Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-02-13

Il mother who is widow, or who has
no settled home with her husband, and
is for this cause obliged to 60 out to
service to earn her bread, the maiden
will probably be with her mother, and,
receiving little or no wages, take an idle
share in the household duties, and re-
ceive each evening-of course in her
madre's presence-the visits of her low
er. Most of these girls have their lover,
who, after his days work is over, saun-
ters idly, cigarillo in hand, into the
kitchen which contains his lsldra,
Maria, or Isabela-for these girls have
very fine names-and performs his
courting. The mothers watchful eye
and ear are ever open, and the mother
herself ever at hand. AS to saying a
single word, or, at least, having walk
or good English "chat" alone, the
young couple never even dream of such
Il thing. To so great an extent is this
system of motherly surveillance car
ried, that should you call the mother
away for few minutes, she will not
leave the young couple alone, but will
order the young man to 60 ont for some
tritllng article, or call the daughter to
her side, that they may not have a pri
vate talk.
This seems strange, unnatural, and
unneeded. The mother, during this
period, treats her daughter quite like
a child. If she does wrong-no mat
ter though she be on the very eve of
marriage-the mother administers a
sound beating with her fists, and some
times even q sound kicking. Upon
my word, said 4 pretty Spanish maid
en- thus situated, to me, Il really begin
to think my mother is bad old wo-
man for beating me so." The Spanish
mother has no idea Of trusting her
daughters; nor do they ever attempt
the Least religious or moral culture
Their system is to prevent any impro-
priety simply By external precautions.
And | must say that the majority of
poor girls. when led to the altar, would
present marked contrast in purity to
an equal number of our English agri-
cultural lahnrers' daughters. In Spain
the daughters parity is the mothers
highest pride. Mother and daughter,
though constantly quarrelling, and
even coming to blows, are very fond of
each other; and the old woman, when
they go ont shopping together, will
carry the heavy basket, or costa, under
the burning sun, that she may not spoil
her daughters queenly walk: her dull
eye, too, will grow moist with a tear,
and her worn face will kindle with alb
solute softness if an English senior ex-
press his admiration of her child's mag
niticent hair, or flashing black eyes
The poor old mother, too, will save and
save: she will deny herself her morsel
Of "carne." or meat, and her little
'copa" of wine, on feaSt-days (and
] these poor creatures luxuries are few
indeed at best) that she may buy ring
or earrings of gold, TO grace her daugh-
ter ut the "Feria,' and shame her RI
walls.
The moment, however, that the
daughter is married all this is at an
end. The mother, to use vulgar, but
very expressive phrase, washes her
hands of" her care From the mo-
ment of the completion ofthe marriage
ceremony. the mother declines all re-
sponsibility, seldom goes to her daugh-
ter's house, and treats her almost us a
stranger.
Among the higher classes, although
different in kind, the treatment of the
Young unmarried maiden is almost as
strict. She, too, like her humber sis
ter, can never have the privilege of see
ing her lover in private, and very rare
lv, indeed, if ever, is he admitted into
the sala where she is sitting. He may
contrive to get few minutes chat
J with her through the barred windows
of her sala; but when Spaniard leads
his wife from the altar, he knows no
more of her character, attainments, and
disposition than does the priest who
marries them, and perhaps not so
: much. Happiness under such circum-
stances can hardly be expected as a
: rule, and yet the married life of the
J Spaniard, if not brilliantly happy,
) seems at least calmly peaceful. The
Z pleasures of husband and wife lie in
different directions, and each leaves the
) other free to follow out and enjoy them,
as he or she best can. They are not
much together again, and in sunny
4lo,,o 81 ~ Grna,Jo r,4lo,,,or