Then there are fruit-sellers and fish-sellers and
hot-chestnut dealers, and, most vociferous of all, the cryers of
"Acqua! acqua! acqua fresca!" There, making its way among the numerous
small vessels from Dalmatia, Greece, etc. moored to the quay of the
Schiavoni, comes a boat from the Peninsular and Oriental steamer,
which arrived this morning from Alexandria, with four or five
Orientals on board. They come on shore, and proceed to saunter
along the Riva toward the Grand Piazza, while their dark faces and
brightly-colored garments add an element to the motley scene which is
perfectly in keeping with old Venetian reminiscences.
T.A.T.
A NEW MEXICAN CHRISTMAS EVE.
It is Christmas Eve in Albuquerque. Blazing fagots of mesquite-roots
placed on the surrounding adobe walls illuminate the old church on
the plaza. There is a grand _baile_ at the fonda, to which we and our
"family are most respectfully invited." The sounds of music already
invite us to the ball-room. We enter. The floor is full; a hundred
couples are gliding through the graceful "Spanish dance," or "slow
waltz," as it is termed here. Not a few blue-and-gold United States
uniforms are to be seen in the throng. A full-uniformed major-general
of volunteers adds the eclat of his epaulettes to the occasion. The
ranchos have poured in their senoras and senoritas, and three rows of
the dark-eyed creatures sit ranged around the room.
Pages:
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303