The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-02-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
PLACEMENTS FROM THE sOUTH.
Namber r We.

/
and repose with desire to follow natures sugges-
tiop. The gentry indulge in their siesta. The la
boring class is ignorant of the luxury On that par
! ticular bright morning welltraveled macadam
road lay before u.s. with the friendly shade of i'm
| mease beech, chestnut. sweet gum, sour gum. and
many other beautiful trees natives of that country
with frequent gmpses of pallatial homes. grand old
orchards loaded with fruit and wide spreading cot
ton fields extending in every direction Occasion
| alIy we were refreshed by the odor of magnolias
growing near the roadside. These pleasant sur
| roundings were rendered pleasing by the
knowledge of a wellfIled dinner basket. the con
tents Of which to be enjoyed under spread
ing chestnut tree, in Spanish settlement of much
fame In fact, it had been hinted that We were TO
sojourn in Spain for distance Of i've or six miles.
so rigidly had the natives adhered to the customs
and manners of their country. thought the sun
shone upon that particular heritage with yellower
tone. On the roadside a shrine-a large white
| wooden cro.s-before which stood Spaniard per
| forming his prisons TO the Virgin. His stsed was
| brow sing by the roadside apparently accustomed
| TO the devotions of his rider. long brown cloak
\ falls gracefully from his shoulders The wide
| brimmed hat lay earelessly grass at his feet.
| The dark raven locks pushed back from the
| face, falling abundantly over the shoulders and
| displaying the rich tone Of the complexion He
knelt and picked up his hat with the sign OF the
cross turned away addressed his horse in Spanish,
/ who walked right up TO him. then swung himself in
| the saddle, and away with himself and my
thoughts spent a short time in weaving pleas
antries with the cavalier before the shrine. and was
aroused from my reverie by halt under the chest
nut trees where we were to refresh ourselves with
the good things in the basket. glance at my sar-
rsundings made stale its contents Ours n
4 Loo lafa1 MAJ tert.
the Spanish language, which was a passport sniff
Gent in Spain to admit general acceptance. a half
dozen rude buts constituted the homes of the vii
| layers Under grcup Of trees Spaniards
| playing cards A blunderbuss or two lay upon the
| grass-things had n war-like appearance Before n
hut under the shade OF spreading tree, some chill
dren in bare feet and loose garments were ganibol
| ing and frisking with famished dog. An old man.
withered by age, leaned against the body, shaking
n gourl and counting beads in turns maiden
appeared around the corner with water jar on her
head. She was dressed in gorgeous robe. which
contrastea strangely with her beauty. Bows of
brilliant beads around her neck. a bright rib
hon tied some wild flowers On her jetty hair. After
discovering u.s. she retreated. and closed the door
shutting from our view picture We lonEed to look
upon Not far from this an old but beautiful
church. built on the hillside by u relative Of Cortcz
who sought this retreat to worship in peace and
safety II was constructed in conica form, tower
| ing high in air. and surmounted with Immense
stone cross whose long, bare arms seemed ever pro
nouneing divine benedictinn. Small square win
dows built irrcguarly the side and dome. adj
mitted the genial rays of the sun. The walls were
feet of solid masonry. with every point OF stone
lying outward The early devotee hal not tools to
dress the stone with and built it, designing the r
terror walls smooth possible. Nature had
dressed that chapel in evergreen ivy, fesooning
every window and covering the cold. rough points
of stoae making il more beautiful than the bright
est dream Of art In my memory ! have conseera-
ted a spot whereon stands that church, never to be
usurped by other 1t was approached by
broad stone steps which led into sort of vestilnlc
where was erected in tinted plaster another shrine
representing the Virgin Mary seated a cushion,
meditating. A loose robe in scarlet and gilt fell
from the shoulders, displaying perfect arm and
hand. AT her side open Bible On stool.
