Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-12-23
Spanish Life.

From Macmillan's Magazine
You cannot think how entirely differ
ent Spanish domestic life is from what 1t
is in England, nor would you credit it
we're to tell you how rough and rude IS
the life of the lower-how ephemeral and
purposeless the pursuits of the higher
classes. Let us take glimpse OF family
life in the middle class. The Spanish
houses are mostly built of hard but pc.
rous sand or iron stone, quarries OF
which abound in the interior; they have
some ten or twelve rooms, all of which
are paved with stone or large tiles, for
in this country of dust and burning
heat-the thermometer has varied from
so to go throughout the summer--no
carpets seem TO be used, save just in
one room, in the heart of the winter
The stable is at the back of the house,
and horses, mules and carriages all pass
through the hall, just as do the inmates
OF the house. l have often been taking
"refresco" with the Sepor and his
oposa in the hall, and we have had to
move the little table to let the servant
and his mules pass through. Every
morning the "creada or Spanish
maid servant takes her watering
pot and carefully lays the dust,
and cools the room with an abundant
sprinkling of aqua fresca. At early
morn the master rises, and his little cup
of chocolate, an egg, and q slice Of
melon await him il. the sala, or large
sitting room to English eyes a most
eomfortless place; very large, stone
tagged, with few massive chairs, walls
painted in the rudest way, and one large
table in the midst. The rooms, owing
TO the heat, are always kept darkened
by means Of closed shutters throughout
the day; some of the windows have
glass, some not. but all are strongly pro-
tected without exception, by strong
cage of massive ironwork outside. The
sonora has her chocolate in her bedroom,
at the open window, enjoying the fresh
morning breeze. All the Spaniards rise
as a rule at five or six in the summer to
enjoy the only enjoyable time of the
summer day; at one o'clock they have
dinner-the comida-and after that fol
lows the two hours siesta in darkened
room. Evening then draws on, the deli
cious night breeze rises and blows
freshly from the hills, and the ladies
20 out in groups to the alameda
for the passao, or walk. Such is
the Spanish lady's day. She has, how
ever, her credas TO look after; and
above all, her dresses to make, or super
intend, or her graceful MANILA to ar
range. 1t is quite a striking sight to
pass down the streets from six to eight
at night, and see the graceful carriage Of
the head, and the stately upright walk
Of the Spanish ladies', with their long
white dresses trailing behind them in
cloud of dust; how they manage TO walk
over the rough, unpaved, uneven streets,
without a trip, is a mystery. AT about
ten all retire to rest, to rise up refreshed
for another uneventful day. As regards
the master Of the house he seems really
10 have but one interest in life, and that
is politics. he may ride out to view bis
olive farm, or his mine; and you will
certainly meet him in his shop, his cas-
sino. or his friends casa. smoking the
inevitable cigarillo, and chatting or
making a bargain. But there is abso-
lutely no reading Of any sort, not even
a book Of the caliber Of a three-volume
novel. Politics, politics are everything
10 him. and Of politics he seems never
a. tive