San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-01
EUROPEAN LETTER
TOURISTS DESCRIPTION OF THE
CURIOUS DANCERS IN SPAIN.
An Evening Spent in the Gypsie Quar-
tiers of Granada Proves Quite
Pleasant and Interesting.
Special Correspondence.


one looks out of the latticed win |
dows of the Alhambra, the eye
falls on group of low, yellow
houses across the ravine. The
scene is romantic enough to arouse
the Imagination of an Esquimau.
The picturesque city, with its vari-
colored buildings and rose-filled
gardens; the hills covered with
grey olive trees, the dazzling SHOWS
of the Sierra Nevsdas beyond.
From this window a princess
doubtless learned to listen to the
song of her lover, in the ravine be-
low; or, perhaps, the prisoner
watched anxiously for the signal
of those who would aid his escape.
And the effect OF the whole is en-
HANGED when the guide, noticing
that your glance is resting on the
cluster Of houses, says "That Is a
gypsy settlement"
Perhaps nowhere better than in
Spain can one find examples Of the
pure Romany; that strange people
whose origin is unknown and who
have retained, in spite Of their
nomadic life, their own language
and customs. Tramps and vaga-
bonds Of all varieties have chosen
to style themselves gypsies, but
the genuine race has an individu-
atty of its own, which both Long
fellow and George Eliot have
thought worthy Of immortalizing
in poetry.
On the evening of our arrival in
Granada, the landlord asked IL We
wished to visit the gypsy quarters
and see their dances the next day.
The ALEXANDRIA had so pre.occupied
our minds that we had not given
the gypsies q thought, and were
not interested in visiting them.
But few days later, after we had
spent hours daily in the literal cas-
| tie in the air that was once the
palace of Moorish kings, we re-
membered our hosts suggestion
and called carriage. Some Eug-
lish tourists who we're staying at
the same hotel joined us, and we
drove out Of the city and mp the
hill. We were surrounded as soon
Dis we stopped by a crowd Of gyp-
sies-heavy browed, forbidding
looking men; black-eyed girls Of
fering to tell fortunes, smiling chill
dren begging for pennies, witch
like crones looking for some
thing to steal. One man who
seemed to be spokesman at
once opened transactions, and
asked il we wanted to see
the dances. It would:cost us 30
pesetas 81 for our party. We de-
clared that this was much too ex-
pensive. How much would we
give, they asked. Fifteen pesetas,
we said. They declared that 1t
could not be thought of. "Very
WE'LL" we answered, and told the
driver to return to the city. But
the gypsies held consultation,
and came down to thirty. We
were inflexible. "Would we give
twenty-fivew "No". Much bag
Cling and discussion ensued, and
finally we compromised on twenty.
Promptly we were escorted to q
room, which although probably
the largest their houses contained,
was small enough. We sat around
the walls, among friendly gypsy
spectators, and with clicking Of
castanets and monotonous clap
ping of hands the dances began.
Every now and then their friends
would call to the performers as
though to encourage them, but it
seemed unnecessary for more ami
nation and grace / have never
seen. They danced all together, in
couples; but always with the same
ease and freedom. One of the best
dancers was young girl OF about
eighteen. / noticed that in the
pauses she picked up and carressed
a pretty baby that sat on the floor.
"Mi Minor" she said, in answer to
my inquiring glance. "And your
husband?" l asked, looking at
young man who had been her part
ner in the last dance. ooh, no
he's in Cuba" she answered cheer
fully, and then, the next dance
being called, she went on with as
much spirit as though her hus-
band might not at that moment be |
languishing in a yellow fever hos
pital. The baby lit was hardly q |
year old) clapped it's hands and
swayed its tiny body in imitation
of the motion of the others. The
prettiest dance of all LA Juta,
they called it) was just then being
given as duo by its mother and a |
,oun~ man Tt uoa q doliuht RI