Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-17

good for more than another half a Thousand.
Tho walls Of tho. structure were uapa-
bic OF withstanding siege; and the alcobas
or tiny sleeping rooms were no larger than
prisoners cells OF modest size. Indeed the
prison effect was enhanced by the riveted
and bolted doors OF chestnut, six inches
thick, In which were iron latticed ~gratings
Win little slides Oshind; while where win
dows should have been were only tiny grated
holes splayed outwardly through the huge
stone wall,
No monks coli could have been more Sc
cure or ~austere, and Dobrado told me that
this sort OF n structure was greatly In favor
In the time OF such grand robbers as Giraldo,
OF Alfonso Henrique's time, who often Sc
cured large booty at less defensib,e inns,
when aDbots, friars or merchants were tray
cling with treasure. She belongings of my
odd room comprised u huge pewter wash
basin set upon tho floor. a coarse linen towel
ample enough for a toga in lieu Of other gar
me rs, one chair or stool constructed of raw
hide thongs stretched over u hollow frame
work, n bed OF four legs set into a huge frame
with slaves bound across the thongs, on
which were a shnpeless sack OF sweet corn
husks and wooden blankets handwoven by
the peasant women Of the district {. while Mt
the head of the bed, hanging from an iron
spike imbedded in the stone wall, was a little
pewter crucifix.
Picture of Medieval Ouaintness.
When morning came I found the interior,
tho pateo or court of the old inn, most odd
and charming. All sorts of quaint utensils
ana furniture were scattered along its sides.
a narrow gallery ran around the entire Sec
ond story. with here and there q bird In a
cage and a semi-tropical plant. On one OF
It's sides some pretty vines crept up against
inc Old walls In a %vagrant, Injurious way,
wnllo the roof of half-round tiles extended
a distance over the galleries, leaving a gem
erous opening to the sky above. phe whole
interior, while a picture of medieval quaint
ness, was a structural compromise between
| IN ln1aI nhNIaa 81 --sl - IA II
lovely half garden house court of the tropics;
a suggestion of snugness and protection
from whistling winds, and rs true n tribute
10 zephyrous airs and u genial sky and sun.
But opposite my chamber, along the
shadowy end Of the court was the surest
sign OF equable cline and summary days.
mat was my breakfast cooking in the open
air-not upon a stove nor in a fire place, nor
yet by any OF the ruder devices our Ameri-
can knew. Heavy fiat stones
furnished a sort of raised rocky dais as high
as the knees of an ancient senhora who was
pushing about the court. On this dais furze
iagots were burning in two tiny fires no
bigger than your fists. Above one of these
on a triangular piece of iron something was
grllllng. Above the other in a copper pot
held there from q big distance by a long
wooden pike beneath its bale or handle, some
sning was stewing. Between bars and
bust and hips, with arms akimbo ana
hands pressing against the sides Of her
scarlet bodice, converted herself into a
human olowpipe, feeding the fame of furze
with such blasts from her powerful lungs as
would for the time completely hide the two
females in q kind of volcanic shower of
ashes. the volumes of smoke swirliug away
toward the clouds through the ever open roof
OF the court. Thus for an hour came song
and smoke and
Strange DissoIving Views
views OF cookery, women aud fire. whom I
WAS most rpramnpInuslU rpnl,,ta1 . - ,-x
almoco or breakfast. The table was bare of
covering. but amends we're made in dishes
anu their contents. A tremendous frasca
para vinho or VINE fiagon or glass with
fully two gallons of the cheap wine
OF Alemtejo. A brown earthen plate
before me held a slice of gr,lled
Portuguese bacon Of mighty proportions.
stood steaming alongside. A basin contain
Ing some mysterious stew fianked the yam:
and piled before me in an actual recklessness
or nunificence was a mountain Of corn meal
bread, yellow as saffron, and hard as rock.
For all this service, including my nights
lodging and the care of Dobrado aud the
other donkeys, with the countless blessings
OF God and good voyages t' showered upon
US al departure, was only called upon to
pay a sum equal to about 40 cents in Ameri.
can money.
AT a villeggiatura or gentleman farmers
nome-as all farmers in Portugal above the
grade OF peasants are called morgadss
or gentlemen farmers-where we sought
shelter from a shower and after the custom
OF the Portuguese were not permitted
TO depart Tor a day, l had opportunity of
orieiiy studying the Portuguese country
gentleman's home. Near all large cities tho
morCado only'comes to his country home in
summer. But at this distance from Lisbon
many live at their villas the year round, WIS., /
iting LISBON in the gay winter season.
A Peep at Homo Life.
These villas of the better class are all on
one general pattern. A high walled court |
yard In front filled with ancient orange |
trees, half hides a low, large house of heavy |
architecture, whose walls extend far to the |
rear and form another court yard of vast
proportions, filled with home aud farm be-
longings. This is generally the loungine |
and play spot for numerous SER
wants and children. The interiors are
quaint in huge rooms, strangely con |
structed staircases, odd galleries and invar- l
lady a Tiny chapel where mass is said for the
family and dependents on Saints day.
These homes win possess many objects of re.
hnement, but seldom any books. Occasion
ally beautiful s~tatuarv is seen. Odd ORA
ments in metal, and g%argoyle water spouts
andlfountain pieces are common. Curious old
paintings and extraordinary specimens of
china are In every home; and the guitar,
though seldom any other musical instrument
VIII be found In nearly every room in the
mousse. In every villeggiatura in Portugal
tho 4 dliho WciCOUlt, /
Its exterior and surroundings are quaint,
dreamful and charming. In this portion of
Portugal yerdure is never absent, the roses
never cease blooming and the songs of the
birds are never done. Avenues of over
arching camellia and orange trees lead from
the villa TO a score Of places upon the farm
stead-among them to the granaries, to the
threshtng floor, to the roadway, to the an
Gent Nora or water wheel, where blind
folded oxen tread round and round, raising
the water which Is sent In stone troughs to
village cascades and fountains, and to count
less places in the gardens and fields. Every
where that labor is done, save In the fields.
are shade and blossom and nesting biras:
and while life here possesses none of the
pace and fine friction we know, il is
always one of easy labor, ample content and
languorous repose. EDGARL. WAKEMAN.
Jack Frost has q special mission in winter
its to chap up our hands and cheeks, and
Jack Frost says he don't like Haller's Aus
tralian salve a bit, IT cures the 'little chaps'
right up.
DR.. Cullimore, oculist Bee build ing.
Corwin Lost Their Votes.