Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-04-18
GasiiI,.g Ia spain.


Should YIN have occasion. after niehtfil, t.
traverse the dlmiY lighted streets, YOU will not
20 Tar without brushing past figure lnulllra IN
nm ample cloak. md with the sombrero slauebed
over the eyes. leaning against the iron bars. AZ
You pas. your ears Ininim you that il is cunver-
slng iia low ynice with some one within, whom
lhr darkness .hrond. from observation In all
probability. you will take no further note Of ih.
whispering: bat if YOU be more curiou. than wi-e
aud besiow On them more than II passing look
another be cloaked figure will probably step out
from some corner aud politely request you 10 re-
FINN from interfering with other peoples husi.
ness. II this hint bc not sufficient. he will pre-
pare 10 enforce II by other means. aud. hy dis
playing his navnj a., threaten 10 appeal 10 arms
IL Is engaged IN one ol the most sncred duties
OF Spanish friendship, To guard from danger ~
discovery. or. NJ il l. termed. 'gnarder toSespai
da's," ITO guard the hack" If n friend who may
be playing the lover. i, an Office 10 bc nuderin
ken only by n tired comrale, who,e devotion
mny be proof against tho fade ttials 10 which
such position subject him fihe fair one bp
noted for her attractions, then there nre rival.
To be encountered whose Jealous passions. if Il
reused, by witnessing another lhus engaged, no
thing would - soon appease ar the thrust nf
knife. gwen, II, utauy supposed. without much re
gard 10 far piuy. Under these circumstances,
the second i summoned To stand ike the knight
oi old. ready Ia do battle against all comcrs,
should hey approach with hostile intentions /
need nat add that these nocturnal meetings are
IA frequent occasion to bluwls. aud that lives are
sometimes lost, aud usually dangerous wounds
ARE given aud received when the knife IL brought
into plny. This custom though more prevalent
among the lower classes, is not entirely bnn, III
Cd from tho upper rpnk> If society. In truth.
th" mystery aud romance attending il have too
nany charms for spanish lovers Of every degree
ever t" become the exclusive usnge of any one
rank ID life. 1t j. far more congeninl to his ten
permanent Ia throw IA veal If secrecy over his at
fachinent which not unlt"qurntly from the first
wears n crflnlu MIR Of romance. On the Alamo
dn, he encounters, some dark eyed beauty. whose
glacc fires al the SUSCEPTIBLE nature Of his south
crn hpsnm. 10 follow her footsteps when the
gay throug di-per-cs-tu hnger in the marrow
mate but expressive signs known in southern
chncs, TO testify passion 10 he, she sits at
the balcony that commands full view of the
moving world IN the street, or to convey ines
sage by some MorCury familiar with such Ell
fands--nrc the usual Steps that precede an inter
view. 1hi., howe yer. let il not be imagined. is
In be sought amid the shady alleys of thu Alamo.
da. M the fair ones OF Spain too jealousy
guarded by mnnmns and duenuns ever 10 know
If solitude, far lr-s IL enjoy them with n com
pan!"n. but when gates arc barred, mud the
household wrapped IN sleep. 1t Is then that the
Spanish maiden rises 10 keep her tryst with
Ter l"Ver.- n"rrays Gitics and UHds Of linda
Iysju