The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-09-11
Written for the Valley Virginian.
SPANISH LADIES.
FROM NOTES ABROAD.

| FROM NOTES ABROAD.
| 1t was in the latter part of June in tn.
year '73, at Vienna, that fne Austrian CAPT
| tai, while was stroling about and Willing
away few hours Of lovely morning in the
month of the rose, when the zyphers are soft
and each breeze disturbs the leaves of the
trees. | had been sauntering about through
the different departments Of the grand exhi-
bition, and without any special destination
in view [ had paused near the fountains
beneath that immense dome. While stand
ing here noticed group Of ladies richly,
elegantly and and tastetuly dressed. And
most dexterously handling their fans in a
manner both witchiag and grand.
You scarce could tell if the motion
Was real tact notion
That they were tanning themselves
In this art they are never beginners
But always charm the hearts Of poor sinners
With the way they fan themselves
Dear reader, may I offer you an apology
Just here for such an ungracefu. wooing of
the muse by telling you that the subject con-
tains rich vein of true poetry and | was
allured on by that syren song that has often
wrecked efforts more commemorate and re-
solvrs more determined. Those sSpanish
ladies" that started to tell you about, and
which [ will yet do in my own peculiar and
probably awkward way, are really attractive
and enlisted my entire attention for the time
being, and | remained for some time watch
ing their. graceful motion, and the superb,
easy poise Of their queenly figures, the smile
on their rich, brown checks, with the deli
cate tint Of the rose just peeping through,
and the light of their soft dark eyes seemed
to tell that the warm, rich blood Of Ande-
lusia still flowed in their veins,
These ladies were evidently discussing the
merits Of beautiful piece of statuary, which
had been contributed from the sunny chimes
Of Italia, and which had been attracting
much attention from both amateurs and con-
from their animated manners and general
looks Of approval lfor I do not understand
the languago) that tsey fully appreciated
and enjoyed through that inborn love Of the
beautiful the splendid work Of the artist
that stood before them And while [ held
my position" which did not require the true
'smoral courage" of the cold veteran" oil
an hundred fercely contested fields fol
there were no frowning batteries or battle
stern array" to make the, blood run fierce
and nerve the arm to deeds Of might.
paused I listened as the gentlest of hui
man voices, the richest, softest tones that
ever come from human lips awakening, as
it does all the musis in ones soul as these
daughters Of proud old Castillo, but now,
alas, all rent in twain, chatted away as light
~ and gay as the rising mist above the spray
when tinted first by the early rays Of the
morning sun. Cupid darts do not penetrate
into the marrow of my bones half as quickly,
half SO gently, near SO swcetly, near so truly,
as those purely limpid, languid tones fall
upon my listening ears, and steals their
way like the divinest music Of Apollo's lutte
or the whispering breeze from old oceans
shells, down, down where all the chords are
tuned Alright. Byron was right, his taste
was accurate and there was not a dlscord.
ant note or Earring string iu that harp that
hung all dumb and mute on 'sTara's wallis
His responsive nature, his melodous being,
the poetic heart Of this great and erring
child, but true offspring of poesy and song
rapturously appreciated-"those dark-eyed,
lovely girls of Cadiz" whose voices were the
sweetest tones in the true music of nature.
To reflective and observing mind, to e
we'll timed, accurate and correct ear L know
Of nothing that more happily accords, more
! cheerfuliy responds to the Harmonious feel
ings Of sound than the human voice, and that
voice the voice Of spanish ladies"
OCULAR.