Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-14
IN SUNNY CASTLE.
Lot of a Spanish Girl from th0
 Cradle to the Altar.
Social Customs in the PeninsuIA-Baby'G Ears Must Be Pierced Before Chris teninE-wooing Under Difficulties
 Early Betrothals.


 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 pair of tiny earrings, a present from the godmother. This takes place when the nina (girD is but day or two old, and is the first link whereon a long chain of coquettishness 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 the little thing is nsver bathed, only slightly washed, what one might call "a lick and promise" Nothing can well be more hideous to behold than a true-born Span ish baby wrapped in it's swaddling- clothes and with an ugly cap tied on it's head.
 About week after the child is born it is carried to tho church to be ;hristened. 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 at the font by the godmother while the
  cross with oil on the back of its neck, and for the first and-such is the horror of the Spaniard for water-the last time n its life pours cold water on it's head.
 For 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 spells O rol lnfa hor 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, tine 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 lp beyond midnight when but five or six years old.
 At eight years old she goes to school in the daytime or is put into a convent, where she is taught little beyond sew ing and embroidery. She embroiders, however, beautifully.
 At ten she takes her first communion, but without possessing the slightest no- tion of the meaning of the ceremony. OOSdS4SAA Is the white dress she has on, and in which she is photographed. Already at that early age she goes to the theater; she sits in her mothers drawing-room, listens to all sorts of conversation, even gives her own opinion. This makes her wise little woman indeed.
 At thirteen her education is supposed to be completed. She is put into long dresses and her hair elaborately done up. The novis, or sweetheart, then ap- pears on the scene. It is generally an unknown young man with incipient mustacne. He walks up and down un- der the balcony twice a day regularly on his way to the university. On Sun 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. He takes stall whenever his belle goes to the theater with her parents, and sits the 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 is eighteen the real fiance appears. He is either intro duced to her at a 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 never left alone. Every evening the young man comes to see his novia. She can not go anywhere without his being invited also. At a ball or party, in spite of all the rules of politeness, they sit spooning apart, and look for all the world as foolish as possible. The mother of the young girl has constantly to remain by or to walk out with them. How intensely bored she must be may be easily guessed, es- pecially when this state of things goes on, as it often does, for years.
 The betrothal of Spanish girl takes place only short time before the we'd ding. The father, mother or nearest relative of the wooer calls upon the girls parents and asks them to give her in marriage. If they are wealthy people and the happy owners of a carriage they drive to the house in great pomp. At first the young lady does not put in an appearance. and on this particular occa- s1on ret1reS modestly to her room until sent for, when the relatives of her fut- ure husband hand her bracelet in his name. This takes the place of the En- glish engagement ring; it is usually a gold band with diamond inserted, and the initials of the happy young people engraved inside. From that day the young man can freely enter the house and preparations for the wedding are in order. These are soon hurried through. First an elaborate trousseau, or brides outfit, containing many dozens of ob- jects, is sent to the young woman The things that go to make up this trousseau are without chic, without daintiness, and as unlike as possible what French mother would take pride in giving her daughter.
 Retired On Her Lau-,es.
 Mme. Rosa Ronheur lives in her chalet of By, at Thomery, near Fontaineb1aau