The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-04-08

their complexion is dark and clear and
that their teeth are of exquisite shape
and whiteness, while vivacious and
pleasing style is common to all, of what
ever walk of life.
| remarked to the captain of our ship
that the men of YquitOs must be a god
less lot. seeing that they allow their Wo-
men and girls to go to church unat-
tended. which is considered highly i'm
proper in Peru. where no woman, married
or single, is allowed to walk the streets
alone. husband, brother, or female serV-
ant always marching in their wake.
why" laughed the captain, these
ladies have no husbands in our sense Of
the word. They are married, yes but pro
TEN. only. No one marries here in the
regulation style The only couple who
received the blessings of the<church or
state are the gentleman and lady presid-
ing at the German consulate"
The Kaiser's official representative cor
roborated the above and the pastor of the
big Catholic congregation showed your
correspondent the registers, proving that
not a single marriage was celebrated IN
church at Yquitos during the past four
teen or fifteen years.
The reasons for this state of affairs are
purely economical; morality, or the re-
verse, do not enter into it at all. This
is the consensus of opinions expressed by
the authorities and the people themselves.
Men go to Yquitos for the sole purpose
of making money. No one even pretends
10 enter this wilderness to make "a home.
A town of Is. 600 inhabitants and not sin
gle house built to outlast few years OF
usage. no places of amusement or re
sorts of any kind, no government house
no public institutions, only ahodgs to dress
and sleep. eating houses and saloons
such is the big city OF Yquitos. enjoying
a healthy situation and every natural ad-
vantage save that Of being close to the
South American centers of commerce.
To secure wife pro TEN. the new
conner need but have means enough to buy
a small house or bamboo hut, q sewing
machine. and irons Other furniture is
welcome. but not essential If the bride
elect likes the man she is usually quite
/ content to take chances at securing tables
and chairs, a sofa. and bed how to
find n wife? Ask a real estate agent
Yuuitos' marriage broker par excellence.
! If he were not he would have To shut up
shop. But a sewing machine agent or
dealer in hardware Will do as well, and
/ for similar reasons
4 House. sewing machine, irons. furui-
ture. if there are any, and the clothes
/ and jewelry she may acquire are The pro
[ in her
name. and no one. not even 'Chinaman,
would be mean enough 10 attach stung
/ to these morning gifts.
/ The husband" devotes his energies
/ either to the India rubber trade as con-
tractor. or employee. or embarks in the
/ business of store. restaurant or cafe
/ keeper
+ In either Of these capacities he is liable
to strike It rich even as mere en-
ployoe. he may come across region not
/ yet spoken for. and monopollze and ex-
! plot it ike q Rockefeller or a small
/ scale. As soon as n has made his pile
( he takes himself of 10 parts unknown
I with 10 more hesitency about the proprie-
ties than a Texas steer etnerins new pas
lures
aThe wife may not have been a most
useful and loving helpuate 70 him il
matters not. she is left behind . shif'
for herself. even like the dragon who
made her temporary husbands Ike a per
< feet hell.
As TO the children. they suffer the samc
fate as the mother hut without anybody
ever raising the question Of damages
alimoay or charges o. abandonment i
is fact. though, that the majority Cd
husbands pro TEN deposit a sum GOVERNS
at least three months living expenses 10
their ex-wife and family with the loca
bank before they depart But doing 50 !.
a matter Of taste. and In no sense con
pulsory
Yeur correspondent made the acquaiat
ance u "a number Of Yquitos widows
they seemed perfectly resigned and con
tented. and had only good words FOR the.i
late departed. whstheE be ieft theu
money or rot I bear no malice u Jchr
for going away" said cue young worHar
to your correspondent. Like Coo'
American. he struck a barga 2 ard keD
its terms. ! only wish I oculd End ar
other man like him
Among the hundreds u s5vezturer
landing here year II ard year out theF'
is. Of course. a certain peEezatase o
ne'er-dc-weIls who wHitlslly sear1 90
wives q their cho,ce- The women. 30.
ever usually size them up correctly i
advance. and whe1 z rsntie--on cf IT,
sort does not retura n TIE stlpsiafe,
une his grass widow considers hers
az liberty 10 marry agaia. x oEQ9-
,unltv oTevs Thus. Il sometimes hlaF
pens that a small house contains two q
three seEtne machines z-d sets e fTors
But su7pose the first husa-ari -eT'--n
after : " ale aad claims his zife- ssSef