The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-12-11
IN SUNNY CASTLE.
Lot Of a Spanish Girl from tho
Cradle to the Altar.

Lot Of a Spanish Girl from tho
Cradle to the Altar.
Social Customs in the Peninsa'a-Baby's
Ears Must BE Pierced Before Chris.
tenins-WOoing Under Difficulties
EARLY Betrothals.
When girl is born in Spain, writes
. correspondent of the New York Star
from Cadiz, Spain, the first thing done,
even before the christening, is to bore
holes in her ears and to put in them q
pair Of tiny ear-rings, a present from
the godmother. This takes place when
the nina tgirD is but a day or two old,
and is the first link whereon a long
chain of coqaettishness and the love Of
fnery are built. The cradle and robes
OF the baby are adorned with pink bows.
Except in families that have adopted
foreign notions and habits tho little
thing is nsver bathed, only slightly
washed. wha. one might call "a lick and
promise" Nothing can we'll be more
hideous to behold than true-born Span
ish baby wrapped in its swaddling-
clothes and with an ugly cap tied on its
head.
About a week after the child is born
1t is carried to the church to be
christened. A girl is often given as
many as eight or nine names, and some
of them sound funny when translated
into English, such as Concha, shell;
Annunciation. Trinity or Dolores
which means pains" The babe is held
ut the font by the godmother while the
priest puts salt on its lips, makes
cross with oil on the back of its neck,
and for the first and-suoh is the horror
of the Spaniard for water-the last time
in its life pours cold water on its head.
For a year, or even two years, the
little girl is handed over to her anna, or
wet nurse, usually low, vulgar peas
ant woman, who teaches her to speak
loudly, to cry for every thing, and spoils
her more completely than oven her own
mother might have done. These bad
habits, SO early inculcated, never fail to
cling to her through life. When, at last,
the nurse is dismissed, the child does
just what she likes. She dimes at table
and eats Of every dish. Her only play
mates are the servants, and she never
goes to bed until she chooses. have
seen little girls at my friends houses sit
up beyond midnight when but tfive or six
years old.
At eight years old she goes to school
In the daytime, or is put into convent,
where she is taught little beyond sew
ing and embroidery. She cmbroiders,
however, beautifully.
At ten she takes her first communion,
but without possessing tho slightest no
tion Of the meaning of tho ceremony.
On that occasion her sole preoccupation
is the white dress she has on, and in
which she is photographed. Already at
that early age she goes to the thcater;
she sits in her mothers drawing-room,
listens to all sorts Of conversation, even
gives her own opinion. This makes her
g wise little woman indeed.
At thirteen her education is supposed
to be completed. She is put into long
dresses and her hair elsborately done
mp. The novis, or sweetheart, then ap-
pears on the scene. 1t is generally an
unknown young man with incipient
mustache. He walks up and down un-
der the balcony twice day regularly
on his way to the university. On Sum
days he follows her to church or struts
behind her in the paseos, happy at a
glance given him now and then behind
mammals back. Billet doux are thrown
to him from the balcony, . piece Of
string let down brings up an answer.
BE takes stall whenever his belle |
goes to the theater with her parents,
and sits tho whole evening with his |
eyes riveted on her face. OF course, this |
first love always ends in quarrel; the
young man goes Of and Is soon replaced |
by another.
When the young lady ia eighteen the
real fance appears. He Is either intro
duecd TO her at party or brought to the
house by friend OF the family. For
years, sometimes, an engagement takes
no definite turn, and the Spanish court
ship Is unlike that in any other country. |
The young people are mover left alone.
Every evening the young man comes to
see his noyia. She can not go anywhere
without his being invited also. At
ball or party, in spite OF all the rules
Of politcness, they cit spooning apart,
and look for all the world as foolish as
possible. The mother OF tho young girl
has constantly to remain by or to walk
out with them. How intensely bored
she must be may bo easily guessed, cs-
pecially when this state OF things goes
on, as IT often docs. for years.
The bctrotbal OF Spanish girl takos
place only short time before the we'd
ding. The father, mother or nearest
relative OF the woocr calls upon the
girls parents and asks them TO givo her
In marriage. II they arc wealthy people
snd the happy owners Of carriage they
drive 10 tho house In great pomp At
frst tho young lady does not put In an
appearance. and on this particular occa-
sion retires modestly 10 her room until
sent for, whom the relatives OF her fut
ure husband hand her o bracelet In his
aame. This takes tho place OF the En-
glish engagement ring, 1t IL usually q
gold band with diamond inserted, and
tho initials OF tho happy young people
engraved inside, From that day Tho
young man can freely enter the house
and preparations for the wedding are IN
order. These are eooa hurried through.
First an elaborate tr0ussesu, or bride's
outfit, containing many dozens OF ob-
,eets, Ia sent 10 the young woman. The
things that 20 10 make W this tfousseau
aPs without chic. without daiHtiness,
and Gs unlike ~ possible what 4 French
m0thf' take pride IN giving ber
daug