The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12
LIFE IN CHILE

we ladies were compelled 70 content
ourselves with bread and butter and, I
fear. few regrets audibly expressed
friend calling during the evening
suggested that we have our meals
brought from the cafe-a common Gus
tom herNpending the arrival OF our
cook one has a set OF tins made. f1t-
ting one into the other. a wire passing
through rings at the sides The bot
tom tin contains Goals, and the meats,
vegetables, etc, are placed above one
another In the successive tins.
The strings OF tins vary IN length
according to the magnitude OF ones
purchase 1t was most amusing to me-
to see men hurrytng In every direc-
ton with these tins at the din
ner hours. We managed to live, or
rather exist. IN this way for q week,
all the food half cold and always had
a horrible suspicion that the tins were
never more than half washed, and
really all the food most unmistakably
did taste '-ttnny," but II people will vis-
1t foreign country without knowing
the language they must take the conss-
quences. After a week OF thIs sort OF
living, we obtained q cook smile now
when I think OF how was obHRed to
approach her each morning with a
dictionary in one hand. money IN the
other. giving the necessary orders FOR
the day.
spanish pronunciation and the follow
ing dialogues usually occurred: 'sYu-
sero pcr papas, huevos. besfsteal,"
Il want potatoes. eggs and beefsteak),
to which the servant replied. "Si. sen
orfta, muy bueno" Very well, Miss).
Our man servant-we are obliged to
magnificently style him ''maJoro0mo''
takes charge OF the dining-roon,
waits at table and acts as chamber
maid 1t Is a singular fact that the
chamber maids" OF Chile are almost
invariably OF the sterner sex
Up the one staircase everything must
come. The first thing 1 hear uncom-
fortably early each morning II the
step Of the water carrier, who, with
unnecessary clatter. brings Us two kegs
OF water. daily. for which he IL paid
50 per month. Then comes our bread
man, to whom We pay 30 cents per
day for what our family Of i've ars
supposed to consume then the milk
man, charging six cents for half
pint. and. lastly. but surely not the
least Of necessary evils, the cook,
bringing the days supply OF market
ing and fuel.
never got over the sensation that
in this hand-to-mouth way OF liv-
ing We should be some day left des-
titute. But as every one else lives
sin the same way and no other way
seems possible here. one consoles ones
self by thinking that at least. in case
Of the deluge. there viii be company.
Sunday is the day for complimentary
visiting in Chile and in case you have
a letter OF Introduction to Senior So
and-So. and have been recognized byre-
ceipt OF a card saying he viii "cele-
brate greatly acquaintance with you.
and that his house and all II contains
Is at your service'-(a meaningless
phrase, by the way)-you may call
and be received cordially by his
wife. who will serve you with tea and
entertain you to the best OF her abil-
ity until midnight. regardless OF the
hosts absence. for he is rarely at home
after sunset.
Ladies' are seldom attended home by
anybody but a servant. no matter what
the hour, as IN Chile II would be con-
sidered very bad form for the man OF
the house or a man friend to perform
this. with US, ofttimes pleasant duty
A G.