Evening star., 1940-05-26
Puerto Rican Girls
In Bathing Suits
Shy Of Cameras
Amerieonizotion Creeps
Into Islands Life, but
Old Customs PrevuiI
~ the Associated Press.


PONCE, Puerto Rico. May as
Kisses are serious business on thi.
island of sunburned senoritas.
Mere mention of them is enough
to make una nina bien" "a nice
girD blush.
Only when a lass is formally en-
gagged to boy does she offer hel
lips-and then bashfully, in private
Old Spanish customs are RESPONSE
bic for this anachronism in love
making in a place where everything
else is Americanized to the nth de-
gree. Here in Ponce, the most truly
Spanish spot on the island, courting
even becomes a public spectacle.
Boy meets girl in the public square
on Sunday night. Boy joins line
Of other boys and walks slowly
around the big concrete rectangle
Girl joins a line of other girls and
walks around, too, beside the line OF
boys but in the opposite direction.
Pair OFF for Strolls.
Boy and girl look each other over
II what they see is attractive, they
pair off, drop out of line, and walk
together alone.
They go to a drug store for soda
or maybe to movie, to get better
acquainted. Then they go home, and
start over again next Sunday.
Love-making is as pleasing to these
maids as it is to their sisters In
the United States. They are ro-
mantle and terribly jealous. But
they hide their sex appeal as much
as possible. It's the thing to do.
Legs. no matter how lovely, are
kept covered. No good girl poses
for a photograph in her bathing
suit. Swimming and tennis are
popular feminine sports. but wear
ing of shorts and bathing suits in
public or mixed company is frowneo
on in the best circles as too re-
vealng.
To Americans, some Puerto Rican
ideas of beauty seem strange. The
girls take pride in hair on theil
legs, plumpness is desirable.
Eyes Are Beautiful.
No one can quarrel with their
feature of greatest pride-their eyes
Whether languid with romance
sparkling with mischief, or blazing
with anger, they are beautiful. And
the girls make the most OF their
long black lashes.
The senorita wears hat only
when she is dressed up for church,
the shops, or visit. On these
occasions, she also decks herself
with old Spanish rings. bracelets,
jeweled clips and earrings. The
high combs and brilliant mantillas
the average stranger thinks OF
whenever Spaniards are mentioned
are rarely seen. But infinite color
Is still the rule.
The girl who has boy friend she
can count on has her troubles, too
If he takes her out two or three
times in succession, she is practically
engaged. Other boys drop her from
their eligible lists.
The girl who is popular enough to
attract many suitors and mink
enough to keep them all guessing,
is likely to subject her family to
noisy evenings. 1t is the custom
for the love-struck boy to stand
under the exquisite iron-grilled bal
comics of the girl friends home and
serenade with his guitar. singing
the while as we'll or as poorly as
he is able. Almost any day at dusk
a traveller sees lads toting guitars
for miles over narrow roads and
through the ancient streets.
Bracelets Tell Motherhood.
On each anniversary of his we'd
ding the husband gives his wife a
narrow, plain, silver or gold brace
let If the year passes without a