Identifier: landofdons00willuoft (find matches)
Title: The land of the Dons
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Williams, Leonard, b. 1871
Subjects: Civilization, Spanish Spain -- Social life and customs
Publisher: London, Cassell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
should be rude to tell—and a son, Felipe, a good boy of eighteen, employed in the Department of Public Works. These, together with a chica, whose wages are three dollars a month, unlimited hard words, and every other Sunday out, compose the household.
Eight o’clock is struck from the neighbouring churches, and paterfamilias still slumbers, though madam, a conscientious dueña de su casa, and resplendent in a starched linen jacket or chambra, is up and busy with the housework. Her first care has been to rouse the señoritas, who presently join her, with dishevelled tresses, yawning and rather cross,but obedient, for their mother is a disciplinarian.Thereafter Doña Eugenia raps smartly at Felipe’s door, and scolds the servant for her backwardness in scrubbing the antesala and dining-room. Antonia—such is the name of the damsel in question—defends herself tooth and nail; but her mistress is equal to the occasion, and gathers readily enough from sundry wet footprints upon the landing, that the girl
Text Appearing After Image:
A BOURGEOIS FAMILY. 37
has been downstairs—a fact to which, after a shrill exchange of compliments, the culprit confesses ; but it was only, she explains, to speak to the portera. “Pero hombre,” argues Madam, “¿Vd. que tenia que decirle a la portera ?” (“What had you to say to the portress?”). Trust a woman to interpret a blush upon another woman’s face. The fact is, Doña Eugenia suspects a novio (sweetheart), as she eventually gives Antonia to understand in a few well-chosen words of unmistakable plainness, and sweeps indignantly away to water the flowers upon the drawing-room balcony.
Half-past eight has sounded before Don Pablo lifts his head from the pillow and rings for his desayuno, which he takes in bed. His helpmate brings it on a tray; a small cup of thick chocolate,together with a bollo de leche or bun, and beside these dainties a snack of aguardiente in a glassno bigger than a large thimble. As he sips his chocolate, perhaps he reads the newspaper;

Note About Images