The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07

either physically or morally the worse for
their labors
Early marriages are the rule among the
peasantry-partly because most of the
Portuguese conscriptions spare married
men, and therefore bachelors have tenn
tations toward matrimony which otherwise
might not occur to them. growing fans
lily Is good investment for a young fei.
! low who does not desire the dogs life of n
| sailor, and cannot pay several hundred dol
/ lars for Substitute IN the army: so he
takes wife to ensure himself against what
! ne considers worse fate. and maybe his
everlasting qsefr, from cold steel or gun
! powder. Beeo marriage the Portuguese
I stlitor in love +. 1surdly humble and sIav.
ish and his swer Ieart leads him a merry
I dance 1ndee''' soon as ever the village
priest has {. tue knot. the positions are
reversed; he becomes her master sbso-
lutely and may beat her as often as he
likes without violating any law AS In
every country. the songs of the people set
forth their sentiments. In popular sere
made. the Portuguese swain tells his Dull
cinea that he writes to her on the palm
or his hand, his tears are his only ink and
the pen is fibre from his inmost heart.
Perhaps her reply. sung behind closed
shutter, is like this:
QuandO sovreiso tlcs hara "a
Entdo lOureiero der cortica
Entao te ameri. benz,
re mao meder a preguies.
which means, when the cork tree Yields
bay berries. and the bay-tree cork. then
perhaps | may fall in love with YOU. If I
condescend to notice YOU
Or else she sings II have already five
lovers-three for the morning. two for the
afternoon. what time is there left for you!'
In Portugal men play upon the guitar as
naturally as Yankees whistle The peas
ants. are universally given to the instru-
ment. chiefly as an accompaniment to tbs
voice. In towns and villages, the artisans
are often expert guitar players and walk in
groups to and from their work. enlivening
the journey to execute a small job. brings
his guitar with his tools. and the black
smith is a far better performer on the
guitar than on the anvil
When the Portuguese day laborer or
workman has finished his long days work
he does not HE him to a wineshop 70
Squander the few cents he has earned; he
does not even lean against a post and
smoke. or white a stock while swapping
yarns with his fellows. IL he did not bring
his guitar with him. he goes straight home
and gets II, rests and comforts h1mSel1 with
the music while supper is being prepared.
he spends the evening singing
doggerel songs TO stunning accompanI-
ament. tilted back in a chair against his
own house wall or on the doorstep of
another.
II in the rural districts and it be Sum
day. or a holiday. he puts on clean shirt.
with a big gold or silver stud as a neck
fastening, his other pair of well-brushed
trousers. and his newest black felt hat, OF
the pattern you often see in pictures OF
Spanish life. Then he throws over his
shoulders a black cloth cape, with real
gold or silver clasp. He takes his favorite
DIX goad in his hand which is to him what
4 natty cane is to the Broadway dude. 1t
IS tall as himself. straight as an arrow,
we'll rounded and polished and bound with
brass Last Of ALL he slings his guitar
lround his neck: and thus, fully equipped
FOR social conquest. goes 10 the nearest
fashionable threshing tloor-the peasants
There all his neighbors.
,oung and old OF both sexes, are sure to be
gathered, to while away the day in gossip,
Ong and dance FANNIE b. WARD.