She had read therein how it became the virgins to
fine garments for the priests, and held in an
extended hand distat filled with fine thread. The
features ethereal. with the pure expression of
an infant gszed upon that voiceless image until
IL became vital. feeling Of reverence and tran
guiIlity possessed me. could have knelt before
that shrine in alteration, and think better under
stand the pety of that church. since visit To that
chapel followed the example Of the guide. and
passed into large circular room, around which was
a row Of heavy seats. The walls were in state of
decay ard ruin The floor was six feet of solid
stone work. The air damp and chill The rays
Of Southern sun fell aslant through the ivied win
dow on the worn black garments of a monk. chant
ing in low tones before the altar. The wax candles
burned with a Pickering light while from the arch
above hung the incense lamp of holiness. The last
tones died away; the kneeling figure arose. extn-
gushed the lights, and passed ont. bebeld the
face Of one in the meridian of life. My thoughts
fastened upon the dark youth. pictured him as
forced to this isolated life-a great wrong had been
done him. ] thought of him sacrifice offered by
n bigoted father ihirsting for religions glory. |
dwelt for some time with injured thought on what
had passed before But imagine my feelings,
when was informed that the dark handsome youth
had gone into seelusion Of his good WILL and
was bitterly opposed by friends and parents. IL
was some time beforr could get over the injury
done by this unexpected turn. contrary TO my
romantic thoughts began looking about me for
something to vent my spleen upon, when my
thoughts turned upon the dinnerbasket. which
proved the most satisfying object, at that time.
Scarcely had the meal begun, when there appeared
upon the scene a Spaniard, with guitar in hand, !
picking roundeay ditty accompaniment !
to our feast. This unexpected piece of galiantry |
rewarded with shining piece Of silver by the |
Spanish student If quartette. While thus pass
ing the time my attention again directed I"
the church, where, the extreme top. lean Span
lard sat maIguvering three fishing rods rs |
if angling for the stars inquired the meaning Of
the singular behavior IL seemed the airy situation
rendered the chapel dome fit breeding place for |
myriads of swallows, who sport about it, top Ike |
urrhin-' feet just of school The idle fellow
His good-fornothing ingenuity had led him to in
vent the Of angling in the skies. was at loss
to know how be had gained his dizzy seat lie had |
walked up stepping from one bold point another. /
going around as he assembled. On witnessing his /
decent fully expected his body would be torn in /
pieces on the sharp pointed stone, hut he reached
the ground in safety. I was particularly struck |
wits the fine proportions Of the true SPaniar'l. and
his utter contemp. for feminine appearances. lie |
stands six full with colossal shoulders, erect
an Indian lie will salute you with air of high |
breeding. and swing himself away IN a manner that |
sets you TO wondering. Awkwarlness is no part Of |
his composition. He understands the art Of living
nothing. and doing nothing. Give him the sun /
in winter the shade in summer. little bread and /
garlic OIL an old brown cloak, and guitar, and LET
the world roll as it will Talk Of poverty! with |
him it ia luxury. Like his ragged cloak, it sits
when in rags. The most ignorant true spaniard |
will. from his general bearing. command the re-
speci Of any scholar. What climate and nature |
have not done for him, is not worth his seeking.
With longing to return, parted from my lovely |
and romantic surroundings, dreaming of Spain and |
Spanish life, until reached welltravelled noun
tain pass. which, If taken, would shorten our jour
ney many miles. was much pleased With this I'M
expected turn in road had longed to throw
myself against those solemnly grand uPhearals Of
nature. which had 80 flled me with awe and rever-
enee. and wrench from their rugged cliffs memen-
to of themselves. Walls Of cold gray stone turned
their checks to the warming sun, and frovned |
threateningiy down ! feared the stay Of bird |
might loosen them from their dizzy height and huri
them destruetively upon u.s. Neither Thor nor
Jupiter" could tear them from their adamantine
beds. glanced Mt my surroundings, and set my
tn MI should he done m tray