Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/116

Rh blood, &c. I could not help shuddering. The plantation seemed almost a desert. I saw a shrivelled old negro cripple steal past us, with a shy, submissive look. A little sharp lad waited at table with an unconcerned air, and who seemed not to trouble himself in the least about his master's violent exclamations and movements.

This gentleman was at one time very wealthy, but he has during the last few years suffered great losses, which he is said to bear with great equanimity.

Matanzas is built in the same style as Havanna, but has a more open and cheerful appearance; the streets are considerably wider, although not paved. The house of my friends here is two stories high; a piazza runs round the upper story opening into the street, and here I walk in the evenings inhaling the air, whilst my hostess in the drawing-room plays Cuban contre-danses in exquisite time, and full of abounding life. One hears these dances sounding at all distances from the houses of the city. Wherever one may be, or wherever one goes in Matanzas, this dance-music may be heard. The time and measure are derived from the children of Africa, the peculiar music from the Spanish Creoles of Cuba, and one hears in it Spanish seguidillas, national songs, and marches. Both Mr. and Mrs. B. are musical, and it is a pleasure to me to hear him play on the organ notes of the piano, the Catholic anthem, Adeste Fideles, and to hear him play the Spanish dances, Hauta Arragonesa, El Sabbatheo, &c. The most sparkling champagne of life exists in these national dances. It is amusing to compare with these our polskas and other popular dances; they are not deficient in this abounding, sparkling life, but they want refinement and grace. These dissimilar national dances stand in the same relationship as champagne, and ale and mead.