File:Things seen in Spain. With fifty illus (1921) (14587590289).jpg

Identifier: thingsseeninspai00hart (find matches)
Title: Things seen in Spain. With fifty illus
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Hartley, C. Gasquoine (Catherine Gasquoine), 1867-1928
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Publisher: London : Seely, Service
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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y. The indefi-nite unquietness that so often characterizesEnglish and American women is entirelyabsent. These Spanish senoras, for theirhappiness, have kept the pagan content. Much of what is characteristic of tliehome life of the Sevillians may be gatheredfrom the arrangement of their houses. Theyare all—the houses of the poor as well asthose of the rich citizens—built around thepatio^ or shaded court, where palms, myrtles,pomegranates, and jasmines grow, and thesinging of caged birds mingles with the soundof the playing fountains. Into this patio allthe windows of the house open and the roomslead. The doors are of open ironwork—notwo doors are alike—and often, even in thesmall houses, the grating is of exquisiteworkmanship. One door, which also has anopen reja, or grating, leads into the street.It is in these patios that the Sevillians spendtheir lives, and this throwing open of theirhomes to the gaze of all who pass in thestreets is exactly characteristic of this simple,120
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Town Life in Spain happy people. Every afternoon and eveningthe youth of the family laugh and sing anddance to the rattle of the castanets. It isagainst the rejas that the lovers stand atnight and sing their serenades, and so per-sistent is their patience that they have gainedthe title of iron-eaters.** All Andalusiansare musical; even the beggar thrums hisguitar, which he will not part with for bread;to him music is a necessity, and bread aluxury with which he can dispense. The Andalusians leisure is a perpetualsource of delight. What impresses the seriousforeigner, who is so fortunate as to becomean inmate of a Sevillian home, is the mirthand courtesy of the family, who all seem toenjoy endless leisure. Spanish householdshave a pleasantness quite their own. Themen are never preoccupied with business;smoking cigarettes, they will pass hourschattering to the women of the family, whospend the greater part of the day workingtheir beautiful embroideries. Few books areread, and talking is

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