M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-04-23

his popularity as a man, as a Judge,
as hero, and as a politician, went Oh
rapidly increasing, till, eclipsing the
Oldest and most powerful names, it
set on the bloody eve of Buena Vista.
COurting In Spain.
Should you have occasion after
nightfall, to traverse the dimly lighted
streets, You will not go far without
brushing past figure muffled in an
ample cloak, and with the sonIbrero
slouched over the eyes, leaning against
the iron bars. AS you pass, your
eyes i; brm you that it is conversing
! in low voice with some one within,
whom the darkness shrouds from OBJ.
servation. In all probability you will
take no further notice Of the whisper
ing pair, but if you be more cautious
than wise and bestow on them more
than passing look, another becloaked
figure will probably step ont from
some corner and politely request you
to refrain from interfering with other
peoples business. If this hint be not
sufficient, he will prepare to enforce it
by other means, and by displaying his
naqaia, threaten to appeal to arms
He is engaged in one ofthe most sacred
duties ofSpanish friendship. Toguard
from danger or discovery, or, as it is
termed, "guardar los paldoS," to
"guard tile back" of a friend who may
be playing the lover-is an office to
be undertaken only by tried COM
rade, whose devotion and courage may
be proof against the rude trials to
which such a position subjects him.
If the fair one be noted for her attrac-
tions, then there are rivals to be en-
countered, whose jealous passions, if
aroused by witnessing another thus
engaged, nothing would SO soon ap-
pease as a thrust of a knife, given, as
may be supposed, without much re-
gard to the rules of fair play. Under
these circumstances, the second is
summoned to stand, like the knight of
old, to do battle against all comers,
should they approach with hostile in
tentions. | need not add that these
nocturnal meetings are frequent oc-
casion to brawls, and that lives are
sometimes lost, and usually dangerous
wounds are given and received, when
knives are brought into play.
This custom, though hmore prevalent
among the lower classes, is not entire
ly banished from the upper ranks of
society. In truth the mystery and
romance attending it have too many
charms for Spanish lovers ofevery de-
gree, ever to premit it to become the
exclusive usage ofany one rank in life.
1t is far more congenial to his tenn
peramentto throw a veil of secrecy
over his attachment, which, not un-
frequently from the first, wears a GER
tain air of romance. On the Almeda
he encounters some dark-eyed beauty,
whose glance fires all the susceptible
nature of his southern bosom. To
follow her footsteps when the gay
throng disperSes--to linger in the mar
row street where her homeis-and by
one ofthose mute but expressive signs
known in southern climes, to testify
his passion to her as she sits on the
balcony that commands full view of
the moving world in the street--or to
convey a message by some Mercury
familiar with such errands-are the
usual steps that precede an interview.
This, however, let it not be imagined,
is to be sought amid the shady valleys
of the Almeda. No, the fair ones OF
Spain are to well guarded by mammas
and duennas ever to knowmuch ofsoli.
tude, far less to enjoy it with COM
panion. But when the gates are
barred, and the household wrapped in
sleep, it is then that the Spanish
maiden rises to keep her tryst with
her lover.-MurGy's Cities and
W5lds Of Andalu8ia.