The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-22
SCENES IN OLD SEVILLE.
How the Spanish Watchman flakes
Night Hideous.
THE PASSION. FOR GAMBLING.
In the House of PiIate-The Reproduction
ofa Roman Chapel-story of Mar
slaI Punim's Assassination.

SEVILLE, SPAIN, Feb. ITO think
of the Serenos, as Spanish night
watchmen are called, patrolling the
silent streets and calling the hours to
the sleeping city, is u very pretty
idea; but when you come to live with
them, it's romance suffers considera-
bly,. Several Serenos perambulating
every street from sunset until sunrise.
Each is armed with ii long, clumsy
spear, and carries lantern, however
brilliant the moonlight. His function
is threefold-first, to preserve order;
second, to open doors, and third to
sing out the hours as they pass, and
an exact account of the state of the
weather. AS in other parts of Spain,
and, inded, may European cities, per-
sons living in apartment houses carry
no street-door keys, but depend upon
the watchman for admission at night.
Naturally, in a country where people
sleep through half the day, late hours
are the rule. AT intervals all night
long, until dawn is fairly in the
heavens, your sleep is constantly dis
turbed by belated travellers going
noisily homeward and shouting
4'Sereno!n at the top of their voices,
until that worthy appears with his
big bunch of keys and unlocks their
doors. And then the song of that
bird of night! Every half hour at
every street corner he sings fortissi-
mo, La hora es doce Tor whatever
the hour may be). La noche esta
claro y serene. Ave Maria Puris-
siman'
Yesterday morning, after particu-
larly unsatisfactory night, so far as
sleep is concerned-owing to unusual
gaieties preceding Lent, and innu
merable reelers demanding the SER
vices of the Serenos-I turned out
early, to seek consolation in the
ever-satisfying panorama of the
streets. Turning the first corner of
the narrow street l found myself in
the midst of a strange procession.
The central figure of it was n COW,
gaily decked with garlands of flowers.
She was led by barefooted girl; and
Immediately behind followed a blind
man and boy, the former blowing
flageolet, the latter, beating a drum.
What in the world it meant | could
form no idea, until asked a woman
in the crowd, who politely endeavor-
ed to conceal her surprise at the dense
ignorance of "those Americans" 1t
seems that similar professions are of
very common occurrence, though this
is the first have happened to en-
counter. The animal might be a goat,
a donkey, or any other creature, as
well as COW; but it is always flower
be-decked and advertised by music, to
be raffied for, anybody who will, pay
ing a trifie, and taking his chances.
1t is favorite way of raising the
wind" as they say in America, for the
people are born gamblers, and even
rattle appeal to them strongly.
A little farther on / met an entirely
different procession. First came
dozen boys, carrying long candles;
then coffin, borne by four men,
whose heads were buried under the
sweeping black pail, SO that only
their feet were visible, and it looked
as if the coffin was actually walking
off itself. Several priests followed, in
whose like have never seen before;
and the rear was brought up by
band, consisting of two bassoons and
an oboe, which made most weird
and melancholy accompaniment to
thesDlemn chant of the priests. The
procession was on its way to the ceme
terry. Every now and then it halted
in front house, presumably that of
some of the friend of the deceased
the coffin was set upon the ground
and the face of the dead uncovered.
People came out of the house to take
a last look" while the crowd gath
cred curiously near; and after a few
minutes the music and march were
resumed.
A little farther on l came upon a
group of peasants engaged in the pic
turesque industry of spinning the
green rope so much used by Spanish
farmers. 1t is manufactured from
the coarse pampas grass of the Gudal-
quivir plains. The operation is a
very leisurely and social one, requir-
ing rude wooden wheel and three
persons. One man, woman, or child
feeds the wheel another turns it and
q third receives the twisted rope. An
indispensable article of the peasants
costume, male or female-should an
absence from home of even an hour
or two be contemplated-is the al