Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-30
Moving oul into the stream we dipped

| MOVING ouI lntO the stream we ulppeu
our dear old iag three times as vale.
dictory to our friends on shore; but to
tell the truth, this was done only TO show
to them that we would not prove our.
selves derelct in the demands of common
courtesy, though had we acted rs our dis.
position prompted, we should have pro-
nounced something, which, upon inter.
probation, would not have been exactly n
blessing. We sailed along majestically,
every now and then n little thatched cot.
tage. or an old crumbling watch tower
came out of the beautiful shade and look.
ed quietly over the seashore to see its
double on the silvered surface of the
broad water. Villas, parks and gardens.
appeared and disappeared, till the night
shadows and distance lost them in their
mistiness. AS sea life has story and n
portrait OF its own, and asks not even
parsnthesis here, we will leap over few
cogs on the wheel Of Time, and find our
selves ut Port Mahon on the great Island
OF Minorea.
We dropped anchor, on the brightest
morning OF the brightest month of the
whole year. The air was redolent of fruit
blossoms and teenng growth of vege-
tation. Strange birds twiitered the love.
liest of stdccatos on the yards and rigging
OF our vessel. AT our right n long line
OF neatly constructed Notifications stood
out In bold relief, like giant TO protect
tho city; while on the other hand huge
lcdgcs OF lorbidding ruins frowned at us
so coldly that we were glad to turn our
hungry eyes To the rich emerald green Of
the broad fields that slrcaked away in
the distance. Bold old lodges How
they have smiled and frowned in sunshine
aud tempest for ages! Yet there Is some
thing OF poetry In them after all. How
the pink.tinted ocean shells like TO rest in
their damp crevices. and the pretty dark
sea.anemones and moses play at their
feet But just here will the "sanidads."
or health officers, step in. and all unin-
vited too. to leave their burden OF sani-
lary orders. They are decidedly un-
attractive in their personal appearance.
and remind one forcbly OF those decrepit
desperados who occasionally figure in
Spanish stories. They gave me irown
when they set big. red earthen pot.
from which issued smoke enough 10 stran-
gle one, on our breakfast table. However,
my laughter was unsmotherable. took
real Pleasure in watching them from our
ailer cabin window rs they munched
their black loaf and pomegrantes, and
really il is to them am indebted for
much which amused me in my imprison-
ment. Three times we were led TO
smokc.house and smoked "per order"
The building was quaint one with
countless wings and additions. We were
ushered into "A close, windowless apart
ment; ponderous door closed, and then
the smoke tho stranglng smoke Thus,
alone nj the mercy of the door. keeper, we
awaited our release, and had just begun
to dream OF smoked herring and alewives,
when it came.
In n fow days we were allowed to visit
the city II is clear, pure and healthy.
The private residences. public buildings,
trunks of trees and hitching posts are all
white washed. 1t is indeed a white city.
The natives are Spanish, yet they bear
striking resemblance to tho African race
in form and physiognomy. Their educa-
ton is sadly neglected, and they are in
dolent and needless in their habits. Their
vineyards support them with but little
effort, though their wine is for the most
part of very inferior quality. They
have some fine calhedrals which are
rough and unattraclive outwardly, but
with interior richly ornamented with
elegant works in bass relief, and pictures
by the most celebrated early artists of
the Spanish and Italian schools. which
are of course interesting to the Christian
antiquary, rs giving him perfect epito-
me of the religious ideas and symbols of
the time. They were large and ilustra-
tive of sculpture character--oi the many
interesting events in the life of the saints.
OF course there were many representa-.
tons of the sainted Mary and the Savior,
which were as sweet in expression and
delineation rs any we have ever seen.
must confess that | was somewhat dis
appointed in the works of the great mas.
ters Ny enthusiasm cooled to dissatis.
faction al first sight of them. They were
smoky, cracked and ndistinct. thought
then it wonld he such relief 10 turn to
one of Bierdstadt's fresh, clear landscapes
or Champney White Mountain scenes.
In the rural districts may be seen some
thing OF nomadic life as peculiar to old
unmodernized Spain. The Highland
shepherd conducting his flocks is one Of
the most original characters on its ro.
mantle SOIL The migratory shepherds
leave their families in the mountains dur.
ing the winter season, while they return
to the southern pastures with their focks,
or cauasa. as they say. They pass in re-
view the coin in their leather pouches,
throw their mantle gracefully over their
shoulders, take hat and crook, and then
with an ".Adios. hjo de mi alma; adios,
adios !r.-"Farewell, child of my soul;
farewell, farewell!" they depart. 1t is
here the gipsey meets the shepherdess on