TWO LADIES 135 



blood-letting for the easement of her suddenly plethoric 

 temperament. But such is of her frailty. Proof of 

 her strength of purpose, has it not been given ? 



MARIA DANCES. 



In her youth Maria gave promise of a rare condition 

 among coastal blacks tendency to width and breadth. 

 As she grew in bulk she seemed, if not to decrease in 

 stature, at least to remain stationary. Thus it was 

 that her figure became perfect. 



If there be one feature of animal physiology more 

 adorable than aught else in the eyes of the lords of the 

 soil, it is fat fat under any and every circumstance. 

 They admire it in animals of the chase, and the paltry, 

 greasy relics of a feast may be smeared over the body 

 with something of the pride and gratification derivable 

 in other and cleaner walks of life from perfumed powder, 

 pink and white. 



Being fat and shiny as a girl, Maria had keen and 

 ardent lovers. She was an adorable novelty. 



Blacks do not gaze into the faces of their sweethearts. 

 They have never found chaste delight in the writing of 

 woeful ballads to their mistress's eyebrows, or to the 

 glorification of their snubby and expansive noses. If 

 any of Maria's admirers had been lyrical, her buxom 

 condition would have been the theme of their idealisa- 

 tions. In time she became the mother of children, still 

 retaining that charming superiority of bulk which 

 excited the rage of sisters whose skins did not shine, 

 whose flesh did not quiver whensoever they walked, 

 talked, or even smiled. 



No marvel that her matrimonial experiences were the 

 comment of the camp and gave rise to many differences , 

 but, since placidity and fat have been known among 



