Buenos Aires 165 



in Spain, prevails in all South American lands, which 

 have inherited their customs and traditions from Spain. 

 Ladies appear upon the streets more or less closely 

 veiled, very rarely without escort, and never unescorted 

 after sunset. For a woman to appear alone upon the 

 streets, or to travel without escort, is sooner or later 

 to subject herself to embarrassment. The free yet 

 respectful intermingling of the sexes which occurs in 

 northern lands is unknown here. The habiliments of 

 mourning seem to be much affected by the women 

 in Latin-American countries. I said to one of my 

 acquaintances as we sat and watched the throngs of 

 passers-by on one of the crowded thoroughfares : ' ' There 

 must be a frightful mortality in this city, judging from 

 the number of people in deep mourning. ' He smiled 

 and replied: "The women regard black garments with 

 favor as setting off their charms, and rush into mourn- 

 ing on the slightest pretext. The town is reasonably 

 healthy. Do not deceive yourself. ' 



