thers of the smiling dancers. It
is dreadful, however, to observe their proceedings when refreshments are
handed round, for suddenly a singular agitation is observable among
them, their long thin arms shoot from under their tightly-drawn shawls,
they rush for the refreshments as they are carried past them, and
swallow the liquids while stowing away supplemental cakes under their
wrappings. Casting his eyes toward the centre of the room, where the
young beauties are separating at the close of the dance, the observer
notices that several of them are directing their steps away from the
parlor to their retiring room. They have departed to smoke at their
ease.

Reference has been made to the scantiness of the attire of the
Paraguayan women at one period of the war. Some terrible facts are
related in connection with this matter, showing the horrible desperation
and sternness with which Lopez conducted his military operations,
bringing untold woe on his own people in his savage resolve to retard at
any cost the advance of the army of invasion. When the allies captured
Humaita, Lopez, retreating, decided to convert the country lying in the
enemy's front into a desert. He issued a proclamation ordering the
entire population living south of Asuncion to retire with all their
animals toward the interior, and to follow him into the cordillera,
eighty leagues to the east of the city. This order applied to all
classes without exception, the families of high dignitaries, ministers
and superior officers being included as well as the humbler sort. The
result was a terrified hegira of the people _en masse_, while behind
them the Paraguayan rear-guard destroyed houses and whatever could
afford shelter or subsistence to the enemy, leaving only bare fields
where once had flourished prosperous estancias and peaceful villages.
Terrible scenes ensued. Twenty-four hours' notice only was given to the
people to leave their homes. Delinquents and laggards were sabred
mercilessly or killed with lance-thrusts. This mode of massacre was
preferred, as it was a saving of valuable powder and shot. Women and
children were slaughtered in this way, as well as infirm old men. No
provision had been made to feed the famishing multitude that sought the
cordillera, and thousands of the homeless wretches died of starvation
and exposure in the mountains, where all that the women and children
could obtain in the way of food was oranges and roots. There were
numero