Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-10

without carrying away with you the odor of
the fishes.
Our walk was extended to the Carana de
Valdes, a beautiful promenade built along the
water planted with trees, and decorated with
marble statue and fountain The view of
the harbor and shipping and of the old Moro
Castle, directly opposite, made our walks inter
csting but we were quite glad when we ar
rived afour hotel and could enjoy the cool air
of our apartments the heat and glare outside
beginning to be intolerable.
After another sumptuous breakfast in the
airy saloon, we prepare to spend our day within
doors, either in reading, writing or mapping,
until the heat shall have subsidized and we may
be allowed once more to venture out Of doors.
This evening we went to the grand Tacon
Theatre, to witness the Opera of Norma, by
native company. A beautiful volante, with
caleshero in stylish livery, belonging to gen.
tleman to whom we had brought letters of intro
duction from the United States, stood at the
doorway of the Colon, at our service for the
evening. The silver buckles and mounting of
the harness and postillions shone with their
usual splendor; but we had little idea of the
cost of the turnout, until we were afterwards
informed that there were one thousand dollars
worth of solid silver about the horse, man and
vehicle. The seat we found much more luxuri-
Gus than in any Of the hired volantes we had
: ridden in, and we were soon swayed along with
a delightful motion over the russ pavements of
the old city through the arcbed gateway della
Muralla, and over the Paseo del Isabel to the
doors of the theatre, amidst throng of beauty
} and fashion going in the same direction. The
J Tacon is one of the finest of theatres and you
repose at your ease in luxurious arm-chairs, in
stead of being constrained to an upright posi-
tion upon narrow bench, and in the O" boxes F"
of our theatres The beauty of the decorations
and the comfort of the accommodations do credit
alike to the Spanish taste for the drama and the
arts, and for their love of case. The perform
ance was in keeping with the magnificcnce Of the
} decorations and scenery; the orchestra, one of
the finest in the world, and the chorusof singers
$ were not to be surpassed for harmony and depth
of tone. A little less artistic style on the part
of the Prima Donna would have pleased US bet
ter, though her voice was good, and her acting,
in some parts, effective.
We had no power, even here, to resist the
witchery of the charms of the leaden. goddess,
who had been casting her spells about us ever
b since we arrived in Havana, and we found our
: selves sleeping gloriously, in seventh heaven of
: repose, when awakened by the sonorous tap of
e the drum in the grand march of Norma We
= had overtasked our energies for one day, and
g now oblivion was sweet
As we passed out, after the performance, we
noticed men, with game cocks in their arms,
0 standing about the door Little of his native
, beauty and dignity is left in the poor fowl that
is prepared and arrayed for the contest of the
f Jugo de Gallos so that you would hardly know
; him for representative of the feathered tribe
and you would never suspect him to be your old
} avorite of the barn yard, 50 resplendent in all
his crested and plumed honors did you not
loudly and clear, but with somewhat the cracked
l tones of the debauchee, an indomilable crow
, They have cropped off his comb and plucked out
all the feathers of his neck, and much of the
plumage of his body and tail, which is deemed
s superflnous. His barred leck is painted with
c vermilion, and irritated with cayenne pepper,
u and his naked wings are armed with pair of
IS death-dealing stecl-spurs. He is carried in a
,t wicker-w envelope, which encloses only his
is body, and is fancifully ornamented, and tied
o. with colored ribbons. We declined an invita-
he ton to visit the cock pit, not far from the thea
le tire, where betting and cock-iighting were go ng
e, on, and would be kept up till inolning, and We
,d were glad to be once more seated in our splendid
" vo'ante and rapidly carried to our hotel where
w. it was not long ere Somnus had us in his keep
YES ing.
w. A beautiful and bright Sunday morning
th like all these mornings, bright and beautiful
,r- awakened us at day break by the silvery throa
he of many bells singing the praise of God; ant
mt we FASTENED to the housetop to enjoy the beaut
ID. of the sunrise, and breathe the refreshin,
of breezes from the ocean, and take view of tn
er, city and harbor.
nd The Azoteon, or fiat promenade upon tn
eu house-top, is surrounded by parapet of stone
to breast high, and surmounted at intervals b.
ps fancifuly colored urns with flames curling from
he their tops 1t is the place Of rcfreshment 70
10 the citizen in the early morning or after sun
Of down; and at these times you will often Sc
ks whole families out there enjoying the air. Fror
DIS Mrs. Almys we had fair view of the quec
in, Moorish looking city, without chimncys, bu
mt abounding in church spires and towers, cupoa
1t and belres; and of the harbor crowded wit
u- shipping and steamers of all nations, now gail
le- dressed out in all their flags, in honor of tn
of day.
me We went this morning to the chapel whic
lso was built in commemoration of the first ma.
ou celebrated in the island in 1919. Like all tt
ley other churches, its interior is decorated wit
sb- paintings and shrines to the Virgin and Saint
our None of the quiet Of our Sabbath reigns on th
md day on the contrary, it being regarded as
lers holiday, there arc more noise harity and mir
pom than on other days. The ladies 20 to mass
rom the morning in greater numbers than usua
hey but the shops are all open, and you sec eve
OF description Of raltsmen-tinkers, halter
'riv- tailors and shoemakers, all at work in thu
ated open shops as on other days. The poor chai
'wds gangs are at work on the wharf, constructing
for new pier and the caseros, malejcros. panedei
are and all the endless variety of carriers and erie