the Country
Gentleman)

w OHehs
CDR. William S. Birge in the Country
Gentleman.)
The social life and customs of Porto
Rico, in the cities and large towns, is
very similar to that in European coun
tries, except when climatic conditions
might make some change. The fash
ions of Paris Madrid and London are
observed by the young and middle ages
of both sexes so far as their circum
stances will permit. Wooden clothes
are worn all through the year by the
gentleman of fashion, except in the
smaller places where linen is substi-
tuted, the wooden fabrics being con-
sidered a luxury to be donned only on
Sundays and holidays.
The women of Porto Rico excel in
beauty those OF any other West India
island, not excepting even Martinique
whose Melissa type are generally con-
sidered among the beauties of the
world. Medium in size, they are eX-
quisitely formed with dainty hands and
feet, and q complexion just dark
enough to make a most charming set
ting to the pink glow on either cheek.
l remember reading a magazine article
a short time since, in which the au
land, aptly says: They are affable.
generous hospitable to a fault, loyal
to all that pertains to the welfare of
their home. They are sweet and am
liable, faithful as wives, loving as sis
tiers, sweethearts and daughters, orna-
ments to any society. tasteful in dress,
graceful in department. and elegant in
carriage. In fact, visitors from old
Spain have frequently remarked their
III 20 Of
who are world renowned for their
grace and loneliness" The mantilla,
so common in other Spanish colonies, is
here worn by elderly women only; the
young ladies dress deliberately, in good
taste and all wear hats.
The people of the island are exceed
ingly polite to strangers. One not used
to their customs win meet with many
surprises. Nearly every man you meet
will make you a present of his resi-
dence. When he leaves you, he will
grasp your hand cordially and say:
"My house is yours it stands on such
a street, the number is so and So and
il is at your service" But it is only
the Spanish way of saying II am
pleased to make your acquaintance.
One of the peculiar things that
strikes a stranger visiting the island is,
on making a tour of the shops, to find
very few things characteristic of the
West Indies; the inhabitants seem to
prefer, in purchasing any article not
edible, that it shall be foreign made.
Not a single show window exists, and
the native merchants have yet to learn
how to display their goods and wears.
If some enterprising Yankee would
tear out the front of one of the for
bidding looking shops, replace it with
one on the show case style, and set
forth a dazzling array of merchandise,
as is done by the artistic window
dressers in some of our Northern cities,
it would cause a revolution in the
methods of trade.
The better class of ladies, when they
go shopping, drive up to the store in
carriages, and have the goods brought
out to them to select from. 1t is a
common sight to see several carriages
before fashionable store, with a clerk
on the sidewalk showing the contem-
plative purchaser his silks. gloves or
ribbons Some of the stores have a
parlor In the rear where the sonora can
sit if she likes and have the goods
brought to her to select from. Few
aside from the foreigners and common
people, stand at the counters and buy.
In the cities, the better class are fast
learning the English language. and IL
will be but a few years during the
period of assimilation as an American
territory, before the younger genera
ton will acquire an equal fiuency in
English and their native language.
l passed down a street one evening
and heard a familiar tune. 1t was a
| native mother singing her baby to
sleep to the tune of Dixie" waiter
| in my hotel at Ponce has acquired
| quite a number of words and phrases
| in English. and seems to take especial
delight in serving me to expend his vo-
! cabulary for my benefit.
| The society one meets in Ponce and
| San Juan is charming Educated and
| refined, it would do credit to the best
society that we so proudly boast of at
! home. Accomplished in music, paint
! ing and the fine arts the young ladies,
many of them, receive their instruction
! in the best schools of Paris or Madrid
and are most attractive and interest
| ing.