Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-09

u =
in the system of EDUCATION which has
been pursued in reference to them For
tunately, it does not last long.
The Lower Glasses i'm Spain.
| From Macmilan's Magazine.
The dress of the lower classes 10 very
varied and picturesque. The women
weer short skirt of some gaudy color,
especially gaudy on holidays red
yellow, or snow-white handkerchief over
their head which forms their only pro-
lection (save their magnifceutly thick
tresses of bound up hair) against the
burning, almost tropical sun. Generally
they have small, well formed feet and
hands, on the latter of which one or two
massive brass or silver rings are seen
on some of these have noticed the
simple word, Recibiardo," (received);
on others, No me olbides," forget me
not) while others again wear ring
with the image of the saint on whose day
they were born. These rings can be
bought at the various "ferias," or an
nual fairs, for sums varying from two
pence up to two shillings. The dress of
the men consists of colored shirt, a
short Jacket, and a pair of coarse,
woolen trousers They dc net wear
boots, as a general rule, but sandals
bound with string round the ankle these
sandals are of unbleached leather.
Many of the women wear sandals of
esparato grass, costing about four pence;
many, again, are barefoot. There are,
however two articles OF dress without
which no man toilet is complete-the
manta, or rug, used at home to sleep
in, and as a covering from rain, or a
bed when on journey; and the faja,
or waist belt, pronounced facca,' This
last is wholly indispensable; a mule
tesE, gardener, miner, or brlcklayer,
would gladly do hia york without his
sombrero or thick felt pork pie hat,
but without his fsja it were useless
to expect it. Let me describe this ne.
cesssry article of clothing. 1t is long
piece of very thin cloth, in length about
eight feet. in width about nine
inches; in color always bright scar
let, black or crimson. One end
is tucked into the trousers Just at
the waist, it is then wound round and
rcrnd the waist tightly, forming an elias
tic bandsgc about nine or ten lnches
wide. the remaining s5ge is then tuckedd Z
in tightly. and then the faja is cop'I
pists. The support of this TO the back,
loins, aud abdomen is marvellous ana
whether your calling force yon to walk,
ride, lift, sit upright, or dig, 1t is equally
comfort. Once get used to it, and you
cannot dispense with it. The cheapest
Of these gosta abopt four pesetas "a pc
seta is equal TO ten peHeei, a1f 2 SILK
one about four dollars. These are wofn
in many cases by the better classes also.
Nor is is;s the only use of the "iaja.
IL serves as the belt isg the revolver and
knife, which are 6asriedsby every SpGn,
lard. Why do you carry sniief !
asked Of very intelligent Spuniard,
and the answer Vas very significant
one. IL do not know whom may
little purse is kept concealed. The
poorer class of Spaniards carry the
whole Of their worldly goods about
With them; the richer keep all their
wealth concealed about the house. In
The towns of the interior no one makes
use OF q bank; if you ask the reason
and remind them that they lose interest,
a Spanish gentleman will say, e Yes,
bat that is better than to lose the prIn-
cipal. Their fare is the very simplest,
Bread and fruit, and fruit and bread,
With now and then. for the men, q
"oopa lwineglass) Of Val de penas 1.-THE
rough red vine of the country, is the
staple of their sustenance. The only
thing about which the Spaniards high
aud low, are really particular, is their
water. In country where the women
drink nothing but aqua (water) from
year end to years end and the men
little else, it is quite necessary to have
that little good; and good il is, in all
casss. Go into the poorest hut, only
tenanted By fsv yood-cutters or itin-
Grant miners, and ask for cup Of
water, and the little "jarro, or
so-ods four-mouthed water jar. will
be unlocked from the peg where
it hangs in the san, and you viii
have drink Of the purest coolest
water. from the choicest spring-waier |
perhaps brought from a distance Of
three miles by the waier-carrier. Only. ,