The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-03
EVOLUTION or
SOUTH AMERICA
@ld Spanish Customs Go and
Women Gain More Liberty.
PARIS HATS FOR SENORITAS

Auction Bridge Played With Avidity In
Peru---The chsperon Not Now Con-
sidered an indispensable Part Of the
Social Fabrie--chanses Largely Due
20 Foreigners.
Women I'm South America are assert
ing themselves, writes Charles M. Pep
per In the Chicago Record Herald. No
One familiar with these countries, he
goes on, can fail to note the change
I'm social usages and customs that has
eaken place during the last ten years
Tbe change is still going on. 1t is not
- revolutionary movement or n mill
&ant one. but simply an evolution that
ia not yet complete.
The traditional idea is that In every
Spanish American town the dark eyed
tbenOritas and senOras are seen twice a
week In public, the occasion being the
Thursday night and Sunday night
Band concerts in the plaza, when they
Nurn out and parade the walks while
u procession OF young men and old
men going in the opposite direction
passes them and repasses them. This
still happens, but the practice Is
changing, and now, except In very
Few of the remoter places. one has to
depend on something more than the
6emiweekly band concert Os the means
OF learning something of Spanish
American women, and the opportunity
RB not lacking.
Reform In Courtship.
Another cherished custom is also
yielding to the spirit of innovation.
Spanish American courtship Is not less
romantic than 1t once was, but 1t IL
Aess In public
Once on the Magdalena river, taking
ehe sidewheel fiat bottomed boat for
&he long voyage up the river, noticed
2he large amount OF personal baggage
chat bore the names Of two ladies' OF
BogOta. Hats from Paris and New
York" said the purser resignedly as he
separated the boxes from the heavier
cargo.
sattention OF an American who had llv-
nd Ia Peru for many years "They are
sgoing to the roller skating rink" he re-
marked. "and you see there is no older
sister, no family servant, with them.
Ten years ago this would have been
1mpOssible."
Just at that time n bridge tourna-
snent at the National club was in prog
Eess. ! think It was auction bridge.
FOr several evenings everybody in so
eiai life in Lima was there. Just i'm
agine." said the same American. "how
lt would have seemed few years ago
90 have suggested that these ladies'
HhOuld take part In affairs OF this kind
Everybody would have been Mortified"
The functions Mt which the fashiona-
ble women OF South America are most
la evidence are the bull1ghts and the
races. The bullhght prevails in few OF
Ahe countries, but where 1t does exist
st is very largely social function, and
ahe ladies wear their smartest gowns,
na In Spain. The same Is true of the
horse races. In Santiago and Nalpa-
Fniso at the races the most gorgeous
costumes and the latest Paris creations
nre most in evidence.
The theater and the opera afford the
opportunity for the display Of gor
geOus gowns. This is In particular true
of Buenos Aires aud Rio de Janelro.
Passing OF the Chaperon.
The chapcron is one of the disap-
A N
and her disappearance marks another
stage In the evolution of the South
American women. But IL was left to
the young women of Buenos Aires ap-
parently TO signali1e the golf course
as the place from which she should
make her exit
Mans position In this evolutionary
PeriOd among the women OF South
America Is that Of resigned acqui-
escence Man In South America occu-
piles about the same position that he
does I'm continental Europe His home
sife IL agreeable, He IL kind 10 his
women folks. too indulgent 10 his chill
dren and quite selfish In everything
3aat relates to his own pleasures. His
club life II. or used 10 be-, quite apart
from his home life. Now he Is begin
SIng TO share this club life with his
wife. The auction bridge tournaments
ar similar social events give him the
opportunity,
The part OF the foreigner In this evo-
e0tIon among South American women
o. not 10 be entirely ignored. The
North American, the Englishman or
Che German. who Is part OF II. ls not
Aimself conscious of his own position.
He has. however. an influence which
tndirectly IL affecting the movement.
A.. t.i.stt C.. N,,,