The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-24

her religion, Der wealth. and the best Oh all
her system Of hereditary titles and noble
families. They were rsmi6cations OF IL
naughty Dons, Of CASTLE, whose wealih and
ambition hal planted the banner Of spain
in the virgin soil Of the golden ocsident,
where they fondly hoped tc sec spring, Min
erva.like, from their own Jupiter forehead,
an empire at once strongly attached to the
customs Of their progeDitors, and powerful
enough 70 10y this whole continent beneath
their grasp, and erect 40 everlasting memor
isI Of the enterprise, courage, and ambition
Of the Csstilisn blood. So that when the
storm gathered from the tyrsnnies Of these
proud mobiles, and burst over their devoted
heads. 10 the revolution OF 1921. Granada
stood by the old regime and was the very
last TO abandon In the field their sinking
fortunes In the cabinet she still adheres 10
her first love, and in her bosom, the ser
vile or Aristoeratic" party, - the otishoot
OF royalty, still finds warm and hearty
welcome And she has met the fats Of oil,
whether Of governments or individuals, who
iooIishly attempt TO clog or hinder the
wheels Of the car oil progress, and fallen
bleesiing and crashed beneath her ponderous
and fruitless effort. During the intsrnecine
struggles Of the past quarter Of . century,
besides being bessged score OF times, II has
been stormoa and carried on at least dog
On occasions. II was captured by the 6llibus-
ters 10 October. Of 1854, after brilliant,
although almost, on their side, blo0dless,
action OF ten minutes, In which So Ameri.
cans defeated 300 natives.
The next morning, being the Sabbath, VIC
were awakened by the deep sonorous tones
Of the bells Of the various Cathretirals call
Ing TO the christian duties Of the day, the
sleeping inhabitants OF the city. Church
bells 70 US arc always full Of music, love
and harmony; a. they bid us 10 refrain from
the secular lsbors, 10 feed and clothe the
flesh, to the more important ones Of cleans
Ing our moral wardrobe OF its impurities,
ana 10 Eat from the mama OF heaven, that
We hunger not again, and TO drink from The
we'll, that VIC thirst no more forever. Dress
Ing ourself hastily, we wendell our way to-
wards tho Cathedral Of Sante Maria, and
found the streets qnits alive with ladies and
children, but very few mon going TO tho
house Of God. We fear curiosity more than
religion was our motive 10 attending the
service. A numerous congregation had al
ready assembled when We arrived, and soon
. very One toned organ opened the services
with q very fine and well executed piece Of
music FROM ono OF the old Masters. This
being only mass no sermon was delivered.
At ten o'clock the Right Rev. Bishop Of
Granada, Padre Vigil, discoursed an elo-
quent sermon, to Judge from the apparent
effect upon his hearers. and We have no
doubt but We might also have felt tho iDau.
encc OF the spirit, but for tho clarion notes
Of number Of chandeliers, which broke
upon our ear about every two minutes.
We were thinking that oil the chickens ever
In this country came to church, nor were
We entirely at error In our conjecture, for
upon the dismissal Of the congregation wo
found Q number OF the audience, 10 save
time we presume, had brought their cocks
with them, on route for the cock pit, whence
they retired after divine service-which we
soon found to DO very judicious arrange
msnt, m Immediately in the rear Of the ca
thsdral was this universal Sunday resort OF
the SpaniArtls. Passing into the pit We
were modsstly accosted by Padre, and ask
cd for luna dana, as our admission Ice.
This Padre was engaged In the holy avoca.
tons Of sharpening "sashes, An instru-
mcnt Of 4 seyths-liks shape, which are used
instead Of gaiis, betting at monte,
which another ot the brethren was pi-
ously dealing Once 10 and such sight
In the centre Of tho court was an enclosed
circle OF about IL feet in diameter. This
was open, the top only covered In to protect
the circle from the heat OF the sun, whilst
around, on all sides. might he seen cocks tied
by one lex, and their owners dcscanting up
on their blood, bona and bottom. Here was
big Spaniard. with beautiful bird in his
hand, anxious Ia engage him against snoth-
or held by Padre for a hundred dollars
When the match 10 made each turns To the
spectators, soliciting amounts on his cock,
as making q joint-stock concern Of the fight.
After good deal OF chailering and higgling
the money is made up. No stakeholder
ia necessary. il being presumed, that none
but gentlemen indulge in this pastime, who,
OF course, will pay their losses. The slashes
are now tied on with strong pieces Of soft
leather. to prevent cramp, and the comba-
tants allowed 20 pick few times ~ an in
ccntivc to battle, and then they come to pit,
"a, b putting his fowl On the opposite side OF
the ring. Sometimes little delay Is caused
by the cocks INDUCING In short skirmish
before they commence in earnest. Now.
the excitement Is At its height. and the first
blow that IL struck between the cocks. is
the prelude TO long aud voeiteroas cheering;
bets ranging from tiSc 20 one hundred dol.
lars aud more are freely offered, and as rea.
Oily accepted. by mol Of the head, or
shake of the finger, IA the excited betters'
hops rise as tho fight progresses. A lew
minutes usually sullices for the decision OF
cock fight, the fatal blow is soon given.
and the winner declared the pi, is then
cleared, aud the feathers carefully swept up.
preparatory TO the rc-enactulcnt Of the same
scenes until nghtAll.
la this crael amusement the clergy Is we'll
represented and, rs well as a, the fascinating
game Of monte. generally heavy winners