The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-10-03

place. nere Ino country women, Sittinl
contentedly ON the rough pavement OF til,
stone steps Of some bnilding, with wicke
baskets Of fruit or vegetables before them
drive sharp bargains, the sharper because
the few purchasers are also actuated b,
the proverbial Azorean spirit of shrewd
ness in trade. Time is no object to anv.
body in Flores, SO the traders can afforf
10 maggie over the value Of half a penn,
from the rising of the sun to the goine
down thereof. On this souare is the hotel
VI what passes for one in these parts, Of
winch conscience, though somewhat
travel hardened, will not permit favor.
able word. Directly opposite is the COM
oination prison and court house, long,
dlngy, wo-storied editice, where the
ollndtolded goddess is supposed to pre-
side above, and her mandates be carried
out below flight of rickety steps OF
the outside of the building leads up to the
court room, above the door Of which is
nailed time-faded, weather worn coat OF
arms OF Portugal. The funny part of it is
that offenders punished by Imprisonment
are compelled to carry out their sentences
themselves and be their own jailors A
passage way running through the centre.
divides the ground floor into two rooms.
the main difference between them BEING
that one has a floor the other has not. At
two o. three windows Of the unfloored
room there is a pretense of iron grating
out 1t IS pretense merely, for most of the
oars are broken and the openings are the
rendezvous and lettering places of friends
OF the incarcerated and all the gossiping
loungers Of the town. Cells there are
none, few rude hunks against the un-
plastered stone wall, covered with dirty
blankets, answering for sleeping places.
The smoke begrimmed rafters are fes-
TONED with old garments, bed clothes
and strings Of onions and garlic; and an
Old table, two or three rickety chairs and
half dozen empty boxes, complete the
furnishings. Such are the eccentricities
OF prison discipline in Flores that a
criminal when jailed is given the kew
OF his bastile, allowed to admit par
ties Of his friends to enliyen the tedium
of durance vile; and it is rumored that he
may let himself out after dark, to take
regular CONSTITUTIONAL through the
city streets, Or make sub rosa visits to his
family. Indeed, it is rather a privilege
than otherwise for the poor Azorean who
gets took up, lin the expressive language
OF the gutter, for then he is sure Of enough
to eat without the necessity of toll Ri
diculous as all this may seem, there is
slight need for more rigid discipline The
small island-only about II miles long by
I wlde-where everybody knows every
body else, would afford an escaped prison.
Ell no opportunity for concealment, while
the visits Of vessels are too few and IN
certain for the hope of flight to foreign
lands. The people are so far from being
vicious that murders are unknown among
them Thieving is almost equally rare,
and what little is discovered is charged
upon wicked visitors from other islands.
Fighting and wife beating are the com
mon misdemeanors, and as in other coun-
tries, jealousy is the root Of evil.
Above everything else in Santa Cruz tow
ers the great cathedral, on its elevated knoll
near the center OF the city-one Of the larg-
est churches in all the Azores, capable of ;,c-
communicating at least half the population
u the island and conspicuous landmark
far out at sea. II is built entirely OF black
lava rock, in the Moorish style of arcli-
lecture, with two tall towers and Sara
Genie domcs and windows, and would be
imposing, though dingy-wlite in color.
except that here and there great patches
of whitewash have dropped off. leaving
the original color Of the stone in insight
ly blotches. The facade is somewhat fam
tastlcally ornamented, after the Portuguese
fashion, but the interior is plain. almost
TO nakedness. Seven rows of massive
stone pillars, running the whole length of
the building, support the broad arches of
the roof; but the walls are damp and slimy
with moisture and weeds grow up in the
deserted corners Of the aisles. At some
recent period the chancel and altar have
been newly carved, and their freshness
contrasts strangely with the moldy walls.
inches and affairs are filled with rudely
carved images of saints, adorned with pa
per flowers and surrounded with green
boughs, but there is none of that profuse
gliding, tinsel and gingerbread work.
commonly seen in Portuguese churches.
Adjoining the main building is the sac
rlsty, where the church treasures are
kept, and for small consideration the
custodian will show you all the vestments
gold and silver utensils, banners and pro-
cession day images. Not far from this
church, going through narrow lanes Of
squalid huts, thronged with lean pigs,
cats, dogs and naked children, we come
to the most interesting structure on the
island, the old convent of the Franciscan
brotherhood, which, like the cathedral.
was built little more than three cen
turtles ago. Dom Pedro l., father of the