The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-17
SPANISH LIFE.

HOW THEY SPEND TIE DAY AND NIGHT.
You cannot think how entirely different
Spanish domestic life is rom what it is in
England, nor would you credit it were to
teal you how rough and rude is the life of
the lower-how ephemerab and purposeless
the pursuits of the higher classes. Let us
take glimpse of family life in the middle
class. The Spanish houses are built chiefly
of the hard but porous sander iron stone,
qua rTies 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 v2ied from SO
to 9IT throughout the summer-nO carpets
seemed 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 sail just as do
the inmates of the house. Iihsve often been
taking Z" refresco " with the senior and his
sposa in the hall, and we have had to move
the little table to let the servant and his
mules pass through Every oeOrning the
creada," or spanish maid servant, takes
her watering-pot, and carefully lays the
dust, and cools the room with aGF abundant
spriEkling of aqua fresca. At early morn
the master rises, and his little esp of choco-
lat, an egg, and slice of melon await him
in the sala, or large sitting En-
glish eyes most c0mfOrtleSs place (; very
large;. stone tagged, with a, few massive
chairs walls painted in the rud est way, and
one large table in the midst. The rooms,
owing to the heat, are always Eept darkened
by means of closed shutters throughout the
day some OF the windows hays glass, some
not but all are strongly protected, without
exception, by strong cage of massive IRON
work OUTSIDE.
THE SONORA
has her ehoeolatl in her bed roon, at the
open, window, enjoying the fresh morning
breeze. all the Spani ards rise as rule at
five orisix in the summer to enjoy the only
enjoyable time of the summs7-day at one
O'Clock they have dinner-the- onlida-and
after that follows the two hears siesta in a
darkened room. Evening then draws on,
the delicious night breeze rises and blows
Trashy from the hills, and the ladies go out
in. groups to the alemedo for the passao, er
walk. Szch Is the spanish 1hdy's day. She
has, however, her creadas 10 look after
andj above all, her dresses to make or SUI
perihtena, and her gracefuiim antilla to ar
| sange. 1t II quite striking sight to pass
down the streets from six to eight at night,
and SEQ the graceful carriage OF the head,
and the. stately upright wslG of the spanish
ladies, with their long white dresses trail
ling behind them in cloud of dust hov
they manage to walk oSer the rough, I'M
paved uneven streets witho0t trip is .
mystery. At about ten al retire to rest 10
rise np. refreshed for anothereventful day.
AS regards the master of tine house, he
really seems to have but enc interest in lie,
and that is, politics. He may ride ont to
view his olive farm, or has mine !; and you
wiz certainly meet him in his shop, his ca
sin0, or his friends casa, smoking the inevi-
table eigarillo, and ebstting, or making a
bargain. But there is absolutely no read
ing of any sort, not even book of the cali
bre of a three-volume novel. Politics, poll
sics are everything 70 him and of politics he
seems never to tire. McmaLidR's Magazine.