Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-02
MADRID STREETS AT NIGHT.
MADKID SNEEIS All NIGHl.
'lnt-
The Dons Do Their Sleeping In the
DAY Time.
o.
BEAUTIFUL LADIES OF SPAIN.
/ ut
N 80
They Are Seen at Their Best on the
Lovely Prbmenades of the
Prado2 living in the
5 Past.
BEAUTIFUL, LADIES OF SPAIN
Like n Poets Dream.

says the CORRESPONDENT of q New York
paper. Lying at an elevation OF about
twenty-five hundred feet above the level
of the sea and in the neighborhood Of a
range of mountains which, even in sum-
mer, are crowned with snow, the capital
of Spain is partly encircled by the ro-
mantle Manzanare which flows close to
the city walls.
Madrid is rapidly divesting itself OF
its Moorish character and three-fourths
of the city have already assumed an
especially true OF the heart of the
''cindad," the square known as "Puerta
de SOL" where ten streets and all the
tramway lines meet. and whence they
diverge in different directions like so
many arteries. The Importance OF this
square lies in the fact that it is the
heart OF Madrid and the center OF its
traffic. Here are situated the principal
government buildings, hotels, restau
rants and cafes. 1t Is here that Mad
rilenians and extranjeras rendezvous to
gossip, and politicians congregate to
discuss and settle the affairs of the ma
tion. The restaurants and cafes are
very large, but not so elegant as those of
either Paris, Berlin, Wien or Roma, nor
is the coffee as good but the chocolate
and sherbet are most delicious. There
are no newspapers at the disposal of the
customers of these different places of
resort, but any one can buy the local
sheets at the door, where there is gen.
orally small newsstand. Most of the
Spanish dailes sell at cent, but they
contain very little of interest to for
eigners. All classes meet in these res
taurants and cafes on equal terms. The
peasant, the shoeblack and tho scaven-
ger think they have as much claim to
the title OF caballeros as the politician,
the dude and the officer. In these places
Of public resort prevails a curious Gus
tom, which may be an old relic of Moor
ish days in Spain-guests call the atten-
tiOn of the walters by clapping their
hands or whistling, as one does when
calling dog.
But the "dons" have more than one
popularity, and old habits have taken
such a strong hold of the people that
it is next to impossible to eradicate
them. Indeed, ith seems to me that the
Pyrenees are to the Spaniards what
the great walls of China are to the Chi
nese, a bulwark behind which people
entrench themselves and resist innova-
tions Spain Is fully 100 years behind
any other European country. Worse
than Russia, where the eighteenth CEN
tury belongs itselfI for Spain's 100 years
Of backwardness are grated IN three
dark centuries. 5Three-fourths of the
people can neither read nor write as
yet, but are well satisfied SO long as
bull fights and other barbarous institu-
tions are kept up.
Generally Speaking Madrilenians
sleep in the day time and move about at
night. Indeed. the streets of the city
are well-nigh deserted from 10 a. m.
till 6 or o'clock in the evening,
when every one hastens to the Prado,
the great public promenade of Mad
rid, to enjoy the cool and fragrant
breezes and stroll about through the
spacious park and lovely gardens. The
procession to the Prado is a bit of gen.
uine Spanish local color in cosmopolitan
Madrid. Many either ride or drive,
and no other city in the world can turn
out so many teams of Andalusian horses
as proud and as graceful as their mas
ters and mistresSes. The Prado, at full
promenade time, and especially the
evenings of Sundays and holy days, pre-
sents an animated and most interesting
scene. How gracefully the senors and
senoritas tlutter along the gay parterre,
diversified costumes sprout out in every
direction to divert and do homage to
them. Here assemble the beauties of
every part OF Spain, and in no other
country in the world can there be seen
brighter display of female lovlines
than Of the Prado of Madrid.
Although the French fashionable
bonnets are gradually invading Spain
and becoming much in vogue among the
.,l. a 1. Il
tune, the mantilla, is still predominant
ing. 1t is worn and arranged with
natural grace which enchants the be-
holder. a Spanish lady seems always
to have some little matter to ad just
which sets Off to advantage the quiet
elegance of her department. The man
tilla is drawn little moro forward or
gently moved little less; 1T is crossed
in front or uncrossed, and through it's
transparent network of blonde lace are
seen the lovely head and beautiful
giant contour. These mantillas are both
white and black, but the latter are, to
my taste, the most becoming.
And the abanico! the fan! Oh, what
magic there is in that little zephyr
coaxing telegraph! Folded and un-
folded with "a careless ease which none
but Spanish women can display moved
quickly in recognition OF passing
friend, elevated, opened over the head
to frame it, SO to speak, the fan plays an
important and most attractive part in
the hand of Spanish lady. During
the delightful summer nights, when the
moon sheds her pure light around, the
Prado presents the most romantic pic
ture. Canopied BY the blue vault of
heaven, with all Its bright spangles,
many a love tale is there told
and listened to with favor. In
the PradO is7c Assembled nightly
the cream lJiof the society OF
Madrid, and it may be said with truth
that there Is IL sociability on this beau
tiful promenade that does not exist in
places of analogous resorts in larger
metropolitan cities Individuals and
families are knownto each other, there
is a succession ID saiutations and greet
ings, and to a leolser-on it sec ms as if
the promenaderstM tMere vast lines of
family or friendly connections. The
botanical and public gardens, called
''las delicias," which adjoin the Prado,
add greatly to the beauty OF this lovely
promenade.
ba ,ny,I ,,ala ,uh; ob TO nna ~ tho