The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-05-31

it in four hours, sent for the host, and
told him supposed his crowded house
lit had but two more visitors besides my
self prevented him from attending to me,
but that if he would not keep me waiting
more than six hours longer, should es-
TEEN him the noblest of gentlemen. The
wine came within five minutes. and
afterward | had no further cause to com.
plain of delay.
In driving about Burgos | could not
induce my caieSero to 90 beyond a snails
pace until | told him | was in no haste
whatever, but that his mule was walking
in his sleep, and might fall and hurt him
self in his sleep. He replied, "Nuchas
gracias, Scnor," and whipped up in fine
style for the remainder of the afternoon.
As respects manners the Spaniards
deem themselves the poitest people on
the planet, of which they think Spain
much the best and by far the most impor-
tant part. Ifmanners do not make the
man on the Peninsula, they 90 far toward
insuring his comfort or its opposite. The
natives are certainly managed by manners.
Any departure from civility, however
small, is always resented ,and strict obser-
walton of it attended with remunerative
results. One of their proverbs, "Poite-
ness gets what money cant purchase"
experience has often taught me the truth
Of The Spaniards, naturally courteous.
expect courtesy from others, and appre-
ciate it to the fullest. When you travel,
never light cigar or cigarette without
offering one to those in the same carrirge.
They won't take it unless urged but it
is the custom of the country it shows
you are a man of the world and of good
breeding. A Spaniard always refuses
once-that is etiquette-and you must do
likewise but when he is invited second
time he accepts. At cafe or restaurant,
if you order coffee, chocolate, or wine,
breakfast or dinner, and there are persons
at the same table, invite them to Join
you. 1t will cost you nothing, they won't
do it but the invitation will advance you
in their estimation.
Lifting the hat when entering the pres
encc Of others is more imperative in Spain
than in France or Italy. Not to do so in
diligcncia, railway coach, or a room, is
thought violation of good-manners, if
not a positive offense. have seen sensi-
tive Castillans look angry, even fierce,
and twirl their mustache with offended
dignity, when foreigners neglected to raise
their hats. But when the careless persons
remembered, and complied with the de.
mand of etiquette, the sallow faces relax
ed, and a gleam of good-humor darted
out of the jet-back eye. Hat.lifting and
cigar-giving are passports to good treat
ment everywhere. Many strangers have
made fast friends by such simple means.
Should be sent to Madrid on a diploma
tic mission, | should engage a servant
specially to elevate my sombrero. and
tobacconist to supply me constantly with
the hes; of Havanas. BY liberal use of
both, ! think could manage the minis.
ters as well as the Cortes.
The inhabitants of the different pro.
vinces, though they know and care little
aUvu. Sa.,., -n -..,iuu, .u.n,sUi' =
Spaniards, and as such are jealous of their
dignity and reputation. They are very
nice as to their personal honor (pundonor),
and regard Themselves as gentlemen,
whatever their station in life, and the
peer of any foreigner, be his position or
rank what it may. They often appear
cold and reserved but they are easily
won, and once conciliated are extremely
obliging. Etiquette is very rigid with
them, and never departed from in public.
When YOU visit any one formally the
proper costume is black, as it is with US.
If the person you called ON be out, you
write ON the corner Of your card f p.
zen persona and leave it with the servant
First visits demand marked courtesy,
which means nothing unless it is repeated
at the second visit. If you are welcome
you will be conducted to the best room,
placed on the right-hand of the sofa, and
your hat treated with as much considera-
tion as yourself, your host seizing it ar
IDENTIFY and placing it on a vacant chair.
As you take leave of Il lady you say,
81 hurl myself at your feet, Madam"
"a las pies de usted, !Seuo,u); and she
responds, with an eloquent casting down
of the eyeids and graceful sweep of her
fan, " kiss your hand, Sir,") Beso a
nsted la mano, Senor), for fhe reason,per-
haps, that neither you nor she intends to
do anything of the kind. Then she looks
tender and uses the phrase, "May you de-
part with God, and continue well,'
U'ago msted con Dios que Dios asted 10
biem)! Whereupon you assume theolog-
ically gallant air-to be acquired only in
Spain-and reply, MAY you remain with
God" (Quede Usted con Dios
The name of the Deity occupies very
prominent place in Peninsular phraseolo-
gy, and is employed under variety of
circumstances. Your dearest friend in
trusts you to the Divine keeping as he
folds YOU in his embrace and the robber
does the same when he points his blum
derbuss at your head, and gently requests
YOU to stand and deliver.
Men are treated very differently from
women by Spanish ladies. These seldom
rise on receiving the former, or offer their
their hand, or accept the arm of their es-
cort but they kiss the latter at coming
and going. The striking contrast is
thought to arise from inherent feminine
coquettishness, the dark-eyed Castilians
desiring to show men what delights they
are debarred from by reason of their sex
One of the reasons assigned by the women
is, that the doing SO disarranges theiI
mantila and another, that it is likely to
be mistaken for matrimonial intention
The Spanish men, who are always ill-na-
tured and cynical things about the Other
sex, declare the mantilla is much more
serious matter than marriage ; that an i'll.
fitting garment is more difficult to manage
than poor husband.
Unless Spaniard presses you again
aud again to releat your visit, and as,
slres you his house is yours, and il and