New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
OFF NOW FOR PERU! !
Our BattlcsMp Fleets Nert Sched-
uled Stop Is Cal1ao.
Ey Lewis II. Freeman

CaI'ao OF the west coast of South America. IS
the next scheduled stopping place for our battle
chip feet after leaving Punta Arenas 1hls
ancient city. though containing over thirty thou-
sand inhabitants. is only the seaport for Lima
the capital of Peru. which lies few miles away
and our sailors will not, on obtaining shore
leave lose any time in leaving Callao behind
anG pushi-A. inland by rail to the up-to- date
metropolis With its 10000 citizens, its theatres
its parks, :f,numents cathedral and govern
mental buildiass Not the least attraction for
ptlr gallant tai will be the opportunity to verify
The many reports circulated by travellers that
The Peruvian women of the upper classes pos
hss higher average of good looks than these
of any other city in the world Whether they,
TOO fall captives to the Peruvian style of beauty
or not they will at least be pleased with the
'nanto girl
The r7anto is a distiucti--e creation and may
test be described the kind of garment one
sees nuns pictured in, although ii does not
necessarily follow that there is anything nun
like in the manto's occupant 1t is made Of fine
black material and is thrown over the head,
with a flap drawn tightly across the brow, and
cinched III closely about the neck. This cinch-
ing makes a kind of hood around the face, and
this hood may be very skilfully manipulated to
conceal moles and other facial blemishes, or
disordered hair.
From the shoulders the manto falls down in
front 10 the toes and behind to the heels. 1t
is held together in front, partly by pins and
partly hy the hands Of the wearer 1t is usually,
hut not always, worn the street costume
This not always" requires some explanation,
fer thereby hang many surprises for the new
ccucr in Chill.
The wearing of nlantos by all women, mat
Ter Of what class on attending church is obg
atory This is designed to eliminate such things
Is our Easter bonnet competitions, and to allow
the mind frcer scope in forsakng things earthly
and fixing itself things spiritual All good
institutions have their abuses. however. and
that Of the rlanto arises from the fact that many
ChIliay women when they arise too late to have
time 10 dress for early morning mass merely
throw on their nantos their robes de mutt
and with the addition Of such head and foot
trimming as necessary to give the impression
Of being fully dressed. trip demurely off to
church to ali outward appearances seeming :,s
though they had spent hours instead of minutes
before their glasses
Your first ocular eViderCe OF thc truth of this
tact is an experience you are likely to renlem-
t,T ling: Least such was my own was pass
h.s a cathedral early one morning when patent
h:3th,r finished closed Garage drove up opposite
tlo entrance and discharged its passengers upon
thc Sidewalk They were three women, tall
yong. >trikingIy handsome but aurricd Each
worc ii voluminous silk manic. stockings to
mate. several costly looking brooches and
lHTcrch hceled slippers. Of that much was sure
When the three beauties We're in their carriac"
md in The dim light Of the old cathe drl as we'll
their nant"s hid them m"destly If they hal
been onc,sud in many diving suits But un-
fortunately. between the curb and the church
stcps blaZed broad white ribbon If morning
sunshine, clear and sharp the shaft of Z
powerful searchlight. and when the three It'll,
maids from bed trpped over the deadline some
thing happened like that which is observed When
they douse the footiigits and turn on the cal
ciurn behind the serpentine dancer on a New
York vaudeville stage. II was, indeed al nluIni-
native incident
q :. number OF other shocks which Iave to