The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-07-29

H. IS noihinr that would stri

There is nothing that would strike
4 traveller fresh from England, Ger
many or France more than the grea'
variety Of real country houses il
Portugal it is entirely against tbs
genius of the people to live a country
life. The Portuguese are too socia
bic to endure to be surrounded only
by VIC i and field, and mountains
He has many Of our northern tastes
likes Geld sports in moderation; b.
ride, ia his own style, better thar
any nation in Europe except them
selves; be has a sincere delight ii
country life and country scenery, but
be cannot long support the utter soil
tude Of the country
A Portuguese ~nobleman, if be be
rich enough, livcs in Lisbon or Op'
porto, and Il be has q country house
viii visit Tor a month or two in
autumn even then be viii often
rather endure the misery Of q sea-
side lodging among q crowd than 60
inland The larger Of the country
towns have streets fell Of ~gentlemen's
houses and here vegetate, from year
% wear. families who r just rich
enough 10 live upon their income
without working To live, indeed,
as the Portuguese do in such towns,
need cost but little
A large house with q plot II cab
bages- kale-yard-behind 1t; with
whitewashed walls, floors uncarpet-
cd, a dozen wooden chairs. q or
two deal tables; no fireplace, not
even a stove, either in sitting room
or bedroom no curtains 10 the win
dows: no covers on the tables; no
pictures on the walls; no mirrors
no table pleasantly strewed with
books. magazines, newspapers, and
ladies' work; no such a thing visible
as a pot Of cut flowers, no rare china,
no clock, no bronzes-none Of the
hundred triaes and cu~riosites, which
In our houses, show u taste, or
want Of it, bat which either way
give such a charm and individual
character 10 our English homes.
All these negatives describe the
utterly dreary habitati0ns Of the mid
die. class Portuguese. For Occupa-
ton, tho people do ~needlework, Cos
go to mass daily, and look out of
the window by the hour. Except
the n short walk to church, at 8
O'Clock in the morning, a Portuguese
hardly eve appears on the
street. As for the men, they lounge
about the shops, they smoke iunu-
merable cigaretts, they take siesta "
in the heat Of the day. If there is
sunshine, they stand in groups at the
street corners with umbrellas over
their heads, in winter they wear a
shawl over their shoulders, folded
and put on three-cornerwise as a
French or English woman's shawl is
worn-for this is fashion in Portu-
gal, and the Spanish laugh a good
zeal at their neighbors on the score
)ftheir being a nation who invert the
lue order Of things and worse, wo-
men wear cloaks and the men shawls.
In these towns there is never any
Jews, and If two men are seer in
discussion Of some matter of
apparently immense Importance, and
f one happens TO pass near enough
o overhear the subject of converse
ion, be sure hat one of them is
in despair or kindling with
enthusiasm at a fall or rise of a half
penny in the price of a pound of to-
1acco. An American of my acquain-
.ance told me that he had never
passed two Portuguese in conversa-
ion without hearing one or two
spoken, "testato" or "rapari-
ia, " fnaRce or love.
There are not even fashions for
hem to think about; young men
md old men dress alike; but the
Younger ones wear exceedingly tight
boots, and whersthey take their
walks abroad" it is obvious that
hey dc so in considerable discomfort.
The young men, however, have one
occupation more important even than
wearing tight boots, and which al
most, in fact, goes with it-tbat of
making the very mildest form Of love
among men. The process, in
Iced, is carried on in so Platonic a
manner, and with 50 much proper
that / doubt if even the
;trictest English governess would
ind anything in it to object to. The
-oung gentlemen pay their addresses
" simply standing in front of the
louse occupied by the object of their
Elections, while the young person in
question looks down approvingly
rom an upper window, and there the
ends.
They are not within speaking dis
ance, and have to content them
elves with expressive glances and
Iumb show; for it would be thought
Iighly ~unbecoming for the young
ldy to allow a billet dour to futter
own into the street while laws Of
ravitation stand in the way of the
.pward fight of such a document
.nweighed, at least, with a stone,
nd this, of course, might risk giving
be young lady a black eye, or break !
lg their fathers window panes. So
he lovers there remain, often for !
ours, feeling no doubt very happy, {
ut looking utterably foolish. These
lent courtships sometimes continue
,r long periods before the lover can
SIX the fatal question, or the lady re- !
Urn the final overwhelmingly '
fGgazine. |
Hickman on COIt-Breaking. {
Wbop IN EantpoEv la-t u-oat .vo 4