The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-29
HOME LIFE IN SPAIN.
Domestic Life of the Country O
Romance and Revolution.
London Mail.

should justly be the country OF youth
which alone has tomorrow. and
perhaps in no land is it better to be
Young than in Spain. What does 1t
matter to the girl whose life consists
in dressing prettily and being So
eiallv charming, and accepting the
batteries of innumerable sultors, that
many Spanish women are still re-
garded chiefly as ornaments IN
somewhat medieval way.
Though strictly guarded by her
parents. from the age Of 15 till she
is married, amusements are the one
occupation of the Spanish girl, and
the chief Of these. it must be admit
ted. is filtration.
For those few years she expects to
be surrounded by suitors and to prac-
tice the social graces that have
shared with needlework the chief
place in her training. Of course, she
never goes out alone, and when her
parents cannot accompany her the
duena is in close attendance.
To be dusna is practically the
onlv occupation open to Spanish Ia
dies of gentle birth who have been
left unprovided for; by taking part
in any other occupation they would
almost certainly lose caste. The al
ternative is to become nun. ana
to enter nunnery, dot IS usually
REQUIRED in Spain, even as an un~
lowered girl has poor chances OF
husband.
Marriage, however, ends the reign
= Of the queen among an army OF suit
ors. and in the middle and lower
classes life is not infrequently mar
roved down TO a rather drab exist
} ence by a jealous husband.
IA Tn other cases dress and theatres
i are often the chief ideas Of moth
y er and her daughters, and an lndul-
gent husband often has a severe
struggle to make a small income cope
with their passion for amusement.
As everyone knows, the Spanish
during the warm months especially,
take a rest of an hour or two IN the
} afternoon, after dinner. 1t is the
famous siesta, which is as dear to the
heart Of the Spanish as kef is to the
turks.
It is late in the afternoon, when
he host is refreshed by his slesta,
hat he receives his friends or ac-
sauaintances.
&k In summer they are usually vel
omed in the patio, the pretty square
I ard. with whitewashed walls and
he Unavoidable dwarf palms and
roses. which is typical feature OF
everv Spanish house. At other sea-
sons the guests are received in one
Il of the rooms, or, first, in the sala de
Restrado, the hall Of honor as it were.
Even the most unimportant recep-
, ton assumes a pompous character ID
this land Of romance and medlaeval
and Moorish dignity. At the door a
servant asks: Quien es? Who IS
tbereq and the visitors reply: Gente
de paz. People of peace. The gate
is opened and they are led to the
sala. The ladies do not rise to greet
male visitors, but kiss all feminine
s.yisitors, even though they have met
mt once before. The sala is chiefly
hrn;shed with long, soft sofas run
hg along the walls, and conversa-
n begins, rendered picturesque to
Re uninitiated by the profusion OF
sditional expressions Of courtesy
quaint forms Of speech.
Although a Spanish sat home' is
most original and pleasant affair."
spite Of the ''pomp and clrcum-
ce."
kading was never a great oceu-
In of Spanish women, and though
be last decade something has
done for education in the cap
t is not unusual for women even
birth to spell with exceeding
ess. However, if intellectual
nd accomplishments are often
it must be admitted that
eh women Of every class are
of the finest needlewomen IN
world. The visitor, indeed, Is
etimes led to despair by the IN
seant useless needlework which
opears their only outlet Tor ener-
v These rich embroiderles lack
4 even the excuse that covers the IN
Mssant activities Of the German
ksfrau.
Is rule, Spanish women are very
Rlulgent and afec;ionate mothers,
{d IN no country would children
Kith more charming and modest