New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-20
NETWORK, SATURDAY,

I
served in the architectural decorations of the
churches and in the pictures of many second-rate
Spanish painters. The ollity of the Ahcan is here
well some other traits which an American can
not but recognize. All sorts Of reserve are thrown to
the winds. Once on the Prado your cold Northern
blood begins TO flow faster. Here a hundred thou
sand people, or twice as many, for aught know, all
equals for the next two hours. ali bent on amuse-
ment, all yielding to the same emotion, strangers
sauting each other with perfect ease foot passen-
gers climbing into carriages tests flying fast from
one lip to another the air ripping with laughter,
and no human being in all that throng with thought
of tomorrow yesterday, of business OF intrigue
except the soft intrigues of lovers. which In
Spain cease never. Even the solemn English faces
relaxed, and have the air of being amused which
in Hyde Park you wish they might have. Who can
be critical prudent cold in the midst of all this
merriment and abandOnf The magnetic force of SO
many laughing men and women is too strong TO be
resisted. One forges even TO observe details that
first, last, and always odiOus duty of the unhappy
man who may have to describe what he sees. had
no notion Of attempting scrpton-what is the
of carnival if you cannot fo get the existence
of a newspaper in New-York for a couple of hours
You know well enough the outside Of carnival, the
dresses and all that which is capable of description
in detail What You don't know in that practical
busting city is the spirit which makes O carnival
possible and it is just that spirit which is the essence
Of the whole and which no narrative fear can con-
vey 10 you. You dear madam, who have a palatial
residence on Fifth Avenue and dazzle the loungers
Of Central Park with your ireproachable equpage,
can you imagine yourself tolerating half dozen
vagabonds in outrageous costume climbing the steps
of your carriage, and discussing your private affairs
before your face. and what is worse before your do
mestcsf saw Dukes carriage yesterday swarm
ing with impairment maskers, and the Duchess ex-
changing repartees with men who might be princes
and might be beggas, she knew not which. Or
would you like to play Columbine yourself to the
Harlequin Of your next neighbor Here comes
carriage draped in scarlet, body and Wheels coach
man and footmen in the absurdest costume, people
inside mufled in black, and wearing dominOes Cav
young fellows no doubt with their dearest friends
of the other sex. making the most Of carnival Not
in the least The breeze lifts the scarlet drapery for
instant and the familiar coronet on the panels re-
veals both name and rank of the owners A prima
donna follows in vandan. who thinks her features
and curling brown hair much too charming to be hid
den by mask. The cavalier who rides by her side,
in Don Quixote guise, is pointed out to me as a
Lieutenant-Genera and the other adorer, who has a
seat by her side is official high in civil authority
This episode fear adds nothing TO the local color
since il is not only in carnival or in Madrid that such
things happen. Follows hOrseman, rider and horse
alike enyelOpcd in silk armOr Of blue and gold the
legs Of the horse and the fingers of the rider alone
visible, bells of silver hanging from every point Of
the retted edges Of this shining dress OF carriages
and cavaliers wearing DISCUSSES. there WERE perhaps
a hundred in all. and ten or twenty times as many
masqueradng pedestrians Many of them, no doubt,
were little coarse many tawdry and poor, but de-
feCts lost in the multitude. One of the pretest
sights Of all was the pleasure of the children. In
many carriages the children only were cOstumed and
girls and boys from 10 10 r. were often dressed
in tho most costly and splendid disguises generally
oriental OF purely fancful. There was nothing so
as the enjoyment Of these young people,
unless it the absence Of the rougher qualities
which such a crowd in England or America would be
sure to bring into play. Amid all thebuIoonery there
was violence and amid all the license nothing
meant to DO offensive or received as such. More
striking than ALL there was no drunkenness. In a
northern country. such a scene would be impossible
with without the help Of liquor but the mere as
iemblage Of such masses Of people would bring dis
order and intO1catiOn. No police force could con-
rol London mob of one-fourth the sizes here there
gas not scarcely policemen TO DO SEEN except the
ow mounted guards who kept the carriage-way |
lear, and the lines Of carriages in order. Ii is true
he SpaDiards never drink much. After two months
4 very varied experience in this wine-producing
'ountry where wine is put on every table as freely
IS water, and equally without charge in the most ex-
,cnsve hotel or the poorest roadside inn, l can
ay that have not seen a single drunken Spaniard.
The unchecked liberty Of the carnival proved no OK
option to the rule.
Ont of gratitude TO friends whom found and left
II Madrid, ought to write only in praise Of city
which their kindness made always pleasant TO mo
whatever it may be to those who look only on the
outside of it, seeking amusement or excitement, and
hiding little Of either. Were to judge only by my
wn experience. should describe this capital rs one
the most hospitable Europe and its society asnot
My agreeable but brilliant A following letter will
e devoted to Andhlusa, after which hope to find
DOM for paragraph or two springing from some re-
collections OF Madrid, and perhaps for more gem
RAJ statement on much OF Spain as | saw and
ried to comprehend. Gwa