The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

dieval casas were in better repair and
the crumbling statues had their noses and
other features intact-when Murillo paint
ed. and Sancho Panza rode. and the Bar
Der of Seville pursued his barberous call
ing the lovelorn Don would plant himself
beneath his dulcinea's balcony, dash
cloak, guitar, and sombrero to the earth
and scourge himself with metallic whips
such as penitents use today, until his no
BILE blood gushed forth. All, that was love
indeed-according to Spanish liking, tos-
tered on the bullfight. The gentle dove of
a senorita would clasp her hands in &c
stacy and cry, "Esta buenol It is well.
Beat yourself more. and more, and more.
Now ! love you. Now / am yours and
she ratified her window-bars in efforts to
get at him. Today. the cruel chain -scourg-
es, with leaden tips to their many lasbes,
are altogether out of fashion. except for
holy nuns in the converts. doing nightly
penances; and sometimes modern lovers
do their musical wooing by proxy, with
hired musicians, considering the expense
OF a band as sufficient proof of love and
homage.
By the way l have tried to locate Figa-
TO, the charming Barber" whose place
of misunderstanding to the opera score,
was on the plaza Santo Tomas, just back
of the Alcazar. There is no striped pole
there now, nor any other sign OF a barber
shop. The wonder is that no enterprising
tonsorial artist of today should have be-
thought himself to turn a few extra PEN
MES by locating in the same place. The
old saying, 1T is a waste Of lather 10
shave an ass" originated in Spain. There
the donkeys' backs are shaved in different
designs-such as stars and crosses and
coats-of-arms, half-moons, monograms,
etc, through a mistaken idea Of the beau
tiful. Poor burro,-poor, indeed, from
first TO last. Small, brown, and brave,
always docile and Industrious, and always
abused-nothing shows the Spaniards'
character more clearly than his treatment
of animals. The meek and helpless slave
of the family is seldom stabbed and never
decently fed. He is tethered anywhere,
among the stones or sands. and left 10
shift for himself il the matter OF food
and drink, his owners gentlest Get up
being q brutal blow between the eyes.
Not least among his woes is this senseless
barbering which is usually done at the
blacksmith shop by a professional clip
per and is a sight of interest to the lazy
populace not one of whom feels the faint
est spark of sympathy for the wretched
victim. The clipping leaves the donkey s
back perfectly bare. where he most needs
its natural protection. both from the burn
ing sun and the CALLING burden OF the sad
die, with its weight of brass nails and
tufts of gay WOODEN.
AS for the fair and tickle Carmen. the
cigarette girl of the opera-the Govern
ment tobacco factory of Seville, where she
began and ended her tempestuous career,
is yet in operation, and hundreds Of her
counterparts remain to be studied.
Where MuriIIo Lived.
So, too, the footsteps of Bartolome Mu-
rillo are easily followed, though they
ceased upon earth 3lS years ago. The house
where he was born stands close to the old
city wall. In dark and narrow alley that
now bears his name. m the picturesque
labyrinth OF the Jewish quarter of Sc
Vile, known as La Juderia. After the
master painter had acquired fame and a
wealthy wife he went to live in better
locaiity-in the fine house. las houses OF
that period goj, Z Plaza de Alfaro at the
end of the Street Lope de Rueda. The pres
ent owner of the place has collected in il
a large number OF Murillo pictures. and
made fortune by allowing travellers 10