.MTIwNg.OTMxMDQ

From Newberry Transcribe
Jump to navigation Jump to search

38 to inspire veneration by their lofty ceilings - and roomy interior - their decorated altars and teriselled images - they now scarce shelter the worshipper from the rain of heaven - while the dust and decay of years - beglooms the whole. Here Papacy grown old and rusty - worshipes at altars whose fires are quenched. The inhabitants of Panama are of all colors. Under the old regime they were of all castes - but the republic makes all alike now. The families of the Castalian blood are very few. These few are proud - thought poor - dress finely - and pass the time as agreeably as possible. The gentlemen have a billiard and reading room - the ladies spend their leisure in giving and receiving visits. Some of the ladies are beauties - and as a general thing both the males and females possess some claims to good personal appearance. The ladies seldom wear bonnets in the streets. Considerable jealousy prevails among these old families. Their houses are well furnished - tables - chairs and sofas - and several lamps in glass globes suspended from the ceiling adorn their apartments. But an American cannot but feel how poor - meagre and poverty stricken their houses appear - besills their personal attire and pride. They are jealous of their old Castilian tongue. They hold to it as the rock which saves their sinking caste. The next class in the olive complexion which is now become the distinctive characteristic of the South American. These are the principal shop keepers of the city. They are a contented race - of pleasant dispositions - hospitable mind and strongly attached to their Panama. The blacks who were once the slaves are the poorest and most degraded class. They are also the most numerous. They live almost anywhere - and labor for almost anything. The men are principally carriers. The women - washerwomen. The Indian of the Isthmus is about lost in the commingling of races. The blacks are not very virtuous - indeed I could hardly discover any family ties among them. The negro woman does not claim any father for her children - but she will boast with pride if she has a white child. The only amusement I discovered in the place - was a Spanish Circus. Here nightly a drum and fife played before the house and two soldiers guarded the door. I did not see the performances - within - but judged from the ridicule of the Americans that it was anything but entertaining. The market - was at one of the town gates - and ranged outside the wall. The