The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-22

Here is a Iocksmitf Next door Is a girl selling pottery and further on is a section where the men are deaiing m fothing but sugar. The susa- E put ID in loaves about the size of an isdani cheese, and wrapped around with palm leaves and tied with palm string in the center Tt is made from cane in coarse, brown loaves and it looks not unlike dirty maple sugar. Further on are the grain merchants. and in another street arc women selling dresses, lace and notiors of one kind or other.
 Among the Costa Ricans
 But let us stop moment and look at the throng which is buying ani selling. We have here all classse of Costa Rleahs. There are the residents or the capitai and also the small farmers who have come in from the country The most Of the crowd is composed of common people, the rich doing most of their buying in the stores or sending only their servants 10 market As we shall see lator thls htiie republic has it's well marked social classes some of which are quite as aflstoefatle as our four hundred at home.
 How well dressed the people are' Every one seems to wear fairly good clothes, The merchants are natty in comparison wiht the Panamanians and even the peas ants are clean.
 Here comes two policemen. They have uniforms of light blue, with blue caps. Each carries an ebony club, and can see their revolvers showing out al the hips. They are nice little fellows, and far more polite than the mongrel offi- cials of the Panama republic. ] stand two up at corner and photograph them. They smile and are seemingly delighted to have their races go 10 America Here come some boys selling lottery tickets. This is one of the chlef businesses of Central America, and 1t gives occupation to scores of men, wom- en and children.
 Bareheaded Women
 But look al the bareheaded women. Not one of all those about us has a nat on. The girls part their hair in the middle and wear it in long braids down their backs. It Is as black as the wings of the vultures outside the market and in most cases 1t hangs to the waist or below.
 Nearly every girl has on silk shawl over her dress. This Is part of the na- tional costumes and these shawls, like the obi or wide silk belt worn by the Japanese women, are often the most expensive part of the costume The shawls are of silk with a fringe of lace a foot long. and are covered with as much embroidery as the purse of the owner can stand The older women wear black, but the girls and young women have shawls of the most deli cate rose pink, or sky blue, Of sea green and pale yellows and rich reds, A girl may be in bare feet and bare head. and her shirt waist and skirt sucb that you could buy for S2.98 in the states. but, nevertheless this shawl which covers her shoulders would have cost ten times as much. These shawls are gracefully draped about the person. They are so folded that long letter V hangs down to the knees at Inc back and so that they cover the shoulders and come down at the front at the sides of the breasts, leaving the arms bare 10 the elbow The girls wear elbow sleeves, and the shawls set off their finely formed arms and hands.
 How the Girls Look
 But stop a moment Here come half dozen young women who are evi- dently of the better class families. They are typical of these Costa Rican wom- en. who have such reputation for beauty They are from 1o to 20 years old and are at their best They are straight and we'll formed, and they walk like so many queens. Each IS bareheaded and her black hair. just trlfle curly and wavy, hangs down in long braids It is bound at the back of the ears with butterfly bows of the same color as the silk shawl she is wearing What beautiful eyes' They are large, dark brown and liquid with long lashes and well marked dark eye brows. The features are regular, the forehads rather low and the cheek bones perhaps a tride too high The lips are red, ripe and luscious, and the teeth, which show as the young ladies gigle, are as white as sfaked lime. The complexion Is of a light olive with just tinge of red at the cheeks. These girls wear no paint or powder, all though some others in the market show signs of the puff box Now look at the shawls. One is of salmon. another Is pink and a third is bright red, and in each case the skirt and shirt waist match.
 How refreshing it is to see girls without hats. When left home the street head gear of our women was more fantastic than any I have ever seen on the stage.