The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-07

"Observe, ye vain and frivolous, how vani-
tv ami crime haraonize. The Spanish rob-
bers are as fond Of this species Of display as
their brethren of other lands, and, whether
in prison on out Of il, are never 50 happy as
when, decked out in a profusiOn Of white
linen, they can Toll in the sun or walk
iauntily up and down. SDow-white linen,
indeed, constitutes the principal feature in
the robber (oppery of Spain. Neither coat
nor Jacket is worn over the shirt, the sleeves
of which are wide and flowing, only a
waistcoat Of green or blue silk with an
abundance of silver buttons, which are in
tended more for show than use, as the vest
is seldom butte, ed Then there are wide
trousers, something after the Turkish FASH
ion; around the waist is a crimson fa]a, OF
girdle, and about the head is tied qualify
colored handkerchief from the loom Of Bar
celona; light pumps and silk stockings
complete the robbers array. This dress is
picturesque enough, and well adapted to the
fine slnshiny weather Of the Peninsula
there is dash of efIeminacy about it, how
ever, hardly in keeping with the robbers
desperate trade 1t must not, however, be
supposed that il is every robber that can in
dulge in all this luxury; there are various
grades Of thieves, some poor enough, with
scarcely rag to cover them. Perhaps in
the crowded prison of Madrid, there were
not more than twenty who exhibited the
dress which | have attempted to describe
above; these were jente de reputation, tip
top thieves, mostly young fellows, who
though they had no money Of their own,
were supported in prison by their majas and
amilas, females OF certain class, who form
friendships with robbers, and whose glory
and delight it is to administer to the vanity
of these fellows with the wages of their OWL
shame and abasement. These females sup
piled their cortejos with the snowy linen
washed, perhaps, by their own hands in the
waters of the Manzanares, for the display o.
the Sunday, when they would themselves
make their appearance dressed la maja
and from the corridors would gaze with ad
miring eyes upon the robbers vaporing abOu,
in the court below.
Amongst those Of the snowy linen who
most particularly attracted my attention, were
father and son the former was tall, athlet
ic figure of about thirty, by profession house
breaker, and celebrated throughout Madrid
for the peculiar dexterity which he exhibited
in his calling. He was now in prison for a
rather atrocious murder committed in the
dead Of night, in house at CaramancheI, in
which his Onty accOmplice was his SOL, a
child under seven years of age, The APP
pie, as the Danes say, had not fallen far
from the tree; the imp was in every respec,
the counterpart Of the father. though in min.
nature. He, too, wore the robber shirt
sleeves, the robbcr waistcoat with the silver
buttons, the robber kerchief round his brow
and, ridiculous enough, long Manchegar
knife in the crimson faia. He was evident
ly the pride OF the ruiiian father. who took
all imaginable carr Of this chick of the gal
lows, would dandlc him on his knee, and
would occasionally take the cigar from his
own moustached lips and insert it in the
urchins mouth. The boy was the pet OF
the court, for the father was one Of the val.
ientes OF the prison, and those who feared
his proves, and wished to pay their court to
him, were always iondling the child. What
an enigma is this world of ours, How dark
and mysterious are the sources of what is
called crime and virtue, II that infant
wretch eventually become a murderer like
his father, is he To blame Fondled BY
robbers, already dressed as robber, born
of robber, whose own history was per-
haps similar. Is it right > "
No-most excellent, true-hearted Borrow.
We supply the blank, and answer that it is
not right.