Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-03-04
THE JUNGLE BEA UTY
SHE PLucKS HER WARDROBE FROM
THE TREES AND VINES.

Lace Bark IL the Eavorfte Bail Dress
Fabric of the semiciviIizcd belle of
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 lands 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 she may wish
TO put upon it must be searched for in
the woods
Lace bark is her favorlte 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 il and soak
1t in running water for three or four
days In order to get off the gum and
unnecessary fiber. After that Ii is
bleached on the sands by the river and
sprinkled now and then TO whiten it.
When 1t has become creamy white
IL Is pressed with hot iron or a heat
ed stone and is ready for use. 1t has n
fine lacy appearance and runs into
more artistic patterns than any manu-
featured article. When made into a
dress it is wonderfully beautiful.
The Jungle girl uses 1t sparingly on
her ordinary clothes, but for her ball
dress fiOunce after flounce is used to
give a FLUFFY look to the skirts. She
knows that 1t 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, OH the night of
the ball she catches the brilliant fire
Hies which swarm In the jungle and
artfstically arrGnges them in her dusky
locks. The jungle girl would not ex-
change her "peenie wallahs," as she
calls the flrefiies, for the diamonds of
the northern belle
The jungle girls hats are u marvel
to behold. She weaves them herself
from the tippi jappa grass, and can get
any shape or style she fancies She
trims them with the netty fiber of the
eoooRput palm and the gorgeous wings
OF the mountain parrRkeet. which is
hhot 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 plaihtain or banana
leaf does as well rs anything bought in
the largest stores OF an American city
A creole belle is as fond of perfume
as the daintiest American woman and
Is just as particular that ii shall be Of
the best kind. She goes TO much more
trouble TO procure 1t, but then she
knows that 1t is always pure and fresh.
She first picks her fresh flowers, and
then, by some process handed down
from one general ton TO another she dis
tills It.
The secret method is often known to
only few families, and they would not
give II away for any sum OF money.
The lucky holders OF the secret are of
course enfted by all who know them.
Although others may receive presents
OF the much valued scent from those In
the secret. they cannot make 1t them
selves and therefore cannot afford to be
as lavish with II as they wish.
The tropical girls soap is procured
on the way to the bath. AS she walks
Down TO the river to battle she stops
here and there TO gather soap berries
and cuts piece or stick called fchew-
stick" which she uses as n toothbrush.
She chews the end OF II until IL be-
comes quite soft and froth gathers mt
the end. She then rubs her teeth well
with it. This is the best toothbrush on
earth as IT not only prevents the teeth
from decaying. but keeps them beauti-
fully white and clean. People I'm other
countries. knowing the value OF this
chewstick above all others as n denti-
frice, have II 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 II 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 n kind
These are made or n coarse woven ma
terial like sailcloth, 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 and
daughters for bath slippers. Those
who are lucky enough 10 have pair
would not exchange them for any 9TH
err slippers, however costly. No other
footgear equals the "alpagatta" for
comfort and Observation-Disclosures
Star.