The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-17
THE JUNGLE BEAUTY
SHE PLUCKS HER WARDROBE FROM
THE TREES AND VINES.

Lace Bark Is the Favorite Ball Dres.
Fabric of the Semicivilized Belle or
the West Indies Living Jewels
That Outshine the Diamond.
Down in the tropical jungles Of Cen
trail America and the West Indies the
head of the family is not worried by
milliners' and dressmakers' bills. The
semicivilized belle Of these lads knows
how to get nearly the whole Of her cos
tune from the jungle. She manufac-
lures it herself from the materials she
gathers from nature. Though she may
be able in rare cases to get from the
one shop ten or fifteen miles away
few yards of cloth with which to make
her dress, any trimming size may wish
to put upon it must be searched for in
the woods.
Lace bark is her favorite material for
making anything light and dainty.
This lace bark is the film which covers
the heart of the lace bark tree. The
natives carefully remove it and soak
it in running water for three OF four
days in order to get off the gum and
unnecessary fiber. After that it is
bleached on the sands by the river and
sprinkled now and then to whiten it.
When it has become Il creamy white
it is pressed with a hot iron or q heat
ed stone and is ready for use. 1t has a
fine lacy appearance and runs into
more artistic patterns than any manu-
factured article. When made into q
dress it is wonderfully beautiful.
The jungle girl uses it sparingly on
her ordinary clothes, but for her ball
dress fcunce after founce is used to
give Il fluffy look to the skirts. She
knows that it becomes her as nothing
else would.
Her jewelry consists Of beautifully
colored seeds strung together in the
form Of necklaces, bracelets and tiaras.
In addition to these, on the night OF
the ball she catches the brilliant fire
flies which swarm in the jungle and
arGstically arranges them in her dusky
locks. The jungle girl would not ex-
change her ''peenie wallahs,' as she
calls the tirefies, for the diamonds Of
the northern belle.
The jungle girls hats are a marvel
to behold. She weayes them herself
from the jippi jappa grass, and can get
any shape or style she fancieS- She
trims them with the netty fiber Of the
cocoanut palm and the gorgeous wings
OF the mountain parrakeet, which is
shot and brought home by her father
and brother. . Even her parasol and
umbrella are supplied by kindly nature.
When the sun is too hot or the rain
too heavy big plaintain or banana
leaf does as we'll as anything bought in
the largest stores of an American city.
4 creole belle is as fond of perfume
as the daintiest american woman and
is just as particular that it shall be of
the best kind. She goes to much more
trouble to procure it, but then she
knows that it is always pure and fresh.
She first picks her fresh flowers, and
then, by some process handed down
from one generation to another. she dis
tills it.
The secret method is often known to
only I, few families, and they would not
give it away for any sum II money.
The lucky holders Of the secret are Of
course enyied by al who know them.
Although others may receive presents
of the much valued scent from those IN
the secret. they cannot make it them
selves and therefore cannot afford to be
as lavish with it as they wish.
Tbe tropical girls soap is procured
on the way to the bath. As she walks
down to the river to bathc she. stops
here and there to gather soap berries
and cuts piece of stick called Chew
stick which she uses as 4 toothbrush.
She clews the end of it until it be-
comes quite soft and froth gathers at
the end. She then rubs her teeth Well
with it. This is the best toothbrush Oh
earth, as it not only prevents the teeth
from decayins. but keeps them beautl-
fully white and clean. People in other
countries, knowing the value Of this
chewstick above all others as denti-
frice. have it powdered and exported to
them.
In many parts Of South America the
natives cannot buy cloth to make their
clothes. so they have to spin it them
selves out of cocoanut fiber. river
weeds and bamboo fiber. The cloth
woven from the bamboo fiber is very
soft and silky.
Unlike the West Indians. the South
American belle Wears shoes of kind.
These are made Of !; coarse woven ma
terial like sailclotll. which is attached
to soleS of rawhide. They are the most
comfortable shoes imaginable and are
used by the soldiers Of South America
when ON the march. They are called
"alpagattas.' and Americans who have
Travelled in South America invariably
bring them home to their wives ana
daughters for bath slippers. lnose
who are lucky enough 10 have palr
would not exchange them for any otn-