Spain Revisited (Volume 11833) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1836. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. THE FAIR OF T0RDESILLAS. Inn of Alaejos--A Murderer's Wife--Luncheon on a Mule--A Lover's Confidence--Valley of the Duero--Tordesillas--Fair--Hogmarket--The Vanquished Pig--Fallen Mule--Gipsy Ass-merchants--Eloquence in Barter--A Procession--The Square--Commerce making room for Devotion--Every Place a Temple--The Friar--His Sermon. The household of the little inn of Alaejos consisted of an aged couple, with an only daughter, in whom their happiness seemed to be wrapped up. She was only twenty, although she had already been married five years, and was the mother of two children, with the prospect of a speedy addition to the number. Her husband, whose history had been related to me on the journey, was a dissipated fellow, much addicted to the national vice of gambling. A few weeks before he had lost seven dollars to a comrade, whom he soon after waylaid and shot dead. Upon this he escaped to Gallicia, where he remained unmolested, as the law does not often travel beyond the precincts of each province, or even pueblo; for the authorities of every town, having a sufficiency of domestic crimes to take cognizance of, are not often at the trouble of punishing offences, or even apprehending criminals, for oth-rs, should they even know, which is not necessary, as these acts of violence are too common to attract the attention of the press, or receive publicity, except through common report from mouth to mouth. As for the young woman, whose unhappy story enhanced a beauty whick was already interesting and attractive, it appeared from what was told me on the journey, that the scandal of the village was already busy with her fame, imputing to her a disposition to console herself with the chance guests of her father's inn, for the forceful and vexatious speci...