Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-01
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY /, 1888.
BRYANT SKETCHES THE SPANIARDS.

BRYANT SKETCHES THE SPANlAkDS.
One of the first places We were taken to
see on our arrival at Madrid was the Prado.
Here, bevond the pavements. and yet within
the gates of the capital, is a spacious pleas
ure-groun d, formed into long alleys by rows
of trees, extending north and south almost
out of sight. In the midst, between the CO.
lossal figure Of white marble, which form
the fountain of Cybele, on the north, to those
of the fountain of Neptune, in the uther direc-
ton, is an area of ten or twelve acres, beaten
as hard aud smooth as threshing-hoor, 10y
the feet of those who daily frequentit. Into
this, two noble streets. the finest in Madrid,
widening as they approach it, the Guile de
Alcala and the Gale de -itocha, pour every
afternoon, in foe weather, at this season,
dense throng of well-dressed people OF the
capital, to walk up and down, till the twi-
light warns them home. They move with
leisurely pace from the lions Of Cybele 10 the
sea- monsters Of Neptune, and then turning,
measure the ground over and over again, TIL
the proper number Of hours is consumed
The men are unexceptionably dressed, with
nicely brushed hats, glittering boots and
fresh gloves-the favOrite color OF their kids
is yellow; the ladies are mostly in black,
with the black veil Of the country resting Oh
their shoulders; they wear the broadcast pos
sible hoops, and skirts that trail 10 the dust,
and they move with certain easy dignity,
which is thought to be peculiar to The cation.
On these occasions, dress of light color is a
singularity, and bonnet attracts observa-
ton. Clos, to the walk is the promenade for
carriages, which pass slowly over the ground,
up one side and down the other, till those
hN oil IN a
seen the snowy liyeries of the grandees and
opulent hidalgoes Of Spain, and of the for
eign ambassadors. 1t seemed to me that the
place was lhronged on the day that first saw
It, but this the Spanish gentleman who Con-
Quoted us absolutely denied. There is no
body here" said be, nobody ut all. The
weather is chilly. and the sky threatening;
YOU should come in foe weather" The
threat of the sky was fulfilled before we could
get home, and we reached the door of our
hotel in torrent of rain.
The public walk is one of the social iusti-
tutions of the Spanish towns it Is a universal
polite assembly; to which you come without
the formality of an invitation, and from which
nobody is excluded; all are welcome un der
the same hospitable roof, the sky. Here at
ouaintauces are almost sure to meet; here
new acquaintance are formed; here the
events Of the day are discussed-lts news,
politics and scandal; here the last fashions
are exhibited; here hlrtations are carried on,
and matches, | suppose, made. The Span
iards everywhere pass great deal OF their
time in the streets. aud seem to have no idea
of coming together to eat aud drink. when
YOU have a letter of introduction to a Span
lard, he does not invite you to dinner; but
when he tells you that his house Is yours, he
means to give you free access to 1t at al
proper hours. lean testify thatthe Spaniard'
are hospitabls in the sense OF giving YOU
their society, and making your stay IN then
country pleasant, though II Is not their haoi
to feast you, They place you on the com
mon footing of Spanish society. except that
regarding you as stranger, they study your
convenience the more.
Here at Madrid they live upon very un
ceremonious terms with each other, droppint
10 at each others houses in the evening, anc
calling each other by their Christian names
without the prefix of Don or Donna. They
get perhaps, if anything, a cup OF tea or cbo
colate, and biScOcho. l was several times
the house of a literary lady OF Madrid, ant
saw there some at the most eminent men U
Spaiu--statesmen, jurists, ecclesiasucs, an
thors, leaders of the liberal party, aud chici'
of the absolutists-who came and wen
with almost as little ceremony as 1t they me
on the Prado. The tMtulia Is something
more than this-tbere is more dress, iilumi
nation, numbers; but the refreshments are
almost as frugaly dispensed. The strange
in Spain does not find himself excluded iron
native society," as be does 10 Italy, but Is a
once introduced to it Oh the same iooting VIII
the natives.
find one objection, hswever, to the so
cial arrangements OF Madrid; that 1ney max
the evenings so frightiully long. People De
gin to call on each other after nine O'CLOCK
and when the theatres close, between eie'et
and twelve, the number of calls increases
and these visitors remain until some TIM
among the short hours beyond midnight -
The example of turning day into night Is st
by the Court. The Queen does not dine I'll
ten o'clock in the evening. When L mrs
came TO Madrid, | used almost every day,
little after sunset to hear the Gathering
horses feet on the pavement, and the cry
la reina, la reiI.a' and, looking out at IN!
window saw three SNOWY carriages pass pre-
ceded by a small body of cavalry with drawn
swords, and followed by another IL was
the Queen, taking her early drive. Inls wa
her morning. and she was taking the morn
ing air at six O'Clock in the afternoon on ne
way to church As the days grew shorter
the carriages passed after the lamps were
lighted.
A LEXANDRIA LIVERY AND SAIL
n STABLE.-Will be opened on Tuesday