The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-09-08

| lAdn dHy Otuer IHlnT. Inc
1So> romantic side Of southern
life has been heralded a
great deal, but the average Northern
er, after sizing up the situation in a
sentimental way, is likely to conclude
that the courtships are too strict and
the marriages not strict enough. The
Latin honeymoon is noted for it's brev-
ity. The groom's ardency soon burns
itself out. He Is as Indifferent in the
role OF husband as he was constant
In that Of sutton. The wife accepts
his inconsistency and devotes herself
to bringing up her children. 1t would
be untrue to say that this is always
the case, but it is generally so. The
light manner in which South Ameri-
can men hold their domestic relations
is not at ali in accordance with Anglo
Saxon standards. The Northern wife
generally leaves the roof of the man
who neglects her so wantonly. South
ern men are always starting yevolu-
tons, and the women ought to try
their hand at the game. They certain
~ have the proyocation.
| The social customs Of Uruguay, says
writer in the st. Louis Globe-Dem-
ocrat, are all radically different from
those in vogue in the United States.
In our country the gentlemen, when
passing lady acQuaintances on the
street, wait for the fair ones to speak
first. The Uruguayans reverse this
sign Of recognition, and, when a man
doffs his hat to lady, she mods to
him whether she knows him or not.
This practice gave rise to good prac-
teal joke in MontevideO not long ago.
A young man from the States, who had
an active circulator among the ladies,
went to the steamship to meet'a friend
from North America, another young
man who seldom allows a pretty girl
to pass without sizing her up. The
first young man had been in the South
only few months, but as they walked
up the street it was noticeable that
great many women nodded to him.
The second young man said: "You
seem to know few Of the girls, even
If you have only been here a short
time"
His friend looked at him in a chesty
way for moment, then replied: Eyes,
and they are fine lot. The most So
cable people on earth. Why, old fell
low, know every woman in Monte
video." The capital Of Uruguay is
city of several hundred thousand in
habitants, and the newcomer cautioned
the boaster to go slow. A bet was
made, and they started out In the
first block they met five women; in
the second, seven, and so on for sew
sral squares. Every time the hat came
off there was smile and nod in re-
turn. The newcomer gave in and told
his. friend he was a wonder. After he
had paid his bet he was told about the
peculiar custom, and now he is wait
ing for some stranger to show up SO
that he can get even.
Every year is leap year in Uruguay.
There are six women in the country to
every man. A long time ago this lit
tie nation passed through q disastrous
war, during which the major portion
Of the male population was killed.
Strange to say, nature has not cor
rected this unequal state Of affairs, for
since that time the great majority Of
all children born have been girls. A
bachelor does not stand any more show
Of escaping matrimony in Paraguay
than an old maid in Alaska. He must
marry, OK give some mighty good rea-
son for not doing so. There are SO
many women after him that it is less
trouble to marry one Of them than to
be continually bothered by all Of them.
The prevailing scarcity Of men has
made tho women a rather strenuous
lot. From necessity they have learned
to do the work generally performed
by the sterner sex, and while doing SO
have not been slow in taking up hab-
It's that we think are not polite for la
dies They are mighty good Judges
of smoking tobacco and are large con-
sumers of strong cigars. Although
handicapped by heavy basket on her
head, one Of them can tack into the
wind and light her cigar as cleverly
as an Irishman or a cowboy.
They carry tobacco, matches, money
and everything they need in the front
part of their waists, so that any arti-
Gle they require will be within easy
reach without taking the load off their
head. After making sale Of fruit or
vegetables, one of them will toss
coin into the bosom of her dress like
a merchant would throw cash into his
money drawer. Men are so scarce
that when a woman gets a hus-
band she takes splendid care Of
him. He can have his meals at any
hour and need never bother his head
about the flour barrel being empty-his
wife looks after that. In addition to
being a great field for the exercise Of
feminine activity, Paraguay may truth
fully be said to rank as lazy mans
| paradise.
Country life in these far away places
has many strange features. Although
the climate is warm, the people live
e. A. j.