The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-18
A Glimpse Of Lisbon.


We floated this morning down the
Tagus, the glittering panorama of the
city unfolding before us. Its houses,
built of creamy, marble-like stone, ter
raced the hill-sides, forming a stately
staircase, down which Lisbon stepped
as queen to the waters edge. We
could not dispute her claim; whatever
city may be ranked first for beauty of
situation, Lisbon can be classed no low
.er than second among all the cities of
the globe. It's wonderful atmosphere
bathed all with a golden glamour. The
tiled fronts of the houses, which, seen
nearer, suggest patchwork bedquilts
hung out to air, flashed back the sun
shine from their glazed surface like so
many gems; dome and cupola, church
tower and palace facade, outlined them
selves in graceful profile against the sky,
as exquisite as poets dream, and as
unreal as some prehistoric legend.
A nearer view of Lisbon streets, while
it dspels in certain degree the vision
like enchantment of the distant picture,
brings out details of never-ceasing inter-
est. We spend our days in long walks
and drives up and down mountainous
streets, that wind and climb, criss-cross,
angle, and lose themselves in labyrinth
inc tangles, blind alleys, or pleasant
squares. We wonder alike at the BIZ
zarre costumes of the lower classes, and
the similarity to American-or rather
Parisian-styles displayed by the more
well-to-do. We saunter along the
quays, and study fishermen and Gale
gos. We look up at the balconies draped
with bright rug or gay shawl, at the
party-colored awnings and windows,
where beautiful face shows against a
dark background like a Rembrantesque
portrait. We scan the attractive win
dows of the goldsmith's shop in the Rue
Aurea, or jingle along in the Americana,
as they christen the open street-car,
through the Broadway of the city,
which leads to the Belem suburb.
The people live much upon
che street, and it is here
that they are TO be studied to the best
advantage. The houses of the poor
open to it, and we have full view of
the home life from the narrow sidewalk.
In the more elegant quarters the vista
ria droops in purple festoons over the
balustrades which edge the roof, while
spots of rosy pink or vivid scarlet tell Of
blOssoming oleanders or cacti, for the
roof of one row of houses often forms its
own garden, or that of the houses upor
the next terrace. These hanging gar
dens reminded the eccentric Rockford
of places of interment, "as if the de
ceased inhabitants of the palace were
sprouting up in the shape of prickly
pears, Indian figs, gaudy hollyhocks
and peppery capsicums.
Here and there roofs of red semi
cylindrical tiles projected over tn,
house fronts, suggesting the fluted fril
of an old lady's cap. Everywhere Their
was sparkling color and dazzling light
Sometimes the tiles on the fronts of tn
houses formed mosaics of gigantic
figures, vases of flowers, and baskets o
fruits; now and then, above some rust
lantern, which in Southey's time serve,
the double purpose of illuminating tn
streets and burning in honor of tn
sacred pictures above them, the tile
shaped themselves into Madonnas, mai
tyrs in flames, and saints in glory
circumstance which called from tn
merry poet the boas-1got, "These saint