The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-24

SPANISH LrFE.-You cannot think how
different Spanish domestic life is from
what it is 10 England, nor would YOU cred.
it it we're | to tell yo1 how rough and
rude Is the lower, how ephcmcral aud
purpo,oless the pursuits Of the higher
classes. Let u| take glimpse of ianiI,
iIc in the middle class. The Spanish
houses are built chiefly Of the hard hui
porous saud or iron.stope. quarries oi
which abound in the interior they have
some ten Or twelve rooms, all Of which
are paved with stone. or large tiles. for
III this country of dust aud burning heat
the thermometer has varied from 81
deg. to 95 deg. throughout the summer
no carpets seemed to be used, save just
in one room, in the heart of the winter.
The stable is IA; the back of the house,
aud horses, mules aud carriages all pas,
through the hall just as do the iumate,
OF the house. have often been taking
II "reiresco" with the senor and his sposa
in the hall, aud We have had to move the
little table to let tho servant aud BIZ.
mules pass through Every morning,the
"creda," or Spanish maid servant, takes
her watering pot, and carefully lays the
dust, ard cooIs the room with aD abun.
dant spriukliog Of aqua fresca, AT carly
morn the master rises, and his little cup
OF chocolate, an egg aud slice Of melou
await him in the sala. or large sitting
room-to English eyes most comfortess
place; very large, stone tagged, with a
few massive chairs, walls painted in the
rudcst way, aud one large table in the
midst. The rooms, owing to the heat,
are always kept darkened by means oi
closed shutters throughout the day; some
Of the windows have glass, some not but
all are strongly protected, without excep-
tiou, by stroug cage Of massive iron
work outside Tho sonora has her choo
olati in her bed.room,at the open window,
enjoying the fresh morning breeze. All
the Spanisrds rise as rule at 5 or 6 in
the summer to enjoy the only enjoyable
time Of the summer day: at l o'clock
they bave dnner-the comiea-and after
that follows the two hours siesta in a
darkened room. Evening then draws on,
the delicious 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,however,her creadas
to look after and, above all, her dresses
to make or superinieud, aud her graceful
mautilla to arrange. 1t is quite strik.
ing sight to pass down the streets from G
to < at night, and see tho graceful car.
riage Of the head, and the stately upright
walk OF the Spanish ladies', with theii
long white dresses trailing behind them
III cl' I'D of dust; how they manage to
walk over the rough, unpavcd. uneven
streets without trip is a mystery. Al
about 10 all retire to rest, to rise up re-
lreshed for another cventiul day. A,
regards the master oi the house, he real
ly seems to have but Que interest 10 life
aud that is politics. He may ride out t,
view his olive farm. or bis m.ne auc
you will certainly meet him in his shop
his casiuo. or his ircuds casa. smoking
he inevitable cigarllo, aud chatting o.
making bargain But there is abso
iulely no reading Of any sort. not even i
book of the callber Of u three. volum,
novel. Politics, politics, are everything
TO him, and OF politics he never seems t,
tire.'-T MacmilIan's Magazine.