Phoenix weekly herald., 1896-07-23
DANCING IN SPAIN.
It is the National Amusement Of the
People.
Soldiers ThrOug the Principle Cities and
Even Boys are Being
Drilled.

and old. fat and thin, they ell dance
whenever occasion presents itself. o.
days of feaba the clicking of cessaaeta
and the pattering OF feet are heard
everywhere. Children WHO can hardly
walk dance by instinct. The gypsy
dancsrs are noted for their grace and
abandon. and the popular cafes chan
tants might be more appropriately nam-
ed cafes dausan5s But not only Is il
the general form of amusement; she
Spaniards has followed the example of
she ancient Greeks and Jews, introduc-
ing it in their religions ceremonies. We
we're fortunate enough TO witness one
of these celebrations in the cathedral
| here. OF the cathedral itself an Italian
writer OF note says: as was so grand
that never speak of it without IN
| consciously assn ming the tone end
manner of Salyiui in Samson. am
sorry TO ssy we could not share his en-
| Jhusiasm. An earthquake some years
| ago SO injured it that the interior is
dIefgured with scaffolding, and those
who see it now remember less tbs lofty
arches and the dark beauty OF Murillo's
cherubs. than the rough beams and
ladders that break every vista As the
| scene of the religious dance, however,
it W as something never to be forgotten
The church was dark-it WAS twi-
! light, and only one chapel was illumi-
mated A crowd OF kneeliug womea
filed the aialea. A few priests stood
around the altar, and before it we're two
rows of boys, about ten or twelve years
of age, dressed in the Spanish costume
OF the middle ages, with tights and
plumed hsts. The music of vioUne
broke the profound silence. and the
rows of boys began TO advances ard re-
treat, 30 mingle and bow, 10 sort OF
contradence. Presently, without pnus-
ing in their SLOW, graceful movements,
they sang low, harmonious chant.
The sound of tie Gstle voices in the
great vault, the sight of the listls crea-
lures before the great altar, TIE serious
s5ateliEess of their movements, the
quaint costume, the kneeliDg thropg,
the surrounding room, produced an i'm
preston as reverentisl as that OF 8
prayer.
The story is told that one of the form
er Archbiahope of Seville, who should
evidently have been born in Pueitanical
days, objected to the dance as profane.
and ordered it to bs discontinued. This
aroused such opposition not only from
the authorities of the cathedral but
among the inhabitants of Seville, that
the question was referred TO the Pope.
The latter expressed his inability TO
judge without having seen the dance;
accordingly the entire troop of choir
boys was conveyed TO Rome end the
performance given His Holiness
smiled and thought it quite unobjsctiou-
able; but to pacify the memorable Arch
bishop, he deereed that the dance
should continue only until the clothes
the boys then had on should be worn
out. This was equally satisfactory to
the Gstuse authorities Of the cathedral.
The costumes were used only on special
occasions, once or twice year; they
we're carefully watched, and when an
article became threadbars it was re-
placed at once. So that although the
decree is sill binding, until the present
day the costumes have never been en-
tirely worn out, and probably never viii
be.
Il every city, in every town, in the
fields and on the trains We see soldiers.
The whole couatFy seems to be in the
army. Even boys are being drilled |
every here. The soldiers, however
have less of the military bearing than
any we have seen in Europe Very diff
ferent are they, in dress and manner,
from the trim red coated EnelishmeD
We saw az Gibrelter We had an op-
portunity one afternoon while there 10
see . crack regiment of Highlauders
drill, and fine looking fellows they
were, in their spotlessly white coats ard
CATERS, aud thsiF plaid kits shat stood
out like the skirss OF a ballet dancer
when they wheeled. Here il Spain the
soldiers appear detected ard weary
even when 90 dress parade; aud the
music to which they roarch, instead OF
being cheerful and inspiring, aus the
minor note that is characteristic OF
Spanish songs. However appropriate
this quality may be in q serenade, any
thing less martial can hardly be imsgin-
sd. The soldiers may we'll think it
funeral dIrge
LETTER List. !