The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
SANTIAGO, CAPITAL OF CHILE IN 1914
BY FRANK c. CARPENTER

rope around their front legs and the ox-cart still creaks it's way through the town. At the same time there are cabs and automobiles everywhere. The street cars have great numbers on them indi- eating their routes and there are motor cars that carry the heavier merchandise and all kinds of building materials.
 The people have changed and the char asteristic costumes of the past are tramp ed upon by the heels of the present
 There are Paris bonnets and slit skirts everywhere, and also women and girls clad In black with mantas or black shawls
 covering their heads. necks and shoulders, so that only the faces show out of the black. This costume used to be com mon with the rich and poor. It Is now dying out among those who can afford the more costly modern clothing, and the rich and fashionable now confine it's use almost altogether for going to church. The laws of the church here provide that no woman can come into a religious serv- ice wearing a bonnet, and the only ac- ceptable costume is dead black with manta of black crepe wrapped around the face close under the chin and fas- tened there with a brooch. Or it may be pinned at the back of the neck with a black pin. Some of the young women are now wearing black veils instead of these mantas and not few of them have black dresses that are cut rather low at the neck. I have seen girls in mantas wearing shoes of white kid and light-colored gowns, but this Is not con- sidered good taste.
 The manta Is often used for shopping during the morning, the better clothes being reserved for the promenade be- tween and in the afternoon, the hours when everyone goes along the chief business streets to see and be seen. The manta has the advantage that 1t can be thrown on quickly, and also that it hides any slovenly dressing beneath To my mind it is far better than the headgear of our women and it makes many homely face almost beautiful, throwing it out, 1t were, against the black crepe. It has the disadvantage, however, that 1t is the common street garb of the Santiago girls who are not so good as they should be. So dressed these little sinners have the appearance of saints. and no stranger would imagine the class to which they belong until a look from the tail of their eyes gave him the wink.
 I would say however that the Chil- cans are usually well dressed. The richer women import many of their gowns and hats from Paris, and the men of the same class look as though they had just come out of a bandbox. There are fine gents furnishing stores and dress making establishments with the latest models from Paris. The soldiers wear fine uniforms and the policemen have suits of white duck with white helmets. Altogether the people are as well clad as those of similar classes in the United States. and the business and professional men are more particular as to their dress than we are.
 Santiago is not cheap city in which to live. It Is town of the very rich and the Very poor Many of the citi- zens own large estates out in the country and live at the capital, where they have ma gnificent houses and entertain in grand style. The city has municipal theatre subsidized by the government This lasts for So nights, The companies are brought from Italy and nearly every person of prominence has his own box that costs $400 or $500 in gold. On such ia ashonable occasions full dress is always worn and the ladies are resplendent with diamonds. The men keep their heads bare during the acting and as soon as the curtain falls every man puts on his hat. He may stand up in his seat and sweep the house with his operaglass, staring at such of the ladies as interest him. There is q great deal of visiting among the friends in the boxes during the intermissons and the opera Is more of a social occasion than a musical one.
 Another social feature is the races. which are usually held upon Sundays. Santiago has one of the finest race tracks of the world. It Is outside the city on plain surrounded by mountains which