The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-02-29

V
She at length persuaded the don 10 shoac
her a fdnddngO.
in the middle of the highroad, cutting
capers, with countenance as solemn as
any person at burying No one could
be more quick to observe the ludicrous
than he, nor more careful to avoid ridi
Guile. Therefore it said much for Moll's
cajolery, or for the love he bore her even
at this time, to thus expose himself to
Dawson S rude mirth and mine.
We reached Barcelona the 25th of
April, and there we staid till the LIST
of May, for Moll would go no farther
before she had learned a bolero and n
fandango, which dances we saw danced
at a little theater excellently we'll, but
in style quite different from ours, and
the women very fat and plain. And
though Moll, being but slight slip of a
lass, in whom the warmer passions were
unbegotten, could not give the bolero
the voluptuous fervor of the Spanish
dancers, yet in agility and in pretty, in
nocent grace she did surpass them all to
naught, which was abundantly proved
when she danced it in our posada before
court full of Spaniards, for there they
were like mad over her, casting their
silk handkerchiefs at her feet in homage,
and filling Jacks tambourine three
times over with cigarros and a plentiful
scattering of rails.
And believe, had we staid there, we
might have made more money than ever
we wanted at that time, though not so
much as Don Sanchez had set his mind
on, wherefore he would have us jog
cling again as soon as Moll could be
brought to it.
From Barcelona we journeyed a
month to Valencia, growing more indo
lent with our easier circumstances, and
sometimes trudging no more than five
or six miles in day, and we were, !
think, the happiest, idlest set of vaga
bonds in existence. But indeed in this
country there is not that spur to exer
ton which is forever goading us in this
The sun fills ones heart with content,
and for ones other wants a few half
pence day will suffice, and if you have
them not tbs no such great matter, for
these people are exceeding kind and hos
pitable They will give you measure
of wine if you are thirsty as we would
give mug of water, and the poorest
man will not sit down to table without
making you an offer to share what he
has. Wherever we went we were well
received, and in those poor villages
where they had no money to give they
would pay us for our show in kind, one
giving us bed, another board and filling
our wallets ere we left 'em with the
best they could afford.
Twas our habit to walk few miles
before dinner, to sleep in the shade dur
ing the heat of the day and to reach a
town, if possible, by the fall Of tho sun.
There would we spend half the night in
jollity and lie abed late in the morning
The inns and big houses in these parts
are built in the form of squares, inclos-
ing an open square with sort Of arcade
all round, and mostly with an awning
running over the SUMMER side, and in
this space we used to give our perform.
ance, by the light of oil lamps hung
here and there conveniently, with the
addition maybe of moonlight reflected
from one of the white walls. Here any
one was free to enter, we making nc
charge, but taking only what they would
freely give.
And his treatment engenders a feel
ing of kindness on both sides very diff
ferent from our sentiment at home, where
we players as often as not dread the audi
ence as q kind of enemy, ready to teal
us to pieces if we fail to please), and tC
us twas as great pleasure to amust
as theirs to be amused. can recall tt
mind nothing of any moment occurring
on his journey, save that we spent some
time every day in perfecting our Span
ish dances, getting to play the tune
correctly, which at first i made sac
bungling Of, and Dawson in learning
his steps. Also he and Moll acquired
the use of kind of clappers called
castanets, which they play with theil
hands in these fandangoes and boleros
with very pleasing effect.
At Valencia we staid a week ant
three days, lingering more than wa
necessary in order to see bull fight
And this pastime they do not as W,
with dogs, but with men, and the bull
quite free, and, save for the needles
killing of horses, l think this yer,
noble exercise, being fair trial of ad
dress against brute force. And it's no
nearly so brutal rs seeing prize Tough
by men, and not moro cruel, take it
than the shooting Of birds and hares TO
sport, seeing that the agony of death i
no greater for sturdy bull than for
timid coney, and hath this advantage
that the bull, when exhausted, is dis
patched quickly, whereas the bird o
hare may just escape capture, to die
miserable long death with shattere,
limb.
From Valencia we travelled five weeks
growing, l think, more lazy every day
over very hilly country to Alicante,
seaport town very strongly protected b.
castle on great rock, armed wit
guns of brass and iron, SO that the pi
rates dare never venture near. And her
fully thought we were to dawdle ava
another week at the least, this being
very populous and lively city, promising
much entertainment. For Moll, whel
not playing herself, was mad to see 9th
ers play, and she did really govern
with her subtle wiles and winnin
smiles, more than her father, for all hi
masterful spirit, or Don Sanchez, wit
his stern authority. But seeing two @
three English ships in the port the do
deemed it advisable that we should pus
ON at once for Elche, and, to our grea
establishment, Moll consented to GU
speedy going without demur, thong
why we could not then discover, but di
soon after. as l shall presently show